Diet and weight loss: This is why it is good to consume bitter foods

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This is why it is good to eat bitter foods

Many people avoid bitter tasting foods. However, bitter substances not only stimulate digestion, they also contribute to weight loss.

PostedFebruary 14, 2023, 07:12

Although not everyone likes them, bitter-tasting foods like grapefruit aid digestion and aid in weight loss.

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Many people cringe just thinking regarding it. It is true that sometimes it takes time to get used to the taste of a bitter food. Bitter end, bitter disappointment…: the adjective “bitter” almost always has a negative connotation in our linguistic usage. However, eating bitter-tasting foods on a regular basis is beneficial for several reasons.

Bitter substances promote digestion, as soon as they are found in the mouth. Indeed, they stimulate the salivary glands, which facilitates digestion. They also stimulate fat metabolism in the liver and activate the gallbladder and pancreas, organs that play a crucial role in digestion.

When digestion is good, everything is fine. Bitter substances allow the body to digest food properly.

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“The multiple effects of bitter substances are enormous,” explains Martin Ruegge of the dietary advice service MonBijou in Bern. “To date, we have not yet been able to study them all,” he says. It is assumed that they also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, have an anti-inflammatory effect, strengthen the immune system and can even act as an antibiotic. Not to mention that they can fight cravings.

Better satiated thanks to bitter substances

Bitter substances can therefore contribute to maintaining a stable weight by inhibiting the craving for sweets. This is explained in particular by the fact that our tongue has taste buds that detect bitterness, much more than sweetness. “And the more we satisfy the taste buds with a meal, the greater the feeling of satiety,” explains the nutritionist.

Warning, danger: bitter substances used to signal that a plant was potentially immature, damaged or toxic.

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Bitter substances also signal an imminent danger to the body: this is part of the natural evolution. Indeed, the bitter taste once signaled that a plant was potentially damaged, immature, or even toxic. If this danger is less today, it remains that the bitter taste reduces the desire and the feeling of hunger.

In addition, some bitter substances cause the release of a hormone that causes a feeling of satiety in the brain. Bitter substances can therefore really contribute to weight loss.

Beware of overdose

One might now think that the more bitter substances, the better. However, this is not the case, because excessive consumption can have a laxative effect. This is why caution is also advised with drops of bitter substances, which are often presented as slimming products. “The risk of overdose is particularly high for bitter substances taken through preparations,” explains Martin Ruegge.

Among the foods rich in bitter substances, we find arugula, …

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This is why he advises rather to adopt a varied diet and to consume foods naturally rich in bitter substances. “These include endive, olive, arugula, grapefruit, dandelion, cornflower, ginger, artichoke, cabbage and spices – even cinnamon contains substances bitter”.

Good news for those resistant to bitter foods: it is possible to train your palate in bitterness. The more bitter flavors you taste, the more you will get used to them.

The importance of a balanced diet

Betting too heavily on a single substance can also be problematic. Indeed, it increases the risk of neglecting others. It is therefore preferable to take care of a generally balanced diet and to regularly incorporate bitter flavors into it rather than to hope for miracles from a single substance.

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