Daily Tip #3 - Add Bitters
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VARSHA: Welcome to Functional Medicine with Dr. Var. This podcast is to help you explore the underlying root causes of your chronic symptoms and health challenges. Reset your health and reclaim your life.
Welcome to daily tip number three . Today we are talking about one of the most overlooked tools that can be used to help your digestion. And I'm not talking about probiotics or a supplement. I'm talking about bitterness. That's right.
Bitter foods are a natural way to help improve your digestion.
You know, most of us have a diet that is heavy in salty, sweet, maybe even spicy foods, but how often do you incorporate bitterness into your meals? And it's understandable because it's not the most pleasant taste. But just adding a little bit to accent some of the foods that you're eating can really [00:01:00] improve digestion.
Bitterness gets your saliva going, and your saliva contains digestive enzymes that help start the process of digesting your carbohydrates and your fat. It also gets stomach acid going. And stomach acids are important for digesting your protein.
It'll get the pancreas ready to start prepping the enzymes that it secretes, which digest your protein, fats, and starches or carbs, and also stimulates bile flow, which helps digest your fats. So adding these bitter foods to your meals can give your body a kick to start the process of digestion, and then you'll feel less bloated.
Your pants will fit better, and you'll be a lot happier.
Bitter foods also help your liver detox better. You know, today we're exposed to so many toxins in our foods, our water, our personal care products and environment that we just can't control. And no matter how careful you are, there's really no way to avoid it a [00:02:00] hundred percent.
So why not give your liver a little boost. Bitter foods, may also help your appetite and also help balance your blood sugars. Bitter foods include arugula. I love to make a over hard egg and put it on a bed of arugula with some slices of avocado, and I sprinkle some of that, everything seasoning on it. And it tastes fantastic and I actually look forward to the little bittery pepperiness of the arugula.
It compliments the egg very nicely. And there's also other lettuces like endive or endive radicchio, dandelion greens that you can add to your salads. There are artichokes lemon, so you can add some lemon to your water
And the cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and kale. And then ginger. My daily habit challenge for you is to add one or two of these bitter foods to a meal that you eat today. You'll find that you will start improving [00:03:00] your gut health before you know it. Digestion is one aspect of your gut health. And gut health, as we know, is so important for you to fill your optimal.
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Stay tuned for tomorrow for another daily tip and a habit challenge so that you can be on your way to resetting your health so you can reclaim your life and be your optimal self. Thanks for listening or watching if you're watching the video version, and have a fantastic day.
