Bitters | Digestive Tonic

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Digestive tonic

“Good medicine always tastes bitter.” Bitter herbs are known to stimulate digestive enzymes and bile secretion. Taken before meals, bitters can stimulate the digestion.  When taken over time the bitter principles help to reduce a sweet tooth, however bitters must be tasted to have this effect. Bitters may provide relief for people who regularly get indigetion, reflux, as well as blood sugar and appetite regulation issues. Bitters can reduce post-meal blood glucose levels. Bitters are thought to stimulate digestive activity via several reflexes and mechanisms.

There are many plants with bitter compounds, the most famous perhaps being coffee and cacao, common greens such as dandeion leaf and lettuce are bitter, several plants known for other actions such as chamomile also have a bitter ocmponent. In the herbal world we use Wormwood, Gentian and Angelica. This formula also has the additon of Fennel to soften the flavour for those new to bitters. You can also use this to make home-made Lemon, Lime and Bitters as well as use in your cocktail repitoire. We hope you enjoy the digestive benefits.

1. https://www.nature.com/articles/469446d
2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/apha.12621
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1043661821002772

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