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Page 55
| Strategies for Improved Digestion |
| Beneficial Bitters |
| Bitters are exactly what they sound like: bitter tasting herbs. Humans have used them for thousands of years to improve digestion and stimulate the appetite. You'll find them mentioned in the Bible and in the medical records of every civilization, ancient and modern. |
| Our tongues can detect four kinds of taste: sweet, sour, bitter and salty. In modern America, our sweet and salty taste buds see most of the action, for we are culturally conditioned to avoid sour and bitter tastes. In Europe and other parts of the world, bitters are alive and well, and all of us would benefit from a greater exposure to these sharp, pungent flavors. As soon as taste buds detect something bitter, they stimulate the secretion of gastric juices, such as bile from the liver. In addition, they have a tonic action on the entire body. |
| Bitters that improve digestion can be classified into three categories: tonic, aromatic and hot. Tonic bitters, like gentian root and blessed thistle, are the sharpest tasting and have an immediate effect on the digestive process. Aromatic bitters, like angelica root, myrrh gum and peppermint, are more fra- |
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