Bitter foods may not suit the preference of everyone but the numerous health effects that they provide us undeniable.
Despite being hard to enjoy bitter foods, it is required for us to consume some foods with bitterness in order to provide our body with nutrition and different health benefits that other foods can give us. Today, Illume-eMag will show you the benefits that bitter foods can give your body.
Detoxify
Vegetables such as dandelion, chicory, kale, bittersweet… contain many phytonutrients that have been shown to support the liver, manage cholesterol, balance hormones, detoxify the blood and fat metabolism. According to nutritionists, bitter foods have a rich amount of fiber, so they have the effect of cleaning wastes filtered through the digestive system. Moreover, the bitter taste in foods also has a sulfur content, so it helps to detoxify the liver, and at the same time reduces toxins that have accumulated in the body for a long time.
Help digest food better
This use is because bitter foods stimulate the activity of the stomach as well as increase bile secretion and some enzymes involved in the body’s digestion of food. In addition, bitter foods also help regulate bowel movements (such as fresh turmeric – yellow turmeric); anti-constipation (such as bitter vegetables, bitter melon…). Helps food leave a long-lasting flavor thanks to some substances found in food such as caffeine in coffee, terpenoids found in vegetables, which are represented by bitter melon or theobromine in cocoa…
Good for the cardiovascular system
In the composition of some bitter foods, there are many minerals (such as manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus…) that have a preventive effect. hypertension. Or like eggplant, tomatoes contain substances that regulate blood fat; Chocolate has many substances that help improve the heart, reduce stroke …
Good for people with blood sugar disorders, diabetes
In bitter melon there is charantin, which has an insulin-like effect, helping to regulate blood sugar, useful for diabetics. In addition, many studies have also shown that eating bitter foods helps reduce cravings for sweets.- Green tea, a bitter drink, has many beneficial effects on health such as increasing metabolism in the body. body, thereby helping to reduce fat accumulation and reduce cravings, thereby supporting weight control.
Anti-cancer effects
According to Eastern medicine doctors, bitter foods contain many vitamins and strong antioxidants such as carotenoids, flavonoids (such as kale, eggplant, bitter melon …) May help prevent cancer. The bitter substance in grapefruit called naringin or quercetin found in green apples, blueberries … has anti-inflammatory effects, prevents the growth of cancer cells as well as helps improve the function of the cardiovascular system.
Pain-relieving effect
In some bitter foods, there is a high content of vitamin C. In addition, bitter foods also contain many substances that stimulate the immune system thereby helping to reduce pain, reduce inflammation and speed up wound healing. Some roots, tubers or vegetables have a bitter taste that has a purifying effect on the body through cleansing the digestive tract. In addition, bitter foods contain sulfur-based substances, a substance that supports the body’s natural cleansing process in the liver.
The inappropriate abuse of bitter foods can cause digestive disorders: abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea… In bitter melon seeds, vicine, if eaten a lot, can cause poisoning: abdominal pain, diarrhea bleeding, even coma. Pregnant women, especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy, should not eat a lot of bitter foods such as bitter melon (especially bitter melon seeds), celery, bok choy, laksa leaves, etc. because eating a lot can cause serious health problems. uterine contractions, not good for the fetus, severe cases, can cause miscarriage or premature birth.