Why Bitters May Be the Key to Better Digestion and Blood Sugar

It turns out, bitterness isn’t just flavor—it’s a powerful signal to your body.

Elena Rostunova/Shutterstock

Bitter foods and digestive bitters might not be the first thing you crave at mealtime, but science—and centuries of traditional wisdom—suggest they’re a missing foundation to your healthy lifestyle routine. From supporting digestion to balancing blood sugar and even influencing hormones that can help you lose weight, these pungent plants are making a comeback.

Digestive bitters are concentrated herbal extracts made from bitter-tasting plants—many of which you can find at your local health food store or online. Just a few drops before a meal can “wake up” your digestive system. However, what’s behind that distinctive bitter taste?

Activate the ‘Bitter Reflex’

When you taste something bitter, you activate special receptors not just on your tongue, but throughout your digestive tract. These receptors, called type-2 taste receptors (TAS2Rs), trigger what’s commonly termed the “bitter reflex,” which helps your digestion by breaking down food molecules more efficiently. The bitter reflex can also aid gut motility, a response of the parasympathetic or “rest-and-digest” arm of the nervous system.