If you’ve been following this blog, then you understand the importance of digestive health.  In my previous videos and articles I’ve talked about the importance of bitter foods.

For those unaware, bitter foods stimulate the vagus nerve on the back of tongue which in return stimulates the production of stomach acid (HCL).  Low levels of stomach acid has become a modern day epidemic.  If stomach acid is low, we will not be able to break down and make use of the nutrients found in our foods.

Sweet foods, sugar, store bought bread, pasta, cereals, refined carbohydrates are all to blame for the low levels of stomach acid.  Almost all food that you find in nature is bitter to some extent.  Eating bitter food would have been a common occurrence for us a few hundred years ago.

Unfortunately, most individuals only exercise 2 of the 5 tastes we need for good health.  Foods that are sweet and salty are typical for anyone on the SAD (Standard American Diet).  Bitter, Sour, and Spicy however are typically no where to be found in the diet…

Bitter Greens are Better

The need for bitter food is needed more than ever in today’s society.  Most individuals have corrupted their palates so bad that they only crave high sugar and overly sweet foods.

As a result, the body will inevitably suffer.  It’s important to understand that sweet foods were not part of the human diet like we see today.  In fact, consumption of sweet foods would have been a seasonal thing and not in the abundance we see today.

Furthermore, the consumption of refined sugar has never had a place in the human diet.  If you’re looking to improve your health, you absolutely must cut out all refined sugar!

My favorite food for reconditioning the palate so that individual can ease into eating different flavor foods besides sweet and salty is Schizandra Berry.  Schizandra Berry is often referred to as ‘The Five Flavor Berry’ because it contains all five flavors: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy.  Due to its bitter properties, Schizandra is great for increasing low stomach acid levels.  It’s also excellent for the adrenals and is often recommend for people under high stress or with burnt out adrenals.

Just remember, if you’re going to include Schizandra Berry into your diet, you must CHEW IT.  This means no capsules.  Remember, digestion and gut health starts in the mouth.  The second we begin to chew food and receive taste feed back from that food, our body responds appropriately.

For example, if you chew something bitter, your body will naturally increase its stomach acid production.

Wild Fermented Green Recipe

Below You will find a video of how to make your own wild green bitter ferment.   This ferment is great to take before meals and will help with digestion.

For this recipe I use Dandelion Greens, Curly Dock, and Wood Sorrel. This combination will yield a Bitter (dandelion greens and curly dock) and sour (wood sorrel) flavor.

Remember, you don’t have to use the same greens as I did.  In fact, it’s best to use the edible greens native to your area as this will help your body adapt the most to its environment!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTQYULeMUZw