50 Reasons Why You Want to Fall in Love with Bitter Greens!

The sweet truth about bitter greens: they’re fantastic! Here are fifty reasons to love your bitter greens and the top five bitter greens you should have in your diet!

Today’s sugar-laden and food-processed society has caused a drastic change in our natural ability to enjoy bitter foods that are essential for our well-being. Our taste buds have been destroyed from an over-consumption of sweet and salty foods. All one has to do is just read through the ingredients of most processed and packaged foods, to know that marketers have directly targeted these 2 taste buds. In fact, we have a widespread problem with digestive disorders from gas, bloating to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), gluten indolence and Cohn’s disease. Proper digestion is important in order to absorb nutrients from the food that we eat. One way to improve your digestion and thus improve your overall health is through the consumption of bitter green.

Bitter foods should be an essential part of a regular healthy diet, and here are 50 reasons why.

1. Stimulates digestive juices
2. Increase stomach acid
3. Initiates enzymatic activity
4. Stimulate the production of saliva
5. Stimulate the production of gastric juices
6. Stimulates the production of bile
7. Balances the appetite
8. Acts as a natural diuretic
9. Kidney cleanser
10. Stimulates the digestion
11. Helps calm the nerves
12. Strengthens the liver
13. Detoxifies the liver
14. Strengthens the immune system
15. Stimulate HCI (Hydrochloric acid)
16. Stimulates pepsin, an enzyme that breaks down proteins
17. Stabilizes blood sugar
18. Lowers blood sugar
19. Acts as a gentle diuretic to purify your blood
20. Cleanses your system
21. Cleanses the skin
22. Clears up acne
23. Improves bowel function
24. Lowers blood pressure
25. Reduces acid indigestion
26. Aids in cancer prevention
27. Hydrating for the body
28. Has a natural cooling effect on the body
29. Helps break down food
30. Allows for better nutrient absorption
31. Helps with weight loss
32. Decreases inflammation
33. Tones the digestive system
34. Reduces hunger
35. Contains liver boosting nutrients
36. Balances cravings for sweet foods
37. A general overall feeling of balanced
38. Digestive issues like headaches may subside
39. Helps stimulate taste receptors on the tongue
40. Contains phytonutrients that support the liver to help manage
41. Contains phytonutrients help balance hormones
42. Contains phytonutrients metabolize fats
43. Packed with vitamins especially A, C, K
44. Mineral-rich especially calcium and magnesium
45. High in folate
46. High in fiber
47. Low in fat
48. Low in sodium
49. Eases gas
50. Eases bloating

Bitter greens offer distinct advantages, and it’s a good idea to include more of them in your diet. Let’s dive into my top 5 favorite bitter greens.

Dandelion Leaves

Dandelion greens are one of the most nutritious and resilient greens. It is actually a weed, and I am sure you have seen it ruin your perfectly manicured grass during the summer months. This low calorie, high in vitamins bitter green not only aids in digestion but is high in calcium as well. Try adding some to your pesto next time; it is sure to give it a boost.

(NOTE: Check out one of our favorite articles on Dandelion, the 11 Health Benefits of Dandelion. Find it here and learn more about why you should enjoy more Dandelion.)

Arugula

A pepper green packed with beta-carotene, vitamin C, K, calcium, and iron. A perfect complement to any avocado and grapefruit salad.

Rapini

This one is especially close to my heart. This bitter green was one of my mother’s favorites and a staple in our Italian kitchen. The best way to introduce rapini to your palate is by sautéing it with a bit of olive oil, adding lots of garlic, a dash of salt, and a squeeze of lemon to help relax the bitterness.

Collards

This slightly bitter green contains vitamin B, C, and E and is rich in calcium and iron. Packed with nutrients, you’ll want to wrap and roll this one with all your favorite veggies to enhance digestion.

Mustard Greens

One of the more pungent and peppery bitter greens I have ever tasted. Packed with antioxidants such as vitamin A, C, and K, this one may take some getting used to. But, once you have trained your taste buds, you might be surprised when you actually start craving this bitter green. Like the rest of the bitter greens, mustard greens are great for cleansing the liver and pulling out toxins from the blood. It’s best to mix this green with milder greens such as spinach or sauté them with garlic and olive oil.

What’s the best way to enhance digestion with bitter greens?

You can juice bitter greens such as dandelions, arugula, or any of the above mentioned bitter greens and consume the juice 15 minutes before meals. Alternatively, if you do not have a juicer, you can chew bitter greens to a liquid and then hold it in your mouth for a few minutes before swallowing it.

Bitter greens have a pungent and peppery flavor compared to sweeter salad greens, and the bold flavor may take some getting used to. Nevertheless, the health benefits are super worth it.

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