What are the effects of bitter foods

Chinese medicine health care and health care is concerned about the harmony of the five flavors: sour, sweet, bitter, spicy and salty, so as to benefit health. In fact, many bitter foods in life have very good nutritional and health care value. For example, bitter acacia tea can clear the liver and eyes, lower blood pressure, prevent blood vessel brittle; bitter fishy grass can clear heat and fire, detoxification, pus detoxification, etc.. In general, the benefits of bitter foods are the following five points.

Promote appetite

Bitterness can stimulate the taste buds of the tongue and activate the taste nerves, as well as stimulate the salivary glands and enhance saliva secretion, and also stimulate the secretion of gastric juice and bile. The combination of these effects will increase appetite and promote digestion, which is beneficial for strengthening the body and improving immunity.

Drain heat and detoxify the body

According to Chinese medicine, bitter taste is Yin and has a draining effect, which is useful for relieving heat and calming the mind when irritability is caused by excessive internal heat. "Eating bitter can also reduce fever and make the toxins in the body go out with the urine and stool, especially to prevent children from having sores and boils and other diseases.

Harmonize the five tastes

The body's need for the five tastes of food - sour, sweet, bitter, spicy and salty - is roughly balanced. If too much of the salty and sweet tastes are consumed, it will easily lead to many diseases and cause poor body resistance. In order to change the imbalance of the five flavors, you should eat more bitter foods.

Clear the heart and strengthen the brain

According to Chinese medicine, bitter foods can remove the heat from the heart and have the effect of clearing the heart, so that the brain can function better. This is because the bitter food have - certain theobromine and caffeine, after eating can wake up the brain, thus restoring energy.

Promote hematopoietic function

Bitter foods can promote hematopoiesis? It is true. This function of suppressing harmful bacteria and helping beneficial bacteria helps the intestine to function, especially the blood production function of the intestine and bone marrow, and improves the state of anemia.

Common bitter foods

Generally speaking, bitter foods are mostly vegetables and wild vegetables, such as lettuce, lettuce, celery, radish leaves, fennel, coriander, bitter melon, alfalfa, currant, moss, etc.; in food crops, there are buckwheat, oat, etc.; in dried and fresh fruits, there are apples, apricots, water chestnuts, almonds, black dates, mint leaves, etc.. In addition, both food and medicine, such as schisandra, lotus seed core is also bitter food, these foods with boiling water to drink better, including schisandra for winter and spring drinking, while the lotus seed core while applicable to summer drinking.