The word “Bitter” might not sound appealing, but the benefits of digestive tinctures could change your perspective. Digestive bitters, used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, are alcohol-based extracts of bitter herbs that aid digestion. These bitters are often used to stimulate digestive secretions, soothe digestive discomfort, and ease bloating. In addition, you can have it 30 minutes before the meals to activate digestive secretions or after a meal to make the digestion process easy.
However, many people still are confused about whether they should opt for digestive tincture or not. Before using anything, we should have an overview of its benefits, side effects, and more. Don’t worry! We are here to provide everything about digestive bitters. Here, we get to know everything you are looking for.
What Are Digestive Bitters?
Digestive bitters stimulate your taste buds to produce more saliva, which helps the digestive process. You might be unaware of the fact that saliva helps in digestion, which contributes to the breakdown of fats and starches.
The herbs that are used in digestive bitters are:
Bitter melon
Dandelion
Gentian root
Licorice root
Wormwood
Burdock root
Artichoke leaf
Cocktails containing bitters, such as Aperol Spritzes, Negronis, and Sazeracs, are called aperitifs. These are the beverages that you drink before the meal to work your digestive system.
Similarly, the digestive tincture prepares the digestive system for food intake. You don’t need to have a full glass of it and not even one, because in their pure form, they are much more bitter compared to cocktails that are sometimes in it.
Key Benefits of Tincture for Digestion
While limited studies exist, digestive bitters are widely known for their potential benefits. But the one reason you must try is that it gives a good boost to your digestive system.
One of the main benefits of digestive bitters is they have the ability to enhance the digestive process. They help increase the production of gastric juices, which let them break down the food effectively. In addition, these tinctures can also stimulate the release of gut hormones and digestive enzymes. These include GLP-1, CCK, and ghrelin, which potentially help with weight management.
In addition, digestive bitters also help support blood sugar levels by enhancing insulin release and utilization. This helps manage the blood sugar levels. Other than this, they can improve gallbladder and liver function, promoting the detoxification process with the increase of bile production. This helps to remove the toxins from the body.
However, you have to keep in mind that, yes, digestive tincture can be beneficial, but it is not necessary that it will suit everyone. People who are under some health conditions, like gastrointestinal diseases, must talk to their healthcare professional before using them. Breastfeeding and pregnant women and children should also avoid digestive bitters because of their potential risks.
If you want to add tinctures into your routine, it is recommended to use them before meals, about 10 to 15 minutes before eating, or after you have taken a proper meal.
Note: Before starting any new supplement, always consult your doctor to make sure it is safe and appropriate according to your requirements.
Potential Side Effects of Digestive Bitters
Digestive bitters are not necessarily beneficial for everyone. You should always check with your doctor before adding something like this to your routine. Below are some of the potential risks of taking tinctures.
They May Upset Your Digestive System
If your gastrointestinal tract is working fine on its own - or if it is working more than necessary- consuming these tinctures can actually backfire on your gut. Bitters produce more gastric acid in your gut, causing digestive issues in individuals who are predisposed to them:
Cramping
Bloating
Acid reflux
Nausea
Upset stomach
Heartburn
If you are already dealing with these conditions, bitters can actually make these conditions worse. This makes your digestive tract a little bit more reactive.
Medication Interactions
Think about bitters like you think about any of the vitamins. They can negatively interact with the medications you are already taking. And that is why you should always talk to your medical expert before giving them a try.
Digestive tincture can react with blood pressure medications, hypoglycemics, insulin, and other medications.
Worsening of Pre-existing Conditions
You must avoid the bitters if you are facing any of these conditions:
Gastritis
Hiatal hernia
Problem with your liver
Peptic ulcers
Gallbladder disease
Diabetes
Kidney Stones
You have to keep in mind that tinctures are made with alcohol, so you should not take them if you are pregnant or nursing or if you are in recovery.
How to Check If Digestive Tinctures Work?
Digestive bitters are effective for many digestive issues like gas, bloating, nausea, and indigestion. They work by breaking down the fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. To know the effectiveness of the digestive bitters, you can consider the following:
Symptom Relief
The direct way to know the effectiveness of digestive bitters is by noticing a reduction in feeling discomfort after consuming the bitter. This includes gas, bloating, or pain in the stomach in a reasonable timeframe.
Better Digestion
Pay attention to the changes in your bowel movements, including stool consistency and regularity of stools. This is an indication of the improved digestion.
Appetite Regulation
There are a few digestive bitters that may help regulate appetite, so notice if you feel less hungry or over-hungry after the meals.
Quality of Product
Get digestive bitters from a well-known brand that only uses premium-quality herbs and is properly standardized to ensure consistent potency.
Dosage
Take the recommended dosage mentioned on the label to experience the best effects.
Note: Before you use digestive tinctures, make sure you are not under pre-existing medical conditions or taking any medications. Talk to your healthcare professional to make sure it is safe and suitable for you.
Where to Get the Best Digestive Tincture?
There may be a horde of options available in the market, but you need to choose the best one. Shea’s Apothecary digestive bitters not only ease stomach issues but also relieve heartburn and curb sugar cravings. Let us take a brief look at the best digestive bitters:
Digestive Balance Tincture
Digestive Balance Tincture is a liquid that is easy to carry and take. It helps your overall health and well-being. In addition, it is a perfect blend of powerful spices and herbs that help support the digestive process. You can take it before or after the meal- both have different effects. Without a meal, it helps stimulate appetite; after a meal, it promotes a comfortable digestive experience.
What benefits does it provide? There are many benefits that you can get from the Digestive Balance Tincture:
It helps relieve heartburn, nausea, and upset stomach.
The digestive tincture helps soothe bloating and gas.
It supports healthy liver function.
Helps to balance appetite, curb sugar cravings, and encourage HCL production.
Gas and bloating are often overlooked but can be signs of a weak digestive system. A weak digestive system can cause pain and disease in the body.
Digestive Calm Tincture
Digestive Calm Tincture is a great tincture to soothe and cool your digestive system. It is a combination of herbs and spices that helps to strengthen digestion without causing excess heat. Excessive heat can cause problems like inflammation, heartburn, and ulcers.
Ingredients that you can find in Digestive Calm Tincture:
Coriander seeds
Black cumin seeds
Burdock root
Artichoke
Orange peel
Licorice root
Conclusion
Digestive tincture offers a natural and effective way to ease digestive issues. These tinctures are versatile and easy to use, and you can add them to a holistic health approach. However, it is important to note that digestive bitters can provide relief from minor digestive issues. If you are looking to address the root cause, it is recommended to get help from a healthcare professional.
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