5 Kinds of bitter foods that are actually good for health

Sweet and savory foods do seem to be more popular thanks to their delicious and addictive taste. In contrast, bitter foods are often avoided because they are considered bad. Some even think that bitter taste is synonymous with poisoned food.

Even though not always, because there are some foods with a bitter taste that are rich in nutrients so they are good for the health of the body, you know. Are you curious about what bitter food is meant to be? Immediately, see in full in the following review.

Why is eating bitter food good for the body?

If sweet foods are known to increase blood sugar, trigger hunger, and cause diabetes and obesity, then bitter foods are just the opposite.

Reporting from the Huffington Post page, Guido Masé, a book authorThe Wild Medicine Solution: Healing with Aromatic, Bitter and Tonic Plants, saying that not all bitter foods are poisonous, they are even enriched with various nutrients that you don't get from sweet foods that have been your favorite.

In addition, without realizing it, the bitter taste of these foods can actually help you to control your appetite, improve the liver's work in producing bile, as well as smooth the digestive system. Indirectly, the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes will also be smaller.

A selection of bitter foods that you can try at home

So, getting interested in trying to eat bitter food? Don't get confused just yet, here are some options:

1. Pare

Just hearing the name, maybe you can already imagine how this one vegetable tastes. Yes, bitter melon has been known for a long time thanks to its distinctive bitter taste.

However, did you know that bitter melon is rich in antioxidants? That is why, bitter melon is believed to help prevent free radical attacks that cause chronic disease and reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Pare is also packed with phytochemicals, such as triterpenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids, which have been shown to slow the growth of cancer cells in the body.

2. Orange peel

Source: Pop Sugar

Citrus fruits, lemons, and grapefruit are generally only consumed by the flesh. Uniquely, the white fibers and the outer skin of these fruits that are usually removed are actually beneficial thanks to the antioxidant content of flavonoids, especially the types of hesperidin and naringin in them.

As you may already know, antioxidants are important for strengthening the immune system to prevent various diseases. No need to be confused about how to consume it.

You can eat the white fibers directly along with citrus fruits. Can also grate the skin of the fruit and then add it directly to food or drinks. Apart from providing health benefits, the distinctive aroma produced from the peel of the orange fruit will further add to the flavor of the dish.

3. Cruciferous Vegetables

Source: Hamptom Roads Gazeti

Cruciferous vegetables are several types of vegetables which include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, pakcoy, radishes, and mustard greens. Although they are still widely liked, it is not uncommon for people to think of these vegetables as having a bitter taste.

The reason is, all of these vegetables contain glucosinolates compounds which are responsible for giving a bitter taste. Yet it still contributes to many health benefits. Not only that, cruciferous vegetables are also equipped with phytonutrients, namely antioxidants from the flavonoid, carotenoid, and sulforaphane groups.

All these natural chemicals will help the liver in neutralizing toxins, while reducing the negative impact of exposure to harmful carcinogens on the body.

4. Cocoa powder

Cocoa powder is usually used as a base for making chocolate and other baking products. Although synonymous with tasteless and bitter tastes, there are various health benefits that you can get for free from this bitter food.

A study published in Frontiers in Bioscience, explains that cocoa powder contains a number of polyphenols and antioxidants that can protect heart function, dilate blood vessels, and help reduce inflammation.

The minerals copper, manganese, magnesium, and iron found in cocoa powder also enrich the healthy nutrients in it.

5. Green tea

Green tea is one of several types of tea that is processed with a single filter, resulting in a color that tends to be light. Green tea's natural bitter taste comes from its strong content of catechins and polyphenols, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).

Interestingly, the properties behind green tea do not play a role in supporting the health of the body. Starting from acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that helps fight free radical attacks, to reduce the risk of heart disease.