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In fact, all this sugar is believed to be at the root of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and
cardiovascular disease. It feeds bad bacteria in the microbiome and leads to
metabolic disorders.
All this sugar is considered an imbalance of “Earth” in TCM. Bitters are a great
way to combat that imbalance and reset the body’s need for sugar.
Bitters belong to the chemical group iridoids. Iridoids are produced by plants to
prevent herbivores from eating them. They are also used as a defense against
infection by microorganisms. The bitter taste indicates that there are iridoids
present, which have therapeutic effects for us as humans.
Bitter compounds are found in roots, leaves, bark, fruit, seeds, and stems.
Herbalists use varying methods to extract the bitter compounds to make it easy
to take them daily in a tincture, syrup, glycerite, lozenge, honey, or vinegar.
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HOW DO BITTERS WORK?
First, we must talk about how the gut is the key to overall good health.
Gut health is the foundation of health because the digestion of food provides
the building blocks for your cells, blood, and tissues. Your gastric juices contain
enzymes, which break down all your food into nutrients that can be absorbed
by the blood and used by your cells.
Your gut is home to 2-3 pounds of bacteria (your microbiome) that serves as an
additional digestive organ. In fact, your microbiome does the daily equivalent of
work as your liver. Some scientists call it the second liver. Some scientists call it
our microbial organ
Your microbiome, when healthy, makes your immune system strong and
prevents you from getting chronic diseases.
Simply put, bitters are a way of prepping the body for food.
Upon tasting, bitters stimulate the vagus nerve in the spinal column, which in
turn starts all the digestive juices pumping from each organ in the digestive
system. Saliva increases and releases the salivary amylase enzyme, pepsin and
hydrochloric acid in the stomach are produced, the pancreas, liver, and
gallbladder are stimulated to secrete their juices, and peristalsis kicks in to
scoot things further down the colon to make
room for the food that is coming in.
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HOW DO BITTERS WORK?
This is terrible for digestion and one of the most powerful ways to instigate
digestive problems. It also impacts your microbiome and promotes dysbiosis,
which means that probiotic bacteria don’t grow as well in your intestines
when you are stressed. When probiotic numbers decrease there is room for
opportunistic, pathogenic, and commensal microorganisms to take over and
alter your gut microbiome. This can lead to a massive list of health concerns
including, but not limited to Type 2 diabetes, obesity, digestive issues, insulin
resistance, mood swings, anxiety, depression, and autoimmune disorders.
By working with bitters, you start to train your body to move out of fight, flight,
or freeze and get into a state of rest and digest so you can assimilate all the
nutrients from your food and balance the microbiome in your favor. This helps
prevent the list of diseases mentioned above. Mastering this shift to ‘rest and
digest’ is one of the most impactful ways to end digestive issues quickly.
I’ve even worked with clients who have resolved complex issues like SIBO
(small intestine bacterial overgrowth) within 24 hours of ‘handling’ their stress.
After coaching many thousands of clients, I am clear that stress has the
biggest impact on gut function above anything else. This is why some people
live to an old age smoking and drinking and not caring about what they eat.
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They are laughing a lot, eating meals with others, and live a happy overall life.
While there is work to be done on your stress life, there is something you can
do about it starting right now. Taking bitters before each meal will start
training your body to be more adaptive to stress by getting into rest &
digest easily. This is a simple way to start to get the body de-stressed right
before eating. When you are stressed and eating, your blood isn’t in your
digestive tract and can’t help you digest your food.
BENEFITS OF BITTERS
When adding more minerals to your buffering system reserves, your body
can process acidic metabolites more easily. When you have less acidic buildup
in the tissues, you become more resilient to illness, unstable moods, and
cleansing reactions.
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WHO BITTERS IS FOR
Bitters have been used for millennia in many cultures around the world. It is
safe and relevant for most people to take on a daily basis.
That said, not everyone should take bitters. For contraindications with herbs and
medications or to see which herbs are allowed with pregnancy please refer to
Herbal Contraindications & Drug Interactions. Gentian, contained in Liver Lover
Warming Bitters, is not recommended for someone with gastric ulcers or
gastritis. You can use the product once you heal the lining of your stomach. I
recommend my Gut Rebuilding Program for dietary and herbal support for any
digestive issues or questions you may have. Licorice is contraindicated with high
blood pressure and other cardiac issues. Please consult with your doctor about
possible contraindications. Naturopathic physicians are the most knowledgeable
about herbal remedies and their contraindications.
Suggested Use: Enjoy 3-10 sprays on the tongue before, during, or after meals.
Take one full spray by mouth to relieve digestive discomfort such as gas or
bloating. Additional sprays in the mouth can be taken up to 20 per hour in
acute situations. While you can spray bitters directly in the mouth, you may
also spray them into a small glass of water or tea and sip. My bitters formulas
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are also used for cocktails and mocktails, in kombucha, and water kefir for an
added punch of flavor and digestive support.
We source the highest quality of herbs that have been third party
tested for toxins or contaminants, we only use organic herbs, and
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ensure that the herbs we are using are not being harvested in a manner that is
destructive to the ecosystem. We only choose herbs that can be sustainably
harvested and are not threatened or endangered.
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RAVES FROM OUR FANS
"Love your work and your bitters. I take the Liver Lovers Warming Bitters before
my noon and evening meals. I don't know if I notice anything in particular,
but I want to do everything I can to promote good gut health. I have noticed
that I gravitate towards foods more on the bitter side now. Not that I was
eating a lot of sweet foods, but I now enjoy things like arugula and radishes in
my salads where I didn't necessarily like them before. Now, the Sweet & Gentle
Bitters is a different story. It tastes great, too. Thank you for providing such
high-quality products." - Chris D.
“I absolutely love the Liver Lover Warming Bitters. It is truly aiding my digestion,
just as you promised.” - Kathy K.
“Thank you for the parcel I received yesterday! I really enjoy the Prebiotic
Energy Power. The Sweet & Gentle Bitters are becoming second nature, and the
lovely Probiotic Power Cleanse Kit is wonderful stuff! Your training has changed
my life, I'm so grateful! Have a lovely day!” - Siân
You may take Liver Lover Warming Bitters before each meal.
If you forget, go ahead and take it during or after the meal
when you remember. If it is good for you, your body will tell
you when it wants it.
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SWEET & GENTLE BITTERS
This formula is safe for children to use and can also be used for attention issues
related to inability to focus, hyperactivity, ADD, and ADHD.
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BITTERS CHALLENGE
The Bitters Challenge is a cool way to see for yourself how powerful
these herbs are!
Something to eat that is sweet. Great things we’ve tried are carrot,
apple, chocolate, almond butter, candy, etc.
Liver Lover Warming Bitters or Sweet & Gentle Bitters Glass of water
I hope you enjoy the bitters. I can’t wait to hear the impact on your digestion and
how it supports you to heal your gut.
Probiotically,
Summer
ABOUT SUMMER
I am a trained herbalist certified in integrative nutrition through
Columbia University. A raver in my early twenties, devastating
allergies emerged that left me exhausted, hive-ridden, and only
able to consume 30 foods without a reaction - an outlook that
stumped the medical community.
When not coaching others to optimum health, fermenting, or formulating new digestion
protocols, I enjoy mountain biking, skiing, surfing, boating, and traveling with my boyfriend.
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REFERENCES
Forester, D., Denning, A., Wills, G., Bolger, M., McCarthy, E. (2006). Herbal medicine use
during pregnancy in a group of Australian women. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 6,
Article number: 21. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-6-21
Maruga Raja, M., Sethiya, N., & Mishra, S. (2010). A comprehensive review on Nymphaea
stellata: A traditionally used bitter. Journal Of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology &
Research, 1(3), 311. doi: 10.4103/0110-5558.72424
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