Have you ever wondered why your salad tastes like water, or why everything on your plate seems to skew toward sweet and mild? Turns out, our diets have been systematically stripped of one of nature’s most vital flavor profiles—and our bodies are begging for its comeback. Jenna McCarthy’s latest piece, “Your Diet Is Probably Missing Bitters,” dives into why a little bitterness might be exactly what your digestive system—and your taste buds—need to wake up and thrive.
From the way bitterness triggers our metabolism and signals organs to start digesting (it’s like a pre-meal ‘heads up’ for your body!) to the surprising ways it vibes with your vagus nerve and helps us actually feel satisfied, McCarthy makes the science fun and seriously relatable. Plus, she explores why most of us have forgotten this ancient culinary wisdom, and how reintroducing a hint of tartness could be the key to feeling better after meals.
* Do you purposely eat bitter foods, or are you part of the “vanilla latte and cake-flavored protein powder” crowd?
* Have you ever noticed a difference in your digestion or appetite when you have arugula, radicchio, or something like Campari before eating?
* Are you curious—or maybe a little skeptical—about the idea that bitterness could be what’s missing from your mealtime ritual?
I’ve just made myself a batch of sauerkraut, though still a bit chewy, it’s absolutely delicious. AI tells me it’s sour though not bitter, which I kinda knew, but was hoping it was bitter too. I do love sour. I think I need to focus now on looking for bitter.
So have a read and tell us what you think. More bitter, less sweet, What are you doing/going to do about this?