Evidence supporting the use of: Bitter Principles
For the health condition: Sugar Cravings

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Bitter principles—bioactive compounds imparting a bitter taste to plants—have a long history of traditional use in various cultures to help manage sugar cravings and regulate appetite. In traditional European herbalism, "bitters" (herbal extracts with pronounced bitter flavors from plants like gentian, dandelion, and artichoke) have been used to stimulate digestive function and are sometimes recommended to help reduce the desire for sweets. The rationale is that bitter flavors trigger specific receptors in the mouth and gut, stimulating digestive secretions and, according to traditional practice, helping to balance appetite and reduce cravings for sugar-laden foods. However, while there is some preliminary scientific interest in the role of bitter taste receptors in metabolic regulation, the bulk of evidence supporting the use of bitter principles for sugar cravings comes from traditional use rather than robust clinical studies. Small studies and anecdotal reports suggest bitters may affect appetite or post-meal glucose, but well-designed clinical trials directly evaluating bitter principles for sugar cravings are lacking. Thus, while the traditional use is notable and persists in contemporary herbal practice, scientific validation for this specific use remains limited.

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