Good Plants for Good Digestion: What's Actually On My Table
Every morning started the same: I'd feel fine, eat a healthy breakfast, and within an hour, the bloating would begin. And then it would continue to linger for the rest of the day.
I did everything I knew to do. I eliminated foods, tracked patterns, adjusted meals. Nothing really helped.
What finally shifted was this: After time, I realized that the problem wasn't something I was eating. It was something I wasn't.
I eventually landed on two things that actually helped: a tablespoon of raw enzyme-rich vinegar in my water everyday, and a couple dropperfuls of herbal digestive bitters right on my tongue just before meals.
Simple and unglamorous by most standards. Just old folk wisdom that got lost somewhere between the invention of antacids and the protein powder aisle.
Herbalism is deeply individual, and what works for one body can feel completely different in another. Learning to listen and respond to that is the real work of being human.
When it comes to healthy digestion, here are the small habits I return to again and again:
A SLOW START ✿ MORNING COFFEE
Elder Sage Herbal Honey
You probably know this one as an immune support product, and it is. But Elder Sage is also the most bitter of all our honeys with garden sage and reishi, making it a quiet digestive ally too. I stir a teaspoon into my morning coffee. It adds a deep, complex sweetness that plays beautifully with the roast. Highly recommend.
BITTERS ✿ BEFORE MEALS
Gut Flora Digestive Bitters
Two dropperfuls of Gut Flora Digestive Bitters straight on the tongue, about 15 minutes before I eat. This is the small habit that helped me so much. The flavor of classic herbal bitters like chamomile and yarrow signals your body to start producing digestive juices before food even arrives. Takes 10 seconds. It can be a real bugger to get in the habit, once I did, it was a real game changer.
SOMETHING BRIGHT ✿ WITH MEALS
Hibiscus Orange Fire Cider
Most people think of fire cider as a shot you grimace through. When I'm not slurping on spoonfuls to help support my general, every day wellness, I mix mine into a quick vinaigrette to drizzle over a salad of fresh greens. A splash of fire cider, a drizzle of cold-pressed olive oil, a touch of Dijon, and a good shake... tangy, so flavorful, and genuinely delicious. A digestive bitter hiding in plain sight.
A SWEET, SETTLING ✿ FINISH
After Dinner Mint Herbal Honey or Chamomile & Calm Herbal Honey
When I want something sweet after dinner, a teaspoon of herbal honey is my go-to. The Chamomile & Calm is soothing and settling, good for nights when dinner sits heavy. The After Dinner Mint is bright and refreshing, like the sweet end to a really good meal. Either way, it feels like a treat. The digestive support is just a bonus.
SHOP OUR
✿ DIGESTIVE SUPPORT ✿
COLLECTION
To living wildly well,
PS. Not sure where to start? Gut Flora Digestive Bitters is a good place. Once I got in the habit of remembering to take it before meals, it's what made the biggest difference for me. Read more about digestive bitters here: The Case for Bitters | A Forgotten Ritual for Modern Digestion.
