It’s easy to look at supermodels like Bella Hadid and Adriana Lima and assume they’ve never had a problem in their life, let alone a pimple. But here’s the thing—they’re women with complex hormones, just like us. The perils of things like periods and acne don’t go away just because you’ve got a couple of extra mil in your bank account (although, it might help you deal with it!). But one thing they do have that us mere mortals don’t is access to one of Hollywood’s best doctors and nutritionists, Dr. Charles Passler. Not only is Dr. Charles the go-to guy for many celebs and models when it comes to getting healthy and energised, he happens to know a thing or two about eating to balance your hormones and eliminate acne. Luckily for us, he’s shared his secret to better skin with MindBodyGreen—and it’s not what you’d expect.
According to Dr. Charles, bitter herbs are seriously underrated when it comes to improving your overall health, as well as your skin. Here, he explains why: “They activate bitter receptors on the tongue, which in turn activates cells in your stomach to normalize acid production for better digestion. When this happens, bile production and digestive enzyme production are improved as well. Proper bile production is essential for detoxifying the liver, excretion of heavy metals from your body, hormone balance, and bowel regularity. Digestive enzymes are essential for extracting and absorbing nutrients from your food. They can also help to reduce the number of unfriendly bacteria in your intestines. Finally, bitter foods also tend to be rich in antioxidants, which help to reduce inflammation.”
The result? Clear, glowing skin, reduced PMS, better sleep and improved digestion. Where do we sign up?
So, what are bitter herbs, exactly?
Bitter herbs range from things you’re already eating to ones you’ve probably never heard of before. The ones that Dr.Charles recommends to his clients include endive, dandelion greens, broccoli raab, escarole, spinach, mustard greens, and kale. “Many people will add sweeteners like sugary salad dressings to overcome the bitterness, but I’m not a big fan of recommending extra sugar to my patients,” he says. So, how do you make it palatable? “Preparing them with extra-virgin olive oil and fresh garlic is a good option to improve the taste.” He also notes that lemon juice works wonders to balance out the bitterness.
Dr. Charles recommends that bitter herbs make up 20% of each meal—which may sound difficult, but you can easily saute them with your veggies or add them into your soup and smoothies. Your body (and skin!) will thank you for it.
