India, April 27 -- Starting the meal with something bitter is customary in many Indian cuisines. It is a tradition that is almost religiously maintained by adults and despised by children. However, according to Dr Karan Rajan, a UK-based surgeon and health content creator, the habit is actually approved by science.

Taking to Instagram on April 26, Dr Rajan explained how having bitter foods ahead of or at the beginning of meals helps the digestive system to better tackle the food that follows.

While bitter is an arguably unpopular taste, its receptors are present throughout the digestive tract, which helps the different parts better prepared to get to work, shared Dr Rajan.

In his words, "If you eat bitter compounds with or before your ...