Ok...I'm really clueless.  Could someone please fill me in on what "bitters" are or more importantly where do I buy such a thing and how do I use them.  I'm type A and I do notice that an evening meal of animal protein is a problem.  I've been trying to avoid it but sometimes it is the best choice in terms of food when eating out with others.  Should I be using "bitters" regularly?  I believe I don't get the most from my food because of not digesting food well.  I do chew well though...I know Lola would mention that first!  

Gentiana lutea mixed with other herbs should be available at least as an alcoholic extract. Generally speaking most people think bitter is an alcoholic drink sipped to stimulate appetite. BTD recommends the use of bitters for type A well ahead of a meal to give a headstart in secreting digestive juices. Coffee and wine are also bitters in that sense. Anything that stimulates stomach acid, I guess. Betaine if all else fails. Betaine comes from Kola nuts. Chewing plain Kola nuts is however not healthy due to some carcinogenic properties so a supplement with Betaine HCL is a better bet. I think Solgar has one. Maybe just some bitter chocolate like a raw skinned cocoa bean. At first it tastes shocking but you may develop a taste for it.

ginger and other goodies promote digestion as well.....

Ok...sounds good.  Maybe I will do a ginger tea or something that Proto suggests 30 minutes before a meal.  I realized my best digested meal is always breakfast and that makes sense because I have just one cup of coffee in the AM on an empty stomach well before the meal.  Never made the connection.

I've grown to like dandelion / chicory tea (as a replacement for coffee, no no for Explorers).  It is bitter and it stimulates acids and I have it before the evening meal.  I read somewhere that all bitter foods are good for the liver.  

Lemon in water is also good for me when I have eaten a fatty meal and it's just sitting in the stomach, with indigestion.  Also rosehip tea with ginger and lemon is nice (Dr D recommends no drinking within 30 minutes of a meal) to stimulate digestion.

Following on from great explanation from Proto, Pineapple is also recommended in the BTD and contains the enzyme bromelain that helps meat digestion and stimulates stomach acids too.  Pineapple juice or a pineapple desert may be good after a protein meal too.

Quoted from Symbi

I've grown to like dandelion / chicory tea (as a replacement for coffee, no no for Explorers).  It is bitter and it stimulates acids and I have it before the evening meal.  I read somewhere that all bitter foods are good for the liver.  

Lemon in water is also good for me when I have eaten a fatty meal and it's just sitting in the stomach, with indigestion.  Also rosehip tea with ginger and lemon is nice (Dr D recommends no drinking within 30 minutes of a meal) to stimulate digestion.

Following on from great explanation from Proto, Pineapple is also recommended in the BTD and contains the enzyme bromelain that helps meat digestion and stimulates stomach acids too.  Pineapple juice or a pineapple desert may be good after a protein meal too.

Anything fruity or vegetably (is that a word   ) does seem to help a bit...but I'm pretty sure the bromelain is only in the stem of the pineapple...so there may not be so much in the juice... but it still seems to help a bit...

Thanks Symbi and Possum.  I'm thinking a little tea 30 minutes prior to evening meal is a good idea.  Find with brekky and even lunch...struggle with dinner.

I like to take the chewable papaya enzymes with my meals and that really helps. I also take a half capsule of licorice..the whole capsule is too much.  Oh and Deflect assists with digestion also.

Thanks Mayflowers!  I'll try that...sounds easy enough.