Dandelion appears overnight to cover the perfect green lawn, or instead of fighting the ubiquitous yellow weed, bring it into the kitchen.
Dandelion is a herb, and herbs have many health and nutritional benefits. Why should you add them to your diet?
Nutritional benefits of dandelion
Dandelion contains a lot of vitamins and minerals in a small plant. It's probably the most nutritious greens you can eat - they surpass even kale or spinach.
Dandelion is, in particular, an excellent source of vitamins and minerals such as:
- Vitamins A, C and K.
- Folat.
- Calcium.
- Potassium
Health benefits of dandelion
In addition to being full of nutrients, dandelion contains compounds that can help prevent health problems. Unfortunately, scientists do not pay much attention to wild plants. More research is needed to confirm everything that dandelion can do.
Still, some research points to several benefits of dandelions.
Provide antioxidants
Dandelion contains several different types of antioxidants in the roots, leaves and flowers. Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals - false molecules that can damage your body's cells and make you age faster.
Reduce inflammation
Chronic inflammation in the body plays a role in the long list of serious health problems of heart disease. One way to stay healthy is to eat foods that fight inflammation. Add dandelion to your anti-inflammatory diet: Laboratory studies have found that compounds in these plants can reduce inflammation.
Manage blood pressure
Dandelion is rich in potassium, which makes them a natural diuretic. In other words, they make you pee. Diuretics are often used to control high blood pressure.
Control blood sugar
Dandelion is used worldwide as a natural way to control type 2 diabetes. Researchers are still investigating the link, but animal studies suggest that compounds in dandelion could help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
Lower cholesterol
Reducing cholesterol is a key step towards reducing the risk of heart disease. Animal studies have found that extracts from dandelion roots and leaves can naturally lower cholesterol levels.
How to eat dandelion
The great thing about dandelions is that every part of the plant is edible.
Green part
Dandelion leaves are a bit bitter, they taste similar to arugula. Try tossing some fresh, washed leaves in the salad. You can also cook them to remove the bitterness.
Soak the leaves in cold, salted water for 10 or 15 minutes, then cook them in boiling water until soft (no more than five minutes). Finish by stewing cooked cabbage with a little olive oil, onion or garlic. Drizzle with parmesan.
Flowers
Sunny dandelion flowers give color to salads. Use them fresh or dried to make dandelion tea. You can try dipping them in oil or vinegar. Dandelion oil can also be used to make a balm that is great for muscle aches.
Root
Roasted dandelion roots are used in a delicious coffee-like beverage. You can find a substitute for dandelion-based coffee in health food stores.