Benefits of Dandelion
Dandelions: Menace or Munch?
What are the benefits of dandelion?
North American homeowners have been programmed to destroy dandelions. The dandelion is a tough, resilient enemy. Defensively, the taproot will regenerate the full plant; offensively, the seeds are carried by the wind and germinate easily.
However, the dandelion has many benefits, both as a food and as an herbal remedy.
Perhaps it is time to declare peace rather than to continue the war.
Dandelions then are a very convenient food source: self-seeding, annually regenerating from the root (or even a part of the root left in the ground), easily visible in your lawn or garden, and a good competitor with grass or other plants.
Divide and conquer
Sorry, that should be the final military reference in this article.
All parts of the dandelion are edible: root, stem, leaves, flower and seeds. Some recipes call for the whole plant, or for roots plus leaves. This article does not have room for all the combinations; it will focus mainly on the benefits of dandelion in the roots and leaves.
Dandelion Root
Dandelion roots contain at least the following:
- Vitamins A, C, and D
- Calcium
- Copper
- Fiber
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Zinc
You may prepare dandelion roots as a vegetable; this is the way to ingest the fiber.
You may steep chopped roots to make tea.
You might also purchase dried and powdered dandelion root; again this makes fine tea.
Roasted dandelion root makes a coffee-like drink, somewhat like chicory.
Dandelion leaves
Dandelion leaves contain at least the following:
- Vitamins A, B complex, C, and D
- Calcium
- Choline
- Copper
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Zinc
You may prepare dandelion leaves as you would spinach: raw in salads, or boiled or stir-fried. You may steep the leaves as tea. In most cases you could use all the upper plant (above the root) just as you would use the leaves.
Check out our detox recipes page for recipes using dandelion.
Benefits of Dandelion - Eating
Some benefits of eating dandelion, or drinking dandelion tea, are:
- Digestion: improved flow of bile, which helps digest fat (choline)
- Combats anaemia (iron)
- Correcting constipation and diarrhea (the fibre is a mild laxative)
- Lower blood pressure (as a diuretic, excess water and sodium are excreted)
- By helping to regulate blood sugar levels, eating dandelions may help diabetics and those wanting to manage their weight
- Stronger bones and teeth (calcium and vitamin D)
- Reduced likelihood of muscle spasms (potassium and magnesium)
- Detoxification (by stimulating digestion, liver function, and urination)
- Stimulates appetite (the roots act as “digestive bitters”)
- In general, eating dandelions helps the gallbladder, kidney and liver to function better. >/p>
- Allergic reactions: be wary if you are sensitive to chamomile, daisies, ragweed, yarrow, or other related plants. A few people have skin sensitivity to the leaves or milky sap.
- Antibiotics: if you are taking antibiotics, consult with your doctor about eating dandelions. (Increased urination can move the medicine out of your bloodstream before it can take full effect).
- Dehydration: you may want to drink a bit more straight water, if you notice any signs of dehydration.
- Diabetes: if you are taking insulin or other medications to control your blood sugar, then you need to consult with your doctor. (Dandelions also help stabilize blood sugar; if you take the same amount of insulin, you might go into insulin shock. Consult, and also test your sugar levels).
- Gallstones: the increased flow of bile may increase the pressure on existing gallstones. (Increased bile flow might help prevent gallstones; this is a caution for if you already have gallstones).
- Lithium-based medication: dandelion roots may increase any side effects of taking a lithium-based drug.
- Low blood pressure: dandelions might make your situation worse.
- Urination: men with prostate problems, or anyone with kidney problems, or kidney stones, should be cautious about increasing their urination. If you take other diuretics, then dandelions may increase the effects.
So give the benefits of dandelion a chance! Dandelion tea can be very beneficial as a diuretic. The increased urination eliminates electrolytes such as potassium; but dandelions re-supply several of these electrolytes.
Parts of the dandelion may be used in home-made ointments or poultices, to be applied externally.
Hold your horses
Some people should avoid eating dandelions – or, at least, check with their doctors. Here are the reasons:
Where are your horses, anyway?
More to the point: where are your dandelions?
Your lawn or garden is susceptible to bird droppings and pet urine – but you didn’t use pesticides or herbicides, did you? So a thorough rinse should make the dandelions as clean as any vegetables you grew.
Do you forage “in the wild”? Did the parks department use chemical fertilizers or other sprays? At the side of a busy road, petroleum products may contaminate the plants.
These considerations should not keep you from gathering dandelions; but do gather wisely.
There are many benefits of dandelion, so don't let anything get in your way while working toward adding dandelion to your diet.
Help us save the dandelions!
Have you ever used dandelion in a recipe? Do you drink dandelion tea? How or where do you harvest dandelions? Do you even grow dandelions in your garden?
Tell your story here! Let our visitors know how you make your dandelion tea, or how you use them in your favorite dandelion recipe.
Have you used dandelion as a detox agent and improved your health?
We want to know all! Tell your dandelion story and debunk the idea that dandelions are only noxious weeds.
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Raw food for good health
Not rated yet
For past five years, I and my family are following this raw food diet. It has proved to be very effective and helped a lot to retain us from the laziness ...
