Dandelion

As you drive through the countryside, glance to the side of the road at the grassy lawns and pastures. Do you notice the little yellow spots popping up through the green-ness? Dandelions are beginning to appear!

"According to the USDA Bulletin #8, "Composition of Foods" (Haytowitz and Matthews 1984), dandelions rank in the top 4 green vegetables in overall nutritional value. Minnich, in "Gardening for Better Nutrition" ranks them, out of all vegetables, including grains, seeds and greens, as tied for 9th best. According to these data, dandelions are nature's richest green vegetable source of beta-carotene, from which Vitamin A is created, and the third richest source of Vitamin A of all foods, after cod-liver oil and beef liver! They also are particularly rich in fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and the B vitamins, thiamine and riboflavin, and are a good source of protein." See more here...

Dandelions might be a nuisance to your landscape, but they are a blessing to your health! Whether they are served on your dinner plate or taken as a supplement, these little plants are packed with goodness.

Let's set aside the nutritional value for a moment and look at the healthful properties. Dandelion aids in these (and other) areas:

• purifies blood


• improves bowel function


• prevent or improve anemia


• cholesterol lowering


• blood pressure reducing


• kidney stone removal


• reduce acid indigestion


• acne/skin improvements


• assist in weight reduction


• reduces intestinal gas build-up


• helpful with gall bladder disorders


• gently reducing water retention


• and the list goes on!

Now imagine if you went to the doctor for something that felt serious to you, and instead of writing out 5-6 prescriptions, the doctor says "go home and EAT!" Doesn't that sound like something so easy that anybody can do it? Good nutrition is always the first line of defense. Dandelion is a good choice here. You can even purchase dandelion greens in some grocery stores. If you don't feel like you can eat greens like that (sometimes it does require developing a taste for things like this), then perhaps dandelion tea is a better choice. STILL taste sensitive? Capsules don't leave a taste in your mouth and you still get dandelion in your system, and this method might be easier to take regularly.

Consider your lifestyle, consider your health needs, and then consider dandelion. It just might be what you've been looking for!

*Note* Dandelions can be grown or harvested from the wild, but be SURE you identify your plants correctly when doing so. Also make sure they are free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals that might not be easy to see with the naked eye.