5 Reasons to Eat Dandelions
It never ceases to amaze me how mother nature gave us exactly everything that we need to be healthy.
I'm also struck by how far from nature we have strayed, so much so that we commonly destroy these powerful little plants without a second thought. I often wonder, "Who was the first person to decide that dandelions had to be destroyed instead of harvested, and how did he or she convince the masses to follow along?"
Dandelion flowers remind me of little bursts of sunshine that come through the ground after the long, gloomy stagnation of winter.
They carry within them all the properties we need to clean our bodies from the inside, which in turn prepares us for spring. Dandelions, if used properly will give us the strength and energy to stay strong, healthy, and active during the summer. Here are 5 reasons you should not discard these plants, rather use them in your kitchen.
1. Dandelion leaves are bitter. In our modern society we often think of anything bitter as unappetizing. This is because so many of our palates are coated in too much sugar and salt, creating a toxic coat on our taste buds that prevents us from enjoying any of the other tastes. In ayurveda, bitter is just one of the ESSENTIAL tastes that we need to consume to help us stay balanced and free of disease. After our natural desire to eat heavy comfort foods in the cold of winter, it is also natural for our bodies to want to cleanse as soon as spring sets in. Bitter flavors, such as dandelion leaves, do just that. They cleanse our digestions, our blood, and our bodies in general.
2. The flowers are pretty. Who doesn't want to eat pretty food? You can use the flowers to make tea. After harvesting the flowers, wash them well. Then steep them in either a warm or cold infusion. You may add a little bit of honey. Then, drink up.
3. They are loaded with micro-nutrients and antioxidants! As we all know, antioxidants are super duper good for us. They kill free radicals in our body and help to eliminate them. Dandelions also have iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. And all of these natural vitamins grow in our backyards every spring...for FREE!!! How much are you spending on store bought vitamins?
4. They are good for skincare. Research shows that properties in dandelions help to protect the skin from sun causing damage, aging, and acne.
5. It helps to lose weight. Dandelions are good for ridding the body of excess kapha. Kapha in ayurveda is know for being heavy. In excess this can lead to a number of health ailments, including cancer. We've all heard by now that being overweight and obese can, and will most likely lead to some form of cancer. This is because the excess of kapha in the body eventually has no where to get stored, so it begins to make its way into various organs and other tissues in the body. Since adipose tissue is not supposed to be stored in the organs, blood, and bones, it turns into toxic residue, eventually becoming cancer. The bitterness of the dandelion plant actually cleanses the body of excess kapha, helping to lose weight, and killing cancer cells.
Below is a simple recipe I like to use for dandelion flowers.
I fill a jar about half way with clean dandelion flowers. Then I pour just enough apple cider vinegar into the jar, so that the flowers are covered. I place the lid on the jar and store it in a cool dry place for a week or two.
Once it's ready, I dilute it with cucumber water, and pour it into a spray bottle. I spray this on my skin and my scalp while I'm in the shower.
Give it a try, and let me know what you think. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below.
If you'd like to learn more about ayurveda and how to rid your body of excess kapha, please schedule a free consult with me. You can do so by clicking on my website.
As always, much love and namaste friends.
Sabrina