BODY. Dandelion as a SuperFood.
When most adults look at dandelions, they likely see a weed. When most kids see a dandelion, they see a wish to be made off of the seeds that blow in the wind. When I look at a dandelion, I see good medicine. I think this simple medicinal plant, often thought of as a weed, challenges us to change our minds, as it is largely misunderstood.
Soil Health In our world where soil that has become increasingly toxic, it helps to neutralize the soil and adds minerals back into it. We all know how deep and stubborn dandelion roots are, and that is because it is actually working to make soil less compact and aerate it, making plants easier to grow. In my mind, soil health = human health, because whether we follow a carnivore diet or a plant-based diet, the food chain starts with the plants in the ground. If the soil is mineral-rich, then what we eat is also mineral-rich and highly nutritious.
Human Health For human health more directly, I find the dandelion to be an underrated superfood. After all, how does one make this abundant weed perceived as trendy and sexy? The whole plant has an incredible affiliation for our liver and its health, and aids in clearing out congestion or sluggishness that may be occurring. Dandelion is a choleretic, which is a fancy word that means it helps our liver to secrete bile. Bile in turns helps with digestion of fats and also aids in getting toxins out of our system. The leaf is a diuretic, meaning it helps with excretion of water from our urinary system and flush things out. It is also amazingly rich in vitamins A and C, as well as potassium (which most Americans are deficient in).
Harvesting The next time you see a dandelion growing outside of your door, I ask you to first admire it before cursing it. The spring leaves can actually be sweet at this time of year before its focus then goes to flower production, when the root and leaf then turn more bitter. If you so desire to give dandelion a try as an addition to your next salad or stir-fry, harvest in areas that are free of pesticides and also far enough away from trail sides where dogs may have urinated. In the fall, dandelion roots are roasted and can be turned into a coffee substitute (such as Dandy Blend). Most grocery stores actually sell dandelion greens in the produce section.
As the corny, but true, quote goes on the Traditional Medicinal tea bags, “The difference between a flower and a weed is a judgement.” Here is my official request that even while uprooting dandelion for the trash, you have a bit more reverence for this superfood and plant that we have evolved with and gives so much benefit to our liver, our soil and our detoxification process.
