Oh, Those Dandelions!

Only in the twentieth century did humans decide that the dandelion was a weed. Before the invention of lawns, the golden blossoms and lion-toothed leaves were more likely to be praised as a bounty of food, medicine and magic. Gardeners used to weed out the grass to make room for the dandelions. 

In my work with WoodlandsMamas I am learning more about natural approaches to life. I am starting to routinely ask myself, "Why did God make this?" and "Is there a way to do this/make this/fix this that does not use chemicals?"  Today the journey lead me to dandelions.

 Dandelions are among the most expensive items in the grocery store. The roots are dried and sold as a no-caffeine coffee substitute – for $31.75 a pound. Dandelions out-price prime rib, swordfish and lobster. They appear in produce and other sections, and even at the liquor store. 

You can enjoy a complete meal, from salad greens to dandelion quiche, followed by dandelion ice cream, washed down with dandelion wine. If you over-indulge, a cup of dandelion tea is the perfect remedy, since dandelions help the liver flush hangover-inducing toxins from the body.

This resilient, nutrient dense plant actually has great medicinal value. 

In traditional herbal medicine, the root and leaves are used to treat: liver disease, constipation and poor digestion.   Dandelion is believed to help regulate blood sugar levels. It functions as a mild diuretic, and contains many nutrients, including vitamins.

A time-tested herb long used for the treatment of various ailments, the dandelion is generally recognized as safe to consume. However, it may cause mouth sores in some individuals and interact with other herbs and medications. Consult a health care provider for advice before using any alternative supplement.

Vitamins

They have more vitamin A than spinach, more vitamin C (19mg per cup)  than tomatoes, and are a powerhouse . The dandelion also has folic acid, B6 and trace amounts of B1, B2, B3 and B5.   To balance the bitter taste of the dandelion, it can also be added to green salads, teas and soups. The French have a well-known soup called creme de pissenlits (cream of dandelion soup), which is easy to make. 

My grandmother made dandelion wine -- that works for me! LOL

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Fat-soluble vitamins are important nutrients. Unlike water-soluble vitamins, which are lost when heated, fat-soluble vitamins are not lost during cooking and are stored in the liver and fat cells for future use by the body. 

According to HealthRecipes.com, the leaves of the dandelion contain more vitamin A than the equivalent amount of carrots. One cup of dandelion greens can yield 7,700 IU of vitamin A. Other notable fat soluble vitamins in the dandelion include vitamin E and vitamin K.

Minerals

The dandelion contains minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These nutrients are important for bone health. One cup of dandelion leaves contains 103mg of calcium and 20mg of magnesium. Potassium, another mineral in the dandelion, is needed for healthy kidneys; one cup of dandelion leaves contains 218mg of this vital nutrient. Trace amounts of zinc, copper and selenium are also present in the dandelion.

Dandelions have sunk their roots deep into history. They were well known to ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, and have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for over a thousand years. Dandelions probably arrived in North America on the Mayflower – not as stowaways, but brought on purpose for their medicinal benefits.
 

Dandelions were world-famous for their beauty. They were a common and beloved garden flower in Europe, and the subject of many poems. In the terrifying New World, the cheerful face of the dandelion would have been a sweet reminder of home. In Japan, whole horticultural societies formed to enjoy the beauty of dandelions and to develop exciting new varieties for gardeners. 

To top it off, Discovery News is highlighting an interesting development in the field of rubber. According to new research being done in Ohio, dandelion root sap could be made into a rubber of equal quality to traditional rubber from trees, at a lower cost!

Take another look at those little yellow plants!  WoodlandsMamas sure is!

 

Sources:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/295557-vitamins-in-dandelions/
http://www.mofga.org/Default.aspx?tabid=756 
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/08/dandelion-rubber-could-be-alternative-to-tree-rubber.php
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/eating-dandelions.html 
http://serenityinthegarden.blogspot.com/2011/05/amazing-dandelion-harvesting-and.html
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/eating-dandelions.html
Recipes for Dandelion Wine:
http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/dandelion.asp
Recipe for Dandelion Soup:
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/cream-of-dandelion-soup-recipe.html
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/295557-vitamins-in-dandelions/#ixzz1MGL1UnZt
Graphic of boy: Paul Viant/Photodisc/Getty Images
Links:
http://www.eveventure.com/Peggy/article/oh-those-dandy-dandelions
http://the-best-nest.blogspot.com/2011/05/dandy-dandelions.html