18 Dandelion Health Benefits

Dandelions are more fun than you might think. These little flowering ‘weeds’ get the name ‘dandelion’ from the French term ‘dent de lion’ which means ‘tooth of the lion’. Something that is just as fun, it is guessed that dandelions have been growing since before written history. Keeping that in mind, historians have found a reason to believe that these flowers are actually native to Asia and Europe. The first records of dandelions go back to Roman times but have also been mentioned by Normans and Anglo Saxons, and were used in the tenth and 11th centuries by Arabian physicians as medicines.

Dandelions have been used as a medicine since the tenth and 11th centuries. At those times- in Europe- dandelions were being used to treat diarrhea, fevers, liver congestion, eye problems, boils, skin ailments, and heartburn. In other places, namely India, China, and Russia, dandelion as used to assist appendicitis, breast cancer, digestive issues, and liver diseases.

Below, we will discuss some of these diseases and more in further detail. The dandelion was used as a great healing medicine in the past, so let’s bring it back and use it in the present!

How To Use Dandelions

One pro of dandelion is that there are so many different ways to take in the nutrients from the plant. There is something called dandelion wine; you can get coffee made from the stem, seeds, and leaves; the stem and leaves can be ground into a spread; there is tea made from roots; some people even fry the flowers; you can use the leaves and stems in salads and sandwiches.

Dandelion Health Benefits

1. Digestive Aid

Dandelion helping the liver was not just a guess made hundreds of years ago. It really does help. It helps because of the bitterness of the plant triggers the gastric and salivary fluids. Dandelions are also high in something called prebiotic fiber inulin. This kind of fiber can do amazing things for keeping intestinal movements strong and keep away constipation.  

2. Antioxidants

The antioxidants in dandelions are capable of fighting the free radicals that can cause cancer and they can normalize your metabolism. A specific kind of antioxidant called beta-carotene can protect your cells from oxidative stress.

 

3. Blood Sugar Control

There two acids that contain bioactive compounds. These acids are called chlorogenic and chicoric. These acids are in the entirety of the dandelion plant. Early stage studies have found that the chicoric and chlorogenic are able to increase the secretion from insulin and the absorption of sugar into the muscles. This can help to lower high blood sugar levels and keep healthy blood sugar levels stable.

The diuretic powers in the plant increase urination and that can help to flush out even more extra sugar. It also removes sugars that become collected in the kidneys as a result of the more frequent urination.

 

4. Lower Inflammation

Dandelions have bioactive compounds that are good at keeping inflammation down. It is good to keep inflammation down because if something is swelled for too long, it can actually damage your DNA and body tissue.

 

5. Lower Cholesterol

Dandelion extract can help to lower the triglyceride and cholesterol levels in your blood. The lower amounts of cholesterol also means lower chances of heart disease. Take dandelion extract as directed on the packaging.

 

6. Lower Blood Pressure

Dandelions have what is called a diuretic effect that helps to detox organs. Keeping your body free of extra fluids can actually lower your blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure because your body is low on potassium, dandelions can help you with that as well.

7. Weight Loss

It was mentioned earlier that dandelions help to keep your metabolism strong, right? Well, dandelions can help you to lose weight by keeping your metabolism in check while also reducing your body’s fat absorption and fat storing hormones.

 

8. Cancer Fighters

dandelions are capable of stopping cancerous cells from growing. It is found that the root is best for fighting cancer cells in the colon, pancreas, and liver.

 

9. Skincare

Dandelions can help your skin to stay clear of acne, age spots, and even damage from the sun. You can use juices from the leaves and flower of a dandelion as a natural sunblock. The plant prevents aging spots by encouraging more cell reproduction. Dandelion extract can help to keep skin inflammation down.

10. Immune System

The antioxidants mixed with antiviral and antimicrobial make dandelion one of the perfect candidates for fighting off infection and viruses. If you do get a virus before you start eating dandelion, the plant can still help you since it lessens the virus’s chances of replicating.

 

11. Strong Bones

Dandelions are decently high in vitamin K and calcium which both help to stop your body from losing bone mass. The inulin that was mentioned before can promote healthy bacteria that can actually help your bones to stay strong.

Vitamin C and luteolin are also present in dandelions and those can battle arthritis and osteoporosis. The antioxidants fight free radicals that eat bone to lower density and weaken the bone.

12. Anemia

Dandelions are packed with protein, iron, and vitamins. The iron and vitamin B are needed for making red blood cells, along with other parts of the blood. So dandelions are capable of helping people with anemia issues to better stay in check.

 

13. Pregnancy

Vitamin A is very important for pregnant women. It can keep both mothers and the baby healthier. The biggest benefit of vitamin A during a pregnancy is that it protects the woman from what is called night blindness during the third trimester. Adding dandelions to your diet can help you to take in more vitamin A.

14. UTI

UTI is short for Urinary Tract Infection. The tea made from dandelion roots has a diuretic effect, as well as antibacterial powers. Between these two things, dandelion is perfect for flushing out your urinary tract and kidney. Flushing these out more often makes it much harder for urinary tract infections to gain hold.

 

15. Ulcers

Korean dandelions have been found to help with acid production, oxidative stress, and inflammation that gastritis brings with it. Gastritis, if bad enough, can cause ulcers as well.  Adding dandelions to your diet can help to prevent and treat ulcers.

 

16. Fight Depression

Extract from dandelions has been found to fight off depression because it can lessen the number of hormones that causes depression.

17. Treat Blood Clots

Dandelions have a small protein that gets taken from what is called Taraxacum platycarpum. This protein is like a roadblock for thrombin which is usually what causes blood clots in the first place.

 

18. Mastitis

Mastitis is something that breastfeeding mothers often times suffer. It can cause painful and hot lumps within the tissue of the breast while also causing flu-ish symptoms. The main reason as to why dandelions help with this is because dandelion extract stops inflammatory proteins that can help to cause the symptoms.            

Has this article convinced you to add more dandelion to your diet? Tell us in the comments!              

Sources

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/beverage/dandelion-tea.html?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=366&utm_campaign=also-see#prevents-uti

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-dandelion.html

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dandelion-benefits

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Taraxum_officinale.htm