By Carly Bayroff
Dandelions are no longer weeds that invade your garden every spring. The dandelion packs a ton of nutrients, making it safe to consume. There are two parts to the dandelion: the root and the leaf, and each has its own use. Both parts help regulate areas of the digestive system, but the root is best for your liver because of the compounds in it while the leaf is best for your kidneys, acting as a diuretic.
Reduces Bloating: We’ve all had that horrible feeling of being bloated but drinking dandelion tea can help with this. It has been shown to have a significant effect on water content in our bodies. Those who drink cups of this tea made from the leaves may have noticed that they’ve been visiting the restroom a little more than usual, but don’t worry this is completely normal and all down to the tea.
Acts As a Liver Detox: Our livers produce bile that helps the enzymes in the body break down into fatty acids that we need. The vitamin and nutrients in dandelions cleanse our liver’s to keep us healthy. For this purpose, you should drink tea from the dandelion root because of its diuretic properties which allow your liver to quickly eliminate toxins. Again, you’ll notice some more frequent visits to the restroom but this is completely welcome and it’s also beneficial for fighting bacterial infections.
Helps with Diabetes: If our bodies don’t produce proper amounts of insulin, this can result to diabetes. Dandelion tea helps by activating the production of insulin from the pancreas and keeping blood sugar levels low.
Soothes Your Skin: When you break a dandelion stem, you’ll see a milky white substance. This has amazing properties that are great for your skin, it can keep it clear and prevent irritation and infection.
Build Strong Bones: Dandelion tea contains a ton of essential minerals like calcium, zinc, iron and magnesium… who knew? Our body needs these minerals to create and maintain strong bones. These minerals are key in keeping us feeling physically fit as we age.
You can easily make your own dandelion tea at home, nothing like a bit of DIY. The most important part is making sure the plants have not been treated with any chemicals before you use them. Harvest the plants and then clean them thoroughly. Pour hot water over the top of the dandelion greens or roots, let them steep, strain the liquid and then enjoy! For more detailed instructions on dandelion leaf tea click here and for a recipe for dandelion root tea click here. If you prefer to buy the tea, you can get it on Amazon or in stores at Holland & Barrett.