Scientific name of dandelion is Taraxacum officinale. It belongs to the family Asteraceae, the chrysanthemum family. It is a native to Eurasia and North America. Dandelion greens are grown for its edible leaves which are used as a leaf vegetable in many parts of the world.
A detailed account of various health benefits of dandelion greens is as follows:
Dandelion greens are a good source of Dietary Fiber
100 g edible portion of dandelion greens contain 3.5g of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is good for human body. High fiber foods is good for weight loss as they take long time to get digested and also make you feel full for a long period of time. High fiber food aids in digestion, cures constipation, lowers blood cholesterol, cleanses the gastrointestinal tract and may reduce the risk of developing diabetes and colorectal cancer.
Dandelion greens are an excellent source of Vit.A
100g edible portion of dandelion greens contains 10161 IU (international unit) of Vitamin A. According to FDA, daily requirement of Vitamin A for an adult is 5000 IU. In other words, incorporating even 50 grams of dandelion greens in your daily diet may be sufficient to meet your daily Vitamin A requirements.
Vitamin A is essential for eye health and also for strengthening body’s natural immune system. Vitamin A is also essential for tissue building, and skin health. Vitamin A deficiency results in night blindness, and drying of skin and eyes.
Dandelion greens are an excellent source of Vit.K
100g edible portion of dandelion greens contain 778.4 µg of Vitamin K. It is essential for blood clotting, and for preventing heart diseases, cancer, and osteoporosis. Vitamin K deficiency results in bleeding gums and bleeding nose.
Dandelion greens are an excellent source of Vit.C
100g edible portion of dandelion greens contain 35mg of Vitamin C or ascorbic acid. It is a powerful antioxidant vitamin. Vitamin C helps in absorption of iron and calcium. It increases body’s natural immunity. Vitamin C deficiency results in a disease called scurvy. Major symptoms of scurvy are bleeding gum, joint pain, and hair loss.
Dandelion greens are a good source of Iron
100g edible portion of dandelion greens contain 3.1mg of Iron. Iron is essential for RBC (red blood cell) formation and transfer oxygen between the tissues and within the blood. Red colour of blood is due to the presence of iron in it. Iron is essential for increasing body immunity and also for the synthesis of neurotransmitters.
Iron deficiency results in anaemic appearances, increase in heart rate and breathing, poor immune system, yellowing of the body and severe headaches.
Dandelion greens are a good source of Potassium
100g edible portion of dandelion greens contain 397 mg of potassium. Potassium is an essential mineral that plays an important role in lowering blood pressure.
Health Benefits of Dandelion Herbal Tea: Both dandelion leaves and roots are used for making dandelion herbal tea. Dandelion roots are highly valued for its medicinal benefits. Some recent researches reveal that dandelion roots have the ability to kill cancer cells.
Dandelion herbal tea is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C. This tea is good for liver detoxification, for improving digestion, and for preventing diabetes. Regular consumption of dandelion tea helps in maintaining a healthy body weight by reducing water weight.
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