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Fresh dandelion
greens, flower tops, and roots contain valuable constituents that are known to
have anti-oxidant, disease preventing, and health promoting properties.
Fresh leaves are
very low in calories; providing just 45 calories per 100 g. It is also good
source of dietary fibre (provide about 9% of RDA per 100 g). In addition, its
latex is a good laxative. These active principles in the herb help reduce
weight and control cholesterol levels in the blood.
Dandelion root as
well as other plant parts contains bitter crystalline compounds Taraxacin, and
an acrid resin, Taraxacerin. Further, the root also contains inulin (not
insulin) and levulin. Together, these compounds are responsible for various
therapeutic properties of the herb.
Fresh dandelion
herb provides 10161 IU of vitamin-A per 100 g, about 338% of daily-recommended
intake, one of the highest source of vitamin-A among culinary herbs. Vitamin A
is an important fat-soluble vitamin and anti-oxidant, required for maintaining
healthy mucus membranes and skin and vision.
Its leaves are
packed with numerous health benefiting flavonoids such as carotene-β,
carotene-α, lutein, crypto-xanthine and zeaxanthin. Consumption of natural
foods rich in vitamin-A and flavonoids (carotenes) helps body protect from lung
and oral cavity cancers. Zeaxanthin has photo-filtering functions and protects
retina from UV rays.
The herb is good
source of minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, and magnesium.
Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids, which helps
regulate heart rate and blood pressure. Iron is essential for red blood cell
production. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant
enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
It is also rich
in many vital vitamins including folic acid, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin,
vitamin -E and vitamin-C that are essential for optimum health. Vitamin-C is a
powerful natural antioxidant. Dandelion greens provide 58% of daily-recommended
levels of vitamin-C.
Dandelion is
probably the richest herbal sources of vitamin K; provides about 650% of DRI.
Vitamin-K has potential role in bone mass building by promoting osteotrophic
activity in the bones. It also has established role in the treatment of
Alzheimer's disease patients by limiting neuronal damage in the brain.
Dandelion herb
contains notable nutrients and is a great source of nutrition during winter
This humble
backyard herb provides (%of RDA/100g)-
9% of
dietary fibre,
19% of
vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine),
20% of
Riboflavin,
58% of
vitamin C,
338% of
vitamin A,
649% of
vitamin K,
39% of iron
and
19% of
calcium.
(Note:
RDA-Recommended daily allowance)
Bone Health: Dandelions are rich in calcium, which is essential for the
growth and strength of bones, and they are rich in antioxidants like vitamin-C
and Luteolin, which protect bones from age-related damage. This inevitable
damage is often due to free radicals, and is frequently seen as bone frailty,
weakness, and decreased density.
Liver Disorders: Dandelions can help the liver in many ways. While the
antioxidants like vitamin-C and Luteolin keep the liver functioning in optimal
gear and protect it from aging, other compounds in dandelions help treat haemorrhaging
in the liver. Furthermore, dandelions aid in maintaining the proper flow of
bile, while also stimulating the liver and promoting digestion. Proper
digestion can reduce the chances of constipation, which in turn reduces the
risk of more serious gastrointestinal issues.
Diabetes: Dandelion juice can help diabetic patients by stimulating the
production of insulin from the pancreas, thereby keeping the blood sugar level
low. Since dandelions are diuretic in nature, they increase urination in
diabetic patients, which helps remove the excess sugar from the body. Diabetics
are also prone to renal problems, so the diuretic properties of dandelion can
help removing the sugar deposition in the kidneys through increased urination.
Furthermore, dandelion juice is slightly bitter to taste, which effectively
lowers the sugar level in the blood, as all bitter substances do. Consistently
lower blood sugar and a more regulated system of insulin release prevents
dangerous spikes and plunges for diabetic patients, so dandelion extracts can
be a perfect solution!
Urinary Disorders: Dandelions are highly diuretic in nature, so they help eliminate
deposits of toxic substances in the kidneys and the urinary tract. The
disinfectant properties of dandelions also inhibit microbial growth in the
urinary system. In fact, the diuretic properties of dandelions are so strong
that in France, the flower is also called “pissenlit” which means “urinate in
bed”.
Skin Care: Dandelion sap, also known as dandelion milk, is useful in
treating skin diseases which are caused by microbial and fungal infections.
This treatment stems from the fact that the sap is highly alkaline and has
germicidal, insecticidal and fungicidal properties. You should be careful while
using this sap, and avoid any contact with the eyes. This sap can be used on
itches, ringworm, eczema, and other skin conditions without the risk of side
effects or hormonal disturbances commonly caused by pharmaceutical skin
treatments.
Acne: Dandelion juice is a good detoxifier, diuretic, stimulant and
antioxidant. These four properties make it a great treatment for acne. Before
we know how it treats acne, we must know what causes it. Acne typically arises
during the teenage years, when the body undergoes many physiological and
hormonal changes. The flood of new hormones that bring about the changes in the
body must be regulated, but if they don’t remain at a healthy ratio, they tend
to deposit somewhat toxic substances into the body. These toxins tend to come
out along with sweat through the sweat glands or sebaceous glands on the skin.
During these hormonal changes, these glands
secrete more oils which, when mixed with dead skin, block the pores and the
secretion of toxins is obstructed. Therefore, the toxic substances cannot
escape and eventually result in acne. This situation is exacerbated by the
microbial infections on the effected places. Dandelion juice, being a
stimulant, diuretic and detoxifier in nature, can help regulate proper
secretion of hormones, increase sweating and widen the pores. All of these
factors help to facilitate the removal of toxins through sweat and urine. Furthermore,
dandelion sap, if externally applied to areas with acne, can inhibit microbial
infection and reduce the frustrating signs of acne. Also, it can speed up
healing due to its vitamin-C content, so the scars and ugly red inflammation
that traditionally follows acne treatment will be less noticeable.
Weight Loss: Our urine consists of up to 4% fat, so the more we urinate, the
more water and fats are lost from the body. Dandelions, being diuretic in
nature, promotes urination and thereby helps lose the dreaded “water weight”
without causing any side effects. Furthermore, dandelions are low in calories,
like most leafy greens, but for the small expense of calories (~1oo cal./4
cups), you get a huge amount of beneficial side effects. This is also why dandelions
are sometimes used as sweeteners, because they are not packed with unhealthy
sugars.
Cancer: Dandelions are high in antioxidants, such as vitamin-C and
Luteolin, which reduce the free radicals (major cancer-causing agents) in the
body, thereby reducing the risk of cancer. It also detoxifies the body, which
further helps protect from the development of tumours and various cancers.
Luteolin actually poisons essential components of cancer cells when it binds to
them, rendering them ineffective and unable to reproduce. This characteristic
has been demonstrated most notably with prostate cancer, although there are
other studies being done.
Jaundice: Jaundice is primarily a disorder of the liver in which the organ
starts overproducing bile, which ultimately enters the bloodstream and wreaks
havoc on the body’s metabolism. The excess bile is also reflected through colour
of the skin, and eyes, which typically develop a yellow tint. The treatment of
jaundice includes three main steps. First, you need to curb the production of
bile. Second, you must remove the excess bile from the body, and third, you
have to fight the underlying viral infection.
Dandelions are very helpful in all of these
steps. It promotes liver health and regulates bile production. Being diuretic
in nature, it promotes urination, where the excess bile can be eliminated.
Finally, as an antioxidant and disinfectant due to the presence of vitamin-C
and Luteolin, it fights viral infections as well. It is most beneficial when
taken with sugarcane juice, since it replaces the sugar in the body that is
significantly lowered due to the impact of excess bile. A lack of sugar can
cause extreme fatigue and weakness, so dandelions help boost your energy levels
after infection!
Gall Bladder
Disorders: Dandelions are very beneficial for the gall
bladder and liver, because they improve their general functioning, protects
them from ill effects of oxidants and infections, and regulates the various
secretions from both organs.
Constipation: Certain components of dandelion, namely the high levels of
dietary fibre, make it a beneficial aid for digestion and proper intestinal
health. Dietary fibre stimulates healthy bowel movements by adding bulk to
stool, and also reduces chances of constipation as well as diarrhoea. It
regulates bowel movements, which can prevent more serious gastrointestinal
issues. It is commonly prescribed for children who are experiencing
constipation, as it is relatively soothing on the stomach. It has also been
used to stimulate the appetite, particularly following trauma or surgery.
Anaemia: Dandelions have relatively good levels of iron, vitamins, and
protein content. While iron is the integral part of haemoglobin in the blood,
vitamins like vitamin-B and protein are essential for the formation of red
blood cells and certain other components of the blood. This way dandelion can
help anaemic people keep their condition in check.
High Blood Pressure:
Urination is an effective way of lowering blood pressure. In
fact, most of the modern medicines for lowering blood pressure are based on
this phenomenon. Dandelion juice, being diuretic in nature, increases
urination, both in quantity and frequency. Therefore, it helps lower high blood
pressure. The fibre in dandelion is also helpful in reducing cholesterol and
thereby assists in lowering blood pressure, since cholesterol is one of the
factors that increases blood pressure. Finally, there is the high potassium
content of dandelions, which is very effective in lowering blood pressure by
replacing sodium.
Other Benefits: Dandelions can also be used as a vegetable and is a good source
of fibre. It promotes digestion, and in the past, it was used to treat scurvy,
because of its high levels of vitamin-C. It also has healing effects on
dyspepsia, infections in the stomach, intestines and urinary system.
A Few Words of Warning: Dandelions can be helpful to diabetics by lowering blood sugar,
but for patients already taking blood-sugar modulators, this can result in hypoglycaemia,
an equally dangerous condition. Consult your doctor before adding dandelion
supplements on top of your normal treatment. Also, the milk sap of dandelions
has been known to cause itchiness, irritation, or allergic reactions on the
skin, and should be kept away from the eyes. Finally, there is a rare type of fibre
in dandelions called inulin, and some people have a predisposed sensitivity or
allergy to it which can be quite severe. When first adding dandelion greens to
your diet in any way, start small and closely monitor your body’s response.
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