Although you probably hate them in your lawn, did you know that Dandelion Greens are packed with vitamins and healthy nutrients that your body needs for good health? Here are 7 Benefits of Eating Dandelion Greens and a recipe for you to give them a try!
You might want to get rid of those dandelions in your lawn, but you should really consider welcoming them onto your plate at lunch or dinnertime. Dandelion Greens are surprisingly good for your health. Low in calories and packed with healthy vitamins and nutrients, this peppery-flavored green is great in salads and cooked as a side dish. Here are 7 Healthy Benefits to Eating Dandelion Greens.
- High in Calcium – Dandelion greens are loaded with calcium. Just one cup of chopped dandelion greens has 103 milligrams of calcium which is 10% of the daily recommended intake. They have even more calcium than Kale. Try them in a Smoothie!
- Low Calories – With a slightly bitter taste, dandelions greens are low in calories. There are only 25 calories in a one-cup serving of these healthy greens.
- Antioxidants – Dandelion greens are high in Vitamin A in the form of antioxidant carotenoid (beta-carotene) and Vitamin C. Antioxidants are not only important to your body, but they’re wonderful for your skin too.
- Detox and Cleanse – Dandelion greens cleanse the liver and help in detoxification, as well as aiding in digestion.
- Protein – Dandelion greens have more protein per serving than spinach. Dandelion greens themselves are 14% protein, containing all essential amino acids so it’s a complete protein. One chopped cup contains 1.5 grams of protein.
- Maintain Healthy Eyesight – Dandelion greens come loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin, which are two nutrients important for healthy eyesight. Two cups of dandelion greens gives you 15 milligrams of these nutrients.
- Regulates Digestive System – Dandelion greens or root can aid in regulating your digestive system. Drink a glass of tea first thing in the morning. Even Dr. Oz agrees with using Dandelion Root to relieve constipation.
Now that you know how healthy Dandelion Greens are for the well being of so many aspects of your body, are you ready to dig in and reap the health benefits? Here’s a Dandelion Greens Salad recipe to get you started.
- 1 cup Dandelion Greens
- ⅛ cup cantaloupe, cubed
- ⅛ cup red pepper, chopped
- ⅛ cup green onion
- ⅛ cup cucumber
- Pumpkin Seeds, to taste
- Fresh Parmesan Cheese, to taste
- 3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 3 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- Juice of 1 Lemon
- Wash and chop Dandelion Greens and place them in a bowl.
- Add all other fruits and vegetables, toss.
- Add wet ingredients, toss.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and pumpkin seeds.
- Enjoy!
We hope you find this list of the 7 Health Benefits of Eating Dandelion Greens helpful and that you enjoy this healthy salad recipe. For more posts to help you with your active and healthy lifestyle, visit our Food and Fitness Section. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter so that you never miss a healthy recipe. Enjoy!
Disclosure: The author of this article is not a trained medical professional, nor a dietician. All of the information in this post is based on research and personal experience.
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