Don't Kill Nature's Gift "Spring Dandelions!" They Are The Perfect Super Food!
Spring dandelions are the most misunderstood of all flowers. When you understand exactly how beneficial dandelions are, you’ll never look at them the same way again.
Leave Those Spring Dandelions Alone!
Early spring dandelions are important, because they do a lot for your local environment and contribute to the long term health of your garden. This is how:
Dandelion’s root system is extremely tough. Dandelion has a thick tap root penetrating up to a foot into the harder soil under the toil soil, with slender roots extending out horizontally from the main tap root. The dandelion tap root serves a marvelous purpose. It actually helps improve the soil by acting as a wick for water and nutrients to flow into the soil where other plants, insects and microorganism can use it to survive and flourish.
The local bees emerge from their hives, as the weather warms up on a warm March day. Early spring dandelions are the only food available for the awaking hungry bees. They keep them humming until the crocus, tulips, forsythia and other early spring flowers begin to bloom. It’s not just the bees who need the early spring flowers. They also provide much-needed food for butterflies and other pollinating insects.
Benefits of Dandelion Greens
Dandelion greens are ...
packed with vitamins and Vitamin C and E,
packed with vitamin A -vital for eye and skin health,
packed with vitamin K -essential for bone and neurological health,
packed with minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium & copper -beneficial for remineralizing the body,
packed with beta carotene and flavonoid content -benefits the immune system and cardiovascular system,
beneficial for the liver and aid in flushing out toxins,
packed with ca. 14% plant based protein -MORE protein per serving than spinach (a kidney stone producer)
Although you can purchase dandelion greens at most health food stores, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Asian supermarkets and farmer’s markets, you can also harvest the young, tender dandelion leaves in the spring and early summer months from wild fields. You just have to make sure that wherever you decide to harvest them has not been sprayed with any pesticides. We recommend to avoid city parks or other urban public green areas, as such locations are usually sprayed bu the municipalities. In any case, make sure to wash your harvest in cold water before using.
Fresh leaves can be added to green juices, or smoothies. You can also dry the leaves and consume as medicinal tea.
The yellow flower tops and tap root are also edible and nutrient packed
We at COMFORT KETO add dandelion leaves into our spring salads. We also add green young leaves with our recipes
You can also be steam dandelion greens with garlic and ginger, and drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil to make a perfect spring season side dish.
So the next time you see a dandelion in your lawn, stay away from the spray bottle and give a silent thanks to it for maintaining your local ecosystem. If you must, gently pull them out in early summer.