Discover the medicinal and nutritional properties of the Dandelion

Dandelions are a family of flowering plants that grow in many parts of the world. Here in Chile it is common to see it grow in gardens, sidewalks and squares, as well as on the side of the road. The truth is that we do not see it with much appreciation and it is usually treated as a weed that we must get rid of; however, it has excellent nutritional and medicinal properties that should not go unnoticed.

In traditional herbal medicine practices, Dandelion is a vegetable revered for its wide range of medicinal properties.

Related news

During centuries, They have been used to treat a wide variety of physical ailments, including cancer, acne, liver disease, and digestive disorders.

1. Highly nutritious

From root to flowerthe dandelion is a plant highly nutritious, loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber.

The sheets dandelion can be eat cooked or raw and serve as a excellent source of vitamins A, C and K. They also contain vitamin E, folic acid and small amounts of other B vitamins.

Also, leaves of dandelions provide a substantial amount of several minerals, including iron, calcium, magnesium Y potassium.

The root dandelion is rich in the carbohydrate inulinwhich is a type of soluble fiber found in plants that supports growth and maintenance of a healthy bacterial flora in the intestinal tract.

Dandelion root is often dried and consumed as a tea, but it can also be eaten in its whole form.

2. Contains Powerful Antioxidants

The dandelion is full of powerful antioxidantswhich may explain why this plant has such wide applications for health.

Antioxidants are molecules that help neutralize or prevent the negative effects of free radicals in your body.

free radicals are product of normal metabolism but can be very destructive. The presence of too many free radicals contributes to the development of diseases and accelerated aging. Therefore, antioxidants are essential to keep your body healthy.

Dandelion contains high antioxidant levels beta carotenewhich is known to provide a strong protection against cell damage and oxidative stress.

Also are rich in another category of antioxidants called polyphenolsthat are found in higher concentration in the flower but they are also present in the roots, leaves and stems.

3. May Help Fight Inflammation

Dandelion may be effective in reducing inflammation thanks to the presence of various bioactive compounds such as polyphenols inside the plant.

inflammation is one of your body’s natural responses to injury or illness. Over time, Excessive inflammation can cause permanent damage to your body’s tissues and DNA.

Some test-tube studies have revealed markers of significantly reduced inflammation in cells treated with dandelion compounds

A study in mice with artificially induced inflammatory lung disease showed a significant reduction in lung inflammation in those animals that received dandelion.

Ultimately, more research is needed to clearly define dandelion’s role in reducing inflammation in humans.

4. May help control blood sugar

The chicoric and chlorogenic acid are two bioactive compounds in the dandelion. They find each other in all parts of the plant and can help lower blood sugar.

Test-tube and animal studies show that these compounds can improve insulin secretion from the pancreas at the same time that improve glucose absorption (sugar) in muscle tissue.

This process improves insulin sensitivity and lowers blood sugar levels.

In some animal studies, chicoric and chlorogenic acid limited digestion of starchy carbohydrate foodswhich may also contribute to dandelion’s potential ability to lower blood sugar.

While these early study results are encouraging, more research needed to determine if dandelion works the same way in humans.

5. May Lower Cholesterol

Some of the bioactive compounds in dandelion can lower cholesterol what can lower the risk of heart disease.

An animal study resulted in dramatically reduced levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in mice that were treated with dandelion extract.

A study in rabbits evaluated the impact of adding dandelion roots and leaves to a high-cholesterol diet. The rabbits that received dandelions had markedly reduced cholesterol levels.

Although these results are interesting, More research is needed to determine the possible effects of dandelion on cholesterol in humans.

6. It can lower blood pressure

Some people claim that dandelion can lower blood pressure but supporting evidence is limited.

The traditional herbal medicine practices they use dandelion for its diuretic effect based on the belief that this can detoxify certain organs.

In Western medicine, diuretic drugs used to remove excess fluid from the bodywhat can lead to a drop in blood pressure.

A human study found that dandelion it is an effective diuretic. Nevertheless, This studio It has been made for a short period and involved only 17 people.

the dandelion contains potassiuma mineral associated with low blood pressure in those with previously elevated levels. Therefore, the dandelion may have a indirect effect on blood pressure due to its potassium content.

It’s important to put attention on this effect is not unique to dandelionbut it applies to any food rich in potassium consumed as part of a healthy diet.

7. May Promote a Healthy Liver

Animal studies have found that dandelion has a protective effect on liver tissue in the presence of toxic substances and stress.

One study revealed significant protection of liver tissue in mice exposed to toxic levels of acetaminophen (Tylenol). The researchers attributed this finding to antioxidant content of dandelion.

Other animal studies have shown that dandelion extract can reduce levels of excess fat stored in the liver and protect against oxidative stress in liver tissue.

Nevertheless, the same results should not be expected in humans due to differences in human and animal metabolism.

More research is needed to determine how dandelion affects liver health in humans.

8. It can help you lose weight

Some research indicates that dandelion and its bioactive components can support weight loss and maintenance, although the data is not entirely conclusive.

Some researchers theorize that dandelion’s ability to improving carbohydrate metabolism and reducing fat absorption can lead to weight loss. However, this notion has not yet been scientifically proven.

A study in mice showed weight loss associated with dandelion supplementation although it should be noted that this was an incidental finding and not the main focus of the study.

Another study in obese mice revealed that chlorogenic Acid, a compound found in dandelions, was able to reduce body weight and levels of some fat storage hormones. (15Trusted Source)

Again, this research did not specifically assess dandelion’s role in weight loss and obesity prevention.

More human-focused research is needed to determine a clear cause-and-effect relationship between dandelion and weight management.

9. It can fight cancer

Perhaps one of the health claims Dandelion’s most interesting is its potential to prevent the growth of cancer cells in many different organ systems.

A test tube study revealed significantly reduced growth of cancer cells that were treated with dandelion leaf extract. Nevertheless, dandelion flower or root extracts did not give the same result.

Other test tube studies have shown that dandelion root extract has the ability to dramatically reduce the growth of cancer cells in the liver, colon and the pancreatic tissue.

These findings are encouraging, but further research is essential to fully understand how dandelion may be helpful in treating or preventing cancer in humans.

10. May Support Healthy Digestion and Treat Constipation

Traditional herbal medicine uses dandelion to treat constipation and other symptoms of impaired digestion. Some initial research appear to support these claims.

An animal study revealed a significant increase in rates of stomach contractions and emptying of stomach contents into the small intestine in rats that were treated with dandelion extract.

Also, dandelion root is a rich source of the prebiotic fiber inulin. Research indicates that inulin has a great ability to reduce constipation and increase bowel movement.

11. It can boost your immune system

Some research indicates that dandelion may have antimicrobial properties and antiviralswhat I could support your body’s ability to fight infection.

Several test-tube studies found that dandelion extract significantly reduced the ability of viruses to replicate.

Research also indicates that some of the active compounds in dandelion protect against various harmful bacteria.

Ultimately, more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions. on dandelion’s ability to combat viral and bacterial infections in humans.

12. It can be a useful treatment for skin care

Animal and test-tube research indicates that dandelion can protect against skin damage from sunlight, aging and acne.

In one study, extracts…