Eat the Seasons ~ Spring Dandelions

What's in Season? ~ Dandelions

Taraxacum officinale "Fairy Clock"

My favourite flower bouquet from my girls, picked with love. Nature gives us dandelions just when we need them most. A fresh spring tonic to help our bodies transition from winter to spring. The long winter can leave us feeling dull, lethargic, fatigued, and heavy. Introducing bitter and pungent foods may aid digestion, detoxify the kidneys and liver, and stimulate bile flow from the gall bladder to support healthy cholesterol levels. Dandelions are a natural detoxifier and spring cleanser.


  • Pick tender green leaves that have not been sprayed with chemicals. Choose leaves with thin stems and avoid yellowing, limp leaves with larger, thicker stems.
  • Use the leaves the way you cook with spinach, either raw (added to salads) or steamed.
  • Juice the leaves or add to a smoothie.
  • Enjoy a cup of organic dandelion root tea.
  • Freshly picked dandelion leaves can be rinsed in cool water, dried thoroughly, and then stored in the fridge for a day or two wrapped loosely in a slightly damp paper towel.

The dandelion plant is rich in minerals, and contains antioxidants such as Vitamin C and A (beta-carotene). It is rich in prebiotic fiber, inulin, which enhances the gut's production of friendly bacteria enhancing bowel movements and boosting immune function. It also has natural diuretic properties that may help reduce bloating and water retention without reducing the body's potassium levels.

1 cup chopped dandelion greens (55 grams) = 25 calories



Our rescue rabbit "Noel" loves dandelion greens. Lionhead rabbits originated in Belgium and have a thick, soft, wool single or double "lion's" mane.


www.thepracticalherbalist.com
nutritiondata.self.com
Photos belong to: Laura VanDyk

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