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You might well consider dandelions to be a pesky weed, but this potent wildflower contains an impressive arsenal of nutritious compounds that you may want to add to your diet. I’m referring to dandelions as in Taraxacum officinale.

This notoriously bitter weed is packed with protein, minerals and more vitamin C than spinach. The entire plant is actually edible, though I’ve never eaten the whole thing, just the leaves.

Some people harvest the yellow flowers before they open and fry them up in a pan with garlic, butter and other seasonings. Then, of course, there’s dandelion wine…

Dandelion is very easy to harvest. Remember, it’s kind of like a weed, and it grows everywhere! And interestingly, this inexpensive plant is also sold at health food stores, especially in the produce section where it’s usually near the collard greens and kale.

Here are six reasons to consider dining on dandelion:

— Aids the digestive system
The plant is a mild diuretic, making you urinate more than normal. It can improve the functioning of the pancreas, stomach, kidneys and spleen without depleting your body’s potassium stores. Diuretics are known to reduce blood pressure. With dandelions, the two compounds that work in this capacity are chicoric and chlorogenic acids.

— Good source of antioxidants
You can thank the dandelion’s bitter taste for its antioxidant properties. If you can get used to consuming more bitter foods (and less sugary ones), then your detox pathways that operate in your liver will thank you with better health.

— Can aid weight loss
Though the facts are still forthcoming, there is evidence that consuming dandelions can support weight loss by improving your fat-burning rate and metabolism, and simultaneously reducing fat absorption. It’s due to the presence of chlorogenic acid — a compound also found in coffee.

— Helps fight inflammation
Could eating flowers help you with arthritis? Probably not, but it’s fun to think that way. I like herbal remedies that reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and TNF alpha. Dandelion does this very thing, helping you reduce risk for heart attack, cancer and diabetes.

— Can help control blood sugar
Two biologically active phytochemicals in dandelions (specifically, chicoric and chlorogenic acids) show  evidence of controlling blood sugar by regulating your pancreas’s insulin production.

— Useful as a skin treatment
Applying a leaf and flower extract immediately before or after intense sun exposure seems to reduce overall skin damage.

Dandelion-containing creams or poultices also reduce skin irritation and may help with acne.

How to eat

Fresh dandelion greens can be used in fresh salads, sandwiches, smoothies and teas. If they’re too bitter for you, make a fifty-fifty mix of dandelions with a subtler green like spinach or Swiss chard.

You could make a tea, or buy a commercially prepared teabag. You could also sauté the dandelion greens with some sweet fruits like pineapple.

While dandelions are considered a safe plant for most people, there are a few reported incidences of adverse reactions. People with ragweed allergies are sensitive to dandelions, so please avoid if that’s the case.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.