If you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em?The dandelion, long considered an obnoxious weed deserving nothing more than pesticide-induced death, is no longer seen as evil.
The National Post reports that attitudes nation-wide are shifting. Pesticides are the new bad guys and dandelions are everywhere. In Halifax, a dandelion festival celebrates the bitter green. In Vancouver, dandelions are listed as “agricultural commodities.”
[Related: The best way to be healthier]
It’s not just tolerance of a harmless weed, either. The early bloomers attract pollinators, and their deep taproots bring up nutrients for shallower-rooted plants nearby, making dandelion-covered lawns healthier ones.Nutritionists spout the benefits of the lowly dandelion. Instead of just pulling weeds, consider picking this good-for-you “free food” for dinner. Just make sure your weed-turned-dinner is chemical- and dog-urine free before you begin.
1. Dandelions stimulate digestion and detox the liver. “Bitters” have been used for centuries by non-Western cultures before meals as a digestion stimulant. Dandelions contain the bitter substance taraxin that promotes the flow of bile from the liver and hydrochloric acid from the stomach. This also often resolves constipation issues.
The good weed: Health benefits of dandelions
