Last year, I told you about how I was treating chronic pain naturally. In that post, I talked about Dandelion Root tea. I was absolutely shocked by the number of responses that I received asking if dandelions were safe to eat or drink, what the benefits of dandelion root tea are and so on. The truth is that there are so many benefits to drinking herbal teas that I couldn’t fit them in a single post. That’s book writing territory right there. What I can do though is target my favorite herbal teas and let you know what their benefits are. Dandelion root tea is one of my favorites for one simple reason; there are so many benefits of dandelion root tea that I can’t help buy want to drink it all up!
Just so we’re clear; yes, I mean the same dandelion that grows as a weed in your back yard. What most people consider a pest, actually is a fantastic edible plant that can have major impacts in improving your health. If you’re going to learn how to forage for food, dandelions are a great place to start. Just be sure that if you’re foraging for them, that you stay away from fields that are near highways or roads due to car pollution and that you know with one-hundred percent certainty that the flowers you’re foraging have not been treated with any chemicals.
Benefits of Dandelion and Dandelion Root Tea
If you don’t feel like foraging for your dandelions, I personally recommend Traditional Medicinals Dandelion Root tea. They are an organic brand and the price is really great for the number of tea bags you get. You can check it out HERE. Another way to save money on herbal tea is by shopping over at Thrive Market HERE. When you sign up for a Thrive Market account as a new customer, you’ll save 20% on your first order too so the savings can be even better!
If you’re foraging your dandelions, know that the entire dandelion is edible. Leaves and flowers can be cooked and made into a salad, dandelion bread or a dandelion jam. Stems and roots can be made into tea. There’s no reason to let any part of the dandelion go to waste when there are so many benefits of dandelion that come from the entire flower.
If you’ve never eaten or drank dandelion before, you’ll want to make sure you’re not allergic. Anyone who suffers from an allergy to ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, chamomile, yarrow, or daisy shouldn’t eat or drink dandelion. Also, if you’re pregnant or nursing, be sure to discuss things with your diet since what you eat or drink will affect the baby.
Dandelion Root Tea is a Natural Source of Energy
Dandelion Root Tea is packed with B vitamins which means that it can be used as a natural source of energy. In fact, a lot of people who drink dandelion root tea use it as a replacement for coffee. Dandelion root tea has a bitter flavor that is very similar to black coffee. Combine that with the energy it gives you and it makes coffee a thing of the past.
Dandelion Root Tea can help with eyesight
Dandelions are rich in beta carotene which means it can help improve your eyesight. Beta Carotene is also found in carrots which means you should be adding both to your diet. While it won’t fix bad eyes, it can help strengthen them and keep them from getting worse.
Dandelion Root Tea is rich in Vitamin C
Vitamin C is necessary for a healthy immune system and one of the reasons it is my favorite herbal tea is because it is so rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C is necessary for a healthy immune system and there isn’t a much easier way to get your daily requirement for it! Okay, an orange is easier but a warm glass of tea is just as good!
Dandelion Root Tea is a Healthy Source of Fiber
Fiber is needed for much more than the obvious including energy, but it can be hard to get enough fiber in our diet. Luckily, a cup of dandelion root tea is a healthy source of fiber. You could take a fiber supplement or make it easy on yourself by adding a cup or two to your diet each day can help your body run the way it was meant to.
Dandelion Root Tea helps Boost Potassium
Potassium is one of those nutrients that most people don’t think enough about, but without it, your body can have muscle aches and pains, heart palpitations, vomiting and more. Dandelion Root tea is a great way to boost potassium. If you’re tired of bananas, have a cup of tea instead.
Dandelion Root Tea can help stave off anemia
If you’re suffering from anemia, you know how hard it can be to manage life when you’re always tired and not feeling well. Dandelions are rich in iron and are a higher source of beta carotene than carrots which means they’re fantastic for helping to keep anemia away.
Dandelion Root Tea can assist with depression
Depression can sometimes be caused by low magnesium levels, but dandelions may be able to help. Dandelions are rich in magnesium which may be able to help pull you out of a funk. Again, we are not doctors so if you’re currently in treatment for depression, be sure to talk to your doctor before you stop any medicines and try dandelions. Adding them onto your regular treatment may be the best course of action.
Dandelion Root Tea can boost your immune system
I’ve already mentioned that dandelions are rich in vitamin C, but they’re also rich in Zinc. The combination of vitamin c and zinc is a fantastic way to boost your immune system making sure that your body is able to fight off infection and bacteria. I like to mix my tea with tart cherry juice which makes it even more healthy and helps strengthen my immune system even more.
Dandelion is a great source of protein
Protein is needed for building healthy muscle tissue, but most of our diets are sorely lacking in it. Dandelions are a fantastic way to get more protein in your diet. In fact, they have more protein in them, per serving, than spinach!
Dandelion Root Tea can help aid digestion
One of the many benefits of dandelions that most people don’t realize is that they can help promote healthy digestion. The flower or root can help stimulate stomach acids which not only help your food to digest easier but can also help you lose weight and detox if your body needs it.
Dandelion Root Tea helps with proper kidney function
Like I’ve mentioned before, dandelions can help your body to detox and remove waste which means they’re great for helping to regulate proper kidney function. They can help your body remove waste, salt and even excess water through your kidneys not only helping them to work better, but also helping you to feel better.
Dandelion Tea improves liver function
Again, dandelions can have a sort of detoxing effect so one of my favorite benefits of dandelion is that they can help improve liver function by removing toxins. For someone like me, whose body stores toxins in a way that makes them horribly sick, having an easy way to remove those toxins can mean the difference between a life well lived and a life simply survived.
Dandelion Root tea helps to fight aging
If you’ve been fighting the signs of aging, one of the benefits of dandelion is that they can help prevent damage to your cells from free-radicals that cause those symptoms of aging. You can drink the root in tea, eat the leaves in a salad or add the flower to a jam or bread. Eating and drinking your way to looking young? I’m there!
Dandelion Root tea can assist with diabetes
Another one of my favorite benefits of dandelion is that it can help lower blood sugar and regulate insulin levels. I use dandelion root tea along with my favorite essential oils for diabetics and a Fenugreek supplement everyday to help keep my own diabetes in check.
Dandelion Root Tea may help to normalize cholesterol
If you fight with keeping your cholesterol at normal levels, you’ll love this benefits of dandelion. Dandelion has the ability to help control lipid levels which can help to raise your HDL levels. If you’re unfamiliar, HDL is the good kind of cholesterol.
Dandelion Root Tea Can help with pain and inflammation
If you live with any pain or inflammation, you will want to pay attention to the last thing on our list of the benefits of dandelion. Dandelion is full of antioxidants, phytonutrients and essential fatty acids that can all help to reduce the amount of inflammation in the body. The combo of the three can help reduce swelling, inflammation of course and finally, pain. You can read the dandelion root tea recipe I use HERE. It helps with not only my chronic pain issues, but my diabetes, sleep and other issues.