Medicinal Weed

Joe Scarola
Jul 20, 2017 · 4 min read

NO!, not that weed. This weed I just started researching. It is very nutritious, having more vitamins and minerals than most vegetables. High source of vitamins A and K, vitamins C and E, and also a high source of iron, calcium, B2 (riboflavin), B6 (pyridoxine) and protein as well. Plays an important role in fighting Alzheimer’s disease and is an antioxidant with cancer fighting properties too ! It grows just about everywhere without much care.

What is this miracle weed you may be asking yourself?

Did you guess right? It’s the dandelion !

The fact is the greens of this weed provide 535 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin k, which may be the most important source of any other plant-based food to strengthen bones, but may also play a role in fighting Alzheimer’s disease by limiting neuron damage in the brain.

The greens also give the body 112 percent of the daily minimum requirement of vitamin A as an antioxidant carotenoid, which is particularly good for the skin, mucus membranes and vision. A flavonoid called zeaxanthin protects the retina from UV rays, while others, primarily carotene, lutein, and cryptoxanthin, protect the body from lung and mouth cancers.

Need more benefits? The greens are high in fiber, which helps your body shed waste. These greens also contain vitamins C and B6, thiamin, riboflavin, calcium, iron (crucial for generating red blood cells), potassium (to help regulate heart rate and blood pressure), and manganese. Other nutrients present in the greens include folate, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper.

Every part of this common weed is edible.

It is tasty both raw and cooked, from the roots to the yellow flower blossoms.

The leaves can be harvested at any point in the growing season.

The smaller leaves are considered to be less bitter and can be added to a green salad. They can also be steamed, stir-fried or added to soup.

The flowers are sweet and crunchy, and can be eaten raw, or breaded and fried, or even used to make dandelion tea.

The root of the dandelion can be dried and roasted and used as a coffee substitute, or added to any recipe that calls for root vegetables. Notice how long the root is. When pulling dandelion it is best to dig it up otherwise the root snaps and will grow back. This one I had no difficulty harvesting as it grew between the wood chip mulch and the weed screen. Pulled out like butter.

I feel that part of the resistance to eating plants that we believe to be weeds, is that we are conditioned to consider only the items we can buy in the grocery store as food. I’ve heard that my grandma used it and called it cicoria. Yes, they are all in the same family.

Do you like pesto? Exchange basil with dandelion greens. Really! I ate it for dinner with my chick peas and pasta. (ceci pasta)

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Joe Scarola

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Joe is on a journey. It started on Jan. 15, 2017. He left from Newtown, PA and headed towards Arizona to see his 1st. grandbaby’s birth. Here is his story…

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