As a kid I used to love to pick the fuzzy dandelion and blow the seed pods into the air, I also loved dandelion’s bright yellow flower. I had no idea it was considered a pest in the yard and I didn’t care; I just thought they were beautiful.
Now I look at dandelion in a whole new way and it actually pains me to see people spraying these plants with weed killer. All parts of the dandelion are useful and edible; the flower, the leaf, and the root. Dandelion is a very rich source of beta-carotene which we convert into vitamin A. This flowering plant is also rich in vitamin C, fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, B complex vitamins, trace minerals, organic sodium, and even vitamin D. Whew, that’s a lot, but not everything. Dandelion contains protein too, more than spinach. It has been eaten for thousands of years and used to treat anemia, scurvy, skin problems, blood disorders, and depression.
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