Dandelion Flower Health Benefits Make Them Good For Us – Do Eat Some

The dandelion flower does have many health benefits but it has not been as fully researched as the roots and the leaves have been. The truth is the sweet flower does have health benefits as well. Check out the delicious dandelion flower recipes at the bottom of this post. The dandelion pancakes with the dandelion syrup are for sure yummy. Later you can have some dandelion flower cordial.

In the west, we consider dandelions to be weeds, but in many societies, this beautiful plant is considered an important medicinal herb. It also tastes great!

The flowers do more than just taste good they have many nutritional benefits that often are higher than those in the leaves and roots.

When it comes to the health benefits of dandelions, it is usually all about the leaves and roots which are for sure healthy. They have strong properties that are more fully researched than the flower. That said, the dandelion flower is a very important part of this herbal plant.

The following is a list of dandelion flower health benefits that are for the petals themselves.

Dandelion Flower Health Benefits

Have High Levels of Polyphenols

The flowers have a higher level of polyphenols than the leaves or roots of dandelions.
Polyphenols help in the prevention of degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
“Epidemiological studies and associated meta-analyses strongly suggest that long term consumption of diets rich in plant polyphenols offer protection against development of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative diseases.” ~ PMC

Good Source of Antioxidants

Again the flowers have higher levels of antioxidants than the leaves or roots of dandelions.

Antioxidants are essential participants in the ongoing war between cancer-causing free radicals and healthy cells in your body.

Most doctors do NOT advise antioxidant supplementation since the majority of research has NOT verified the promise of a longer life, so eat your free dandelions.

From the Harvard School for Public Health: “While it’s true that the package of antioxidants, minerals, fiber, and other substances found naturally in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains helps prevent a variety of chronic diseases, it is unlikely that high doses of antioxidants can accomplish the same feat.”

More Possible Dandelion Flower Health Benefits

1. They Relieve pain from headaches, backaches, and menstrual cramps
2. They Relieve stomach cramps.
3. Relieves depression.
4. Dandelion petals also contain Vitamin A and Vitamin B12 which are also good for the eyes.
5. In 1956, Chauvin demonstrated the antibacterial effects of dandelion pollen, which may validate the centuries-old use of dandelion flowers in Korean folk medicine to prevent boils, skin infections, tuberculosis, and edema and promote blood circulation.

“Dandelions are just friendly little weeds who only want to be loved like flowers.” ~ Heather Babcock

The dandelion flower is the first flower in the spring, at least where I live in northern Canada. The bees are very happy to see them. Bees Are Essential for Our Life Here on This Earth So that is another wonderful thing about this flower that is considered a weed.

“For honey bees, a dandelion is the first sign of Spring!” ~ June Stoyer

Dandelion Flower Facts and Trivia:

• The botanical name is taraxacum officinale.
• Dandelions are important for bees: they are a key source of nectar, as they flower early and continue flowering right into the fall.
• Dandelions were brought to the United States originally from Europe and Asia and were transported for their health benefits.
• In French they are called pissenlit – literally ‘bedpissers’, a homage to the plant’s diuretic properties.
• Other names of this plant are:  Blow Ball Cankerwort, Lion’s Tooth, Pissabed Priest’s-crown, Puff Ball,  Pu Gong Ying,  Pu-kung-ying,  Swine Snout, Telltime, White Endive, Wild Endive
• The syrup is sweet, yet tangy, with strong herbal, honey-pollen, and citrus notes.
• Make them into herbal tea by steeping several in hot water. Homemade dandelion flower wine can also be made from the petals I hear.

Do you remember as a child, blowing the dandelion seeds and making a wish? Isn’t that a fun memory?

History of Dandelions

• Dandelions came into existence about 30 million years ago in Eurasia.
• The health benefits of dandelions have been known for a long time as humans have been eating them as food, and using them as medicine for as long as there has been recorded history.
• Many sources suggest that the dandelion came from Asia, where it is used as food and medicine.
• Before the year 1000, Arabs also used dandelions as medicine.
• Dandelions did not exist in North America when the Mayflower arrived in 1620. European immigrants used dandelions as part of their regular diet and brought them over and began to cultivate them in North America.
• These days, dandelions grow profusely everywhere and are considered an undesirable weed for the lawn.

How to Harvest Dandelion Flowers For Health Benefits

As soon as you see lots of yellow dandelions in your yard starts, it is time to harvest before they are gone! Always harvest on a sunny day.

When preparing don’t include the green sepals as they are very bitter.

They can be added to cooked food or in a salad as you can see below.

Learn More About Dandelions

 Dandelion Leaves Are a Free Amazing Superfood for You – Dandelions have a reputation as a weed but the dandelion leaves, flowers, and roots are actually very good for us. They are rich in vitamins and minerals and have many health benefits making them a free superfood. This plant has been used as a natural medicine and as a food by many people around the world for centuries.

What is interesting is that they are even grown commercially and you can find the dandelion leaves in health food stores and even in some supermarkets in the spring and summer. Also, the roots are ground up and put into capsules to help with the liver and to cleanse the body. I use them regularly and even sell the dandelion root capsules. Also, the roots can be roasted and ground up to make caffeine-free dandelion coffee that has a chicory taste.

 10 Health Benefits of Dandelion Roots – The benefits of dandelion roots seem to stem from this weed herb’s tonic effect on the liver. Dandelions are very economical herbs considering that they are weeds that most of us dig up and get rid of! Dandelion roots have many health benefits. They are widely recognized as a liver tonic as it nourishes the liver.

 Dandelion Madness – Every morning, particularly in the spring, you can catch me scampering around my front lawn in my bare feet. Yes, this is fun and yes, this is actually good for you.

 Dandelions Benefits: A Celebration of This Spring Flower – Dandelion’s benefits cannot be dismissed as they have been used as food and for medicine for thousands of years. Every part of this plant is extremely good for you! There are many dandelions health benefits for us.

Get Dandelion Flower Health Benefits By Eating Them

Here is a photo of a Dandelion Flower Salad Recipe that I make in the spring.

Very simple just put in your favourite salad ingredients and add some dandelion flowers. It is delicious.

Dandelion Flower Salad 

Dandelion Flower Recipes

 Dandelion Flower Pancakes -No milk or eggs, but lots of health and good taste. This dandelion flower pancake recipe really is my version of pancakes. I developed it when I was unable to eat eggs or milk at all due to food sensitivities.  Interestingly whenever I make these pancakes no one seems to notice the lack of these two ingredients.

 Dandelion Flower Cordial  – The word cordial sounds tasty, and it’s very appropriate in this case!This dandelion flower cordial a tasty refreshing beverage on a summer day. It is very easy to make too.

 Dandelion Flower Syrup -You can taste the unique sweetness from the yellow petals. This is a great treat from your weeds and it is so easy to make. Pick your dandelions before mowing the lawn or digging them up for dandelion coffee. Or go out into the country and pick them in the wild away from pollution. Never use ones that have been sprayed.

Delicious Dandelion Leaves and Roots Recipes

 Dandelion Leaves Tea – Made with the leaves — this is perhaps the easiest and fastest way to use a dandelion.

 Dandelion Smoothie – After almost passing out from a dandelion smoothie, Randy gives some practical tips to keep your dandelion smoothie palatable.

 Roasted dandelion roots make a tasty vegan beverage in the form of Dandelion Root Coffee – Learn how to make delicious dandelion root coffee with this simple how-to article and stop cursing at this wonderful plant.

When there are dandelions around first thing in the spring it is time for a Spring Cleanse

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