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Leafy Greens
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Uses: Salads or Juiced Raw |
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TARAXACUM IS A LARGE genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. They are found as weeds worldwide, and both species are edible in their entirety. The common name dandelion is given to members of the genus, and like other members of the Asteraceae family, they have very small flowers collected together into a composite flower head. Each single flower in a head is called a floret. Many Taraxacum species produce seeds asexually by apomixis, where the seeds are produced without pollination, resulting in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent plant.
The English name dandelion is a corruption of the French dent de lion meaning "lion's tooth", referring to the coarsely toothed leaves. The names of the plant have the same meaning in several other European languages, such as the Welsh dant y llew, Italian dente di leone, Catalan dent de lleó, Spanish diente de león, Portuguese dente-de-leão,Norwegian Løvetann, Danish Løvetand and German Löwenzahn.
Dandelion juice, being diuretic in nature, increases the process of urination, both in quantity and in frequency. Thus, it helps lower high blood pressure. In fact, most of the modern drugs for lowering blood pressure are based on this phenomenon. The fiber in dandelion is helpful in reducing cholesterol and therefore assists in lowering of blood pressure, since cholesterol is one of the factors which make blood pressure elevated. Apigenin and Luteolin, two flavonoid glycosides which have been demonstrated to have diuretic, anti-spasmodic, anti-oxidant and liver protecting actions and properties, and also to strengthen the heart and blood vessels. Linoleic and Linolenic Acid, as fatty acids, can lower chronic inflammation, such as proliferative arthritis, regulate blood pressure and the menstrual cycle, and prevent platelet aggregation. A reduction in serum cholesterol and urine bilirubin levels by as much as half in humans with severe liver imbalances has been demonstrated by Italian researchers.
Cancer Protection
Dandelion is high in anti oxidants such as vitamin-C and Luteolin. These reduce the free radicals that are responsible for causing cancer in the body. This reduces the risk of cancer. It also detoxifies the human body, and this also helps protect against cancer. In 1979, a Japanese patent was filed for a freeze-dried warm water extract of dandelion root for anti-tumor use. It was discovered that administration of the extract markedly inhibited growth of particular carcinoma cells within one week after treatment. Tof-CFr, a glucose polymer similar to lentinan, which Japanese researchers have found to act against cancer cells in laboratory mice.
References
- UpstateNYer, 6 May 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ File:DandelionComparison.png.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandelion
- Peter Gail, "Health Benefits of Dandelions", http://www.leaflady.org/ health_benefits_of_dandelions.htm. From Peter A. Gail, Ph.D., titled "The Dandelion Celebration-." http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-dandelion.html.
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One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan
(Luke 17:15-16)
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Book Review About Dandelions
Peter A. Gail, Ph.D., in his definitive guide to gathering, preparing and savoring the entire dandelion, i.e., in his book titled The Dandelion Celebration-The Guide to Unexpected Cuisine, writes, "Robert Stickle, an internationally famous architect, was diagnosed as having a malignant melanoma 21 years ago, and was given, after radical surgery had not halted its spread, less than 2 years to live. He said, in a letter to Jeff Zullo, president of the Society for the Promotion of Dandelions, (June 23, 1986):
"I went on a search for the answer to my mortal problem, and [discovered] that perhaps it was a nutritional dilemma.... To me, cancer is primarily a liver failure manifestation. {Italians are very concerned about problems of the 'fegato']. [I discovered that] the cancer rate in native Italians is very low among the farming population (paesanos). When they get affluent and move to the city, its the same as the rest of civilized man. Paesanos eat dandelions, make brew from the roots, and are healthy, often living to over 100 years."
He states that he began eating dandelion salad every day, and his improvement confounded the doctors. When he wrote the letter in 1986, 18 years had passed and there had been no recurrence of the melanoma."
A book completely based upon the Dandelion is a great resource for anyone who wants to live a healthy life to give glory to God for creating these life saving foods.
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Kale
