Posted on April 20th, 2022

Many people find dandelions to be a nuisance when they pop up in their yard—since many still consider the bright yellow flowers weeds—however, it’s believed that dandelion benefits everything from gut health to your immune system. In fact, many say that the flower is bursting with nutritional benefits when added to anything from salads to teas.

“Dandelion tea, made from the dandelion root, is considered an ancient herbal medicine and comes with many health benefits,” explains Nicole Ritieni R.N. working on the clinical team at New York Center for Innovative Medicine. The warm drink is believed to have the ability to improve everything from bloating to stress levels when sipped with regularity.

That being said, the tasty tea isn’t for everyone. People with ragweed allergies should avoid the beverage or check with their healthcare provider before adding it to their diet, according to Ritieni, since the plant can trigger a reaction. “Also, individuals on certain medications—especially diuretic medications—and those on medications affecting their kidney function, or people taking certain antibiotics, should discuss with their health care provider if adding dandelion root is safe and appropriate.”

Ahead, explore the many benefits of dandelion.

1. Supports liver health

Sipping dandelion tea on a daily basis can become a new habit that helps your body’s innate detoxification process, according to Ritieni. “It has [been] shown to support and maintain liver health, which supports the process of releasing toxins.”

2. Improves cellular health

Ryan Andrews, R.D., principal nutritionist and adviser for Precision Nutrition says that dandelion tea may also be able to help improve your health at the microscopic level. “The antioxidant effects of dandelion may offer widespread benefits to cellular health.” 

3. Reduces Inflammation

Because inflammation can play a major role in many ailments and diseases, Ritieni says drinking dandelion tea can not only help reduce the symptoms of certain diseases, but it can also generally boost your health for the better. 

4. Protects against illness

While (almost) nothing can fully prevent you from getting sick, Andrews says that dandelion extracts may contain some mild antiviral properties.

Original article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/11-benefits-of-dandelion-tea-and-why-you-should-consider-adding-it-to-your-diet/ar-AAWnO1x