Can the Dandelion Flower That Grows in Your Lawn Actually Help with Your Gout?
When you think of dandelion, you think of that annoying weed that takes over in your lawn, garden and even appears in between the cracks of the sidewalk. But did you know that it is also an excellent food and herbal medicine that may also help treat your gout? Bet you didn?t!
Actually dandelion root is used by Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine to treat gout! This flowering plant is rich in vitamins C, B complex and D. It?s also high in beta-carotene (more than carrots) which then gets converted into vitamin A! Did you also know that dandelion contains more protein than spinach? It also contains magnesium, potassium, zinc, fiber, biotin, iron and phosphorus.
Dandelion may help you with your digestion and may act as a mild laxative and stimulate your appetite, keeping that good bacteria in your gut active. Dandelion may help your liver by removing toxins; may help regulate insulin levels in your blood; may lower cholesterol and high blood pressure, may boost immune system and may even increase bile production helping with gallbladder problems. In Germany, the department similar to the FDA in the United States has approved dandelion for the treatment of urinary tract infections.
A more interest to gout sufferers would be that dandelion acts like a diuretic so it may increase urination removing excess uric acid from the bloodstream. In addition, it may help the kidneys clear out waste, salts and excess water. As a matter of fact, dandelion root tea may also help some people actually avoid surgery for painful kidney stones! When suffering during and after a gout attack, dandelion may help reduce inflammation relieving pain and swelling since it contains essential fatty acids and phytonutrients.
How to Consume Dandelion?
You can find dandelion tea in most health stores online and offline, gout sufferers can drink dandelion tea twice a day to keep the kidneys working properly and may help flush urates from your body. You can eat dandelion leaves in salads or cooked in other dishes since it is full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients especially vitamin C which helps lower uric acid levels.
If you actually want to pick dandelions off your lawn that is not the best way. Instead pick them from a mountain or abandoned lot. You can also gather the seeds from the puff balls you see each summer. You can also consume dandelion in the form of a capsule and tinctures. Dandelion roots, leaves and flowers are all edible. You can also consume it as a tea as well. If you have an allergic reaction to dandelion you definitely should avoid it.
Finally, you can also find Dandelion Extract inside my proprietary blend which is sold as a dietary supplement on Amazon called NutriGout. Do consult with your doctor before adding dandelion in your diet.