Dandelions are antioxidant greens packed with nutrients, and they can be easily added to your diet in the form of a tasty side dish, sauce, or tea. Might they have specific health benefits? Learn about the latest research here.<\/p>\n
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Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale<\/em>) is known as a garden weed and belongs to a group of flowering plants (Taraxacum<\/em>). The common name is derived from the French dent-de-lion,<\/em> which means lion\u2019s tooth [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Dandelion has been used in the traditional medicine of many cultures for centuries. In Russia, India, China, Turkey, and Mexico, dandelion was used for treating ailments such as diabetes<\/a>, blisters, spleen, liver, and gallbladder issues [R,<\/a> R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The dandelion plant is entirely edible from root and greens to flower<\/strong>. The majority of the beneficial properties of dandelion are common among the root, greens, and flower. Health benefits may depend on what part of the plant is used, what species, and how it is extracted [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Dandelion is a rich source of many vitamins and minerals such as [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Dandelion<\/a> also contains many important components responsible for its diverse effects, such as sesquiterpene lactones, taraxasterol, taraxerol, chlorogenic acid<\/a>, and chicoric acid [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The health benefits of dandelion result from nutrients and antioxidants<\/strong>, as well as its diuretic <\/strong>and microbe-fighting <\/strong>action [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In cell studies, dandelion has:<\/p>\n Rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet supplemented with dandelion root had increased antioxidant enzyme activity [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The leaves and especially the petals of dandelions contain phenolic compounds that showed antioxidant properties in human blood [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Dandelion roots also showed antioxidant activity in fat cells (adipocytes) of mice [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In mouse leukemia cells, dandelion extract acted as an antioxidant and protected the cells (via the <\/strong>tPI3K<\/strong><\/a>-AKT<\/strong> pathway)<\/strong> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Dandelion supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.<\/p>\n The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of dandelion for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking dandelion supplements, and never use dandelion in place of something a doctor prescribes.<\/p>\n Diuretics are used to flush built-up fluids from the body. They can treat hypertension, liver, and kidney disease, and are sometimes added to weight loss<\/a> protocols [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Dandelion has been used as a diuretic for centuries. In France, it is commonly referred to as pissenlit<\/em> which roughly translates to \u201cwet the bed.\u201d<\/p>\n A pilot trial of 17 participants found that dandelion extract increased the frequency and volume of urination for up to 5 hours<\/strong> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n<\/a>Nutrients & Active Compounds<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Mechanisms of Action<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Antioxidant Activity<\/h4>\n
<\/a>Potential Health Benefits<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Insufficient Evidence For<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>1) Diuretic Effect<\/h4>\n