Run to the Garden: You Won't Believe How This Plant Can Improve Your Health Right Now

You've all picked it during your childhood, but likely very few of you understood what you held in your hand at that time. The dandelion flower, which grows in almost every garden in Israel, has been the subject of dozens of scientific studies, all crowning it as the 'Gold of Nature'. 

In Russia, India, and China, dandelion has been used to prepare a variety of medications in traditional folk medicine due to its hypoglycemic effects. 

This flower is a rich source of micronutrients, minerals, and vitamins, which is why it also has many therapeutic benefits for bladder diseases, liver problems, and internal organs like the spleen, and even for building body cells. 

One study shows that the green leaves of the dandelion contain 4 times or more vitamins and minerals than lettuce. It also contains 4 times the beta-carotene found in baby leaves or any other green leaf you add to your salad. 

Another study indicates that dandelion is also an excellent source for consuming vitamin C and calcium, which are well known to strengthen the immune system. 

You can also find B complex vitamins in abundance, particularly choline, which is produced in the liver and is not made in sufficient levels in most people. 

Choline maintains the health of the nervous system, prevents excessive blood clotting, aids in the production of substances responsible for building cells in the body, and more. If that's not enough, dandelion also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which the body also really needs. 

But before you run to the garden to pick it, there are a few important things you should remember:

1. Ensure that plants in the garden have not been sprayed with harmful pesticides. If you know that the municipality sprays plants in this area, avoid consuming the plant directly, and prefer to consume it in the form of natural capsules. 

2. It is advisable to consult with a rabbi who is a halachic authority on how to consume the green leaves and how to clean them from worms. Afterward, the leaves can be consumed in a salad, tea, or extract. 

3. It is important to know that dandelion leaves have a slightly bitter taste, which can only be diminished by seasoning (for example, if you mix it in soup or lightly fry it in a vegetable stew).

You can eat its green leaves fresh in a salad, drink them in tea, and make extracts from them.