Who knew, dandelion tea benefits our health in numerous ways. It's true, dandelions are high in many vitamins and minerals and have been consumed for thousands of years as a nutritious edible plant. So if you have been battling those pesky but pretty flowers year after year - just give in and get back by eating them instead of cursing them!

I recently discovered an article touting the benefits of dandelion tea, as well as cooking with the leaves and roots so I did a little digging (both in the back yard and online) to discover numerous dandelion tea benefits.

Dandelion and Dandelion Tea Benefits and Nutrition

Dandelion leaves are 15% protein and just one cup of dandelion greens contains 2.1 g of protein, 112% of the daily recommendation of vitamin A, 32% vitamin C, and a whopping 535% vitamin K. A cup of dandelion leaves also contain 218 mg of potassium, 103 mg of calcium, and 1.7 mg of iron. Throw in trace amounts of zinc, copper, selenium, magnesium, folic acid and a handful of B vitamins and you have one action packed punch of good for you health benefits when eating dandelions and drinking dandelion tea.

Dandelion root extract and dandelion tea have been discovered to cause apoptosis, or cell suicide in several different types of cancer cells without harming nearby healthy cells. Leukemia, prostate cancer cells, breast cancer cells and other drug-resistant melanoma cells have all been shown to be effected by dandelion root tea.

Aside from these astonishing results there are many other dandelion tea benefits, as dandelions are potent liver and kidney purifiers that help the body rid itself of harmful wastes and toxins. Dandelion is a natural diuretic thus a dandelion tea weight loss aide can gently stimulate your body to excrete more water from your system and promote bile production necessary for good digestion and nutrient absorption. More important than the resulting weight loss is the benefit of all the good for you vitamins and minerals and flushing out everyday toxins from the body.

Here are Ten Dandelion tea Benefits you can look forward to

1. Liver Cleanse: Dandelion cleanses and stimulates the liver promoting good digestion and removal of toxins. The vitamin-C and Luteolin in dandelion tea keeps the liver functioning well and protects it from age related stress. For the same reason it is good for gall bladder disorders as dandelion tea benefits the function of the gall bladder protecting it from harmful oxidants and infections.

2. Diabetes: Along with the liver cleanse dandelion tea benefits those with diabetes as it stimulates the production of insulin from the pancreas thus keeping the blood sugar levels low. Since dandelion acts as a diuretic it helps remove extra sugar from the blood stream and kidneys. As an extra boost dandelion tea is slightly bitter which lowers blood sugar levels as well, as all bitter foods do. A note of caution if you have gallbladder or pancreas problems dandelion tea stimulates bile production and might cause severe problems should there be any obstructions so please check with your doctor before trying dandelion tea.

3. Bone Health: Dandelion is high in calcium which of course is good for bone growth, plus the anti-oxidants in dandelion protect the bones from free radicals and bone density loss.

How to Make Dandelion Coffee
1. Dig up dandelions with big roots
2. Cut roots into 1/4 inch pieces
3. Roast at 250 degrees F for 2 hours
3. Grind roasted roots in coffee grinder
4. Brew like coffee

4. Pregnancy: Dandelion tea is a fantastic drink for mothers to be. Not only is it high in much needed vitamins and minerals, but the diuretic properties can help with constipation. Chinese herbalists have used dandelion for centuries to help with sore breasts and as a method to increase lactation. Interesting to note roasted dandelion root is said to taste much like coffee so if you are avoiding caffeine while pregnant try a bit of roasted dandelion root tea!

5. Skin Care and Acne: Dandelion in various forms is great for natural skincare and as an acne treatment. The dandelion "milk" from the stems and leaves has germicidal, insecticidal and fungicidal properties so it can be used to treat itchy rashes like ringworm, eczema, bug bites and even directly on acne. Plus since dandelion tea is a good detoxifier and diuretic it helps open the pores and cleanse acne causing toxins from the body before they clog the pores and develop into acne.

6. High Blood Pressure: Believe it or not urinating lowers blood pressure - in fact most high blood pressure medication relies on this to lower blood pressure. Dandelion tea benefits those with high blood pressure since it is a great diuretic. Dandelion tea is a good source of potassium which replaces sodium in the body and thus helps lower blood pressure. Also since dandelion is a good source of fiber it helps lower cholesterol which in turn helps lower high blood pressure.

7. Urinary Disorders: Many of the benefits of dandelion tea revolve around its ability to cleanse out the kidneys and urinary system. The diuretic properties of a good cup of dandelion tea benefits those with urinary disorders by eliminating toxins. Plus dandelion juice acts as a disinfectant to inhibit microbial growth in the urinary system to prevent the reoccurrence of urinary problems.

8. Jaundice: Another liver related condition dandelion tea will benefit is jaundice. Jaundice is caused when the liver produces too much bile, resulting in yellow tinted eyes and skin. Using dandelion tea as a treatment for jaundice will improve the health of the liver which helps regulate bile production. Excess bile is also removed through the diuretic process of the dandelion tea. The triple whammy in jaundice fighting comes from the antioxidant, disinfectant and anti-viral nature of the vitamin-C and Luteolin in dandelion. Dandelion tea taken in conjunction with sugarcane juice is more effective as sugar needs to be replaced from the excess bile effects on the body.

9. Cancer Fighting: As mentioned above dandelion has been shown to have some pretty amazing effects on active cancer cells. Dandelion tea can also help prevent cancer in the first place because of the strong anti-oxidant presence of vitamin-C and Luteolin which reduce free radicals in the body. The over all detoxification properties of dandelion help prevent cells from damage as well.

10. Weight Loss Wonder: Dandelion tea weight loss treatments are effective in the removal of water weight because of the safe diuretic nature of dandelion tea. It may not be the weight loss wonder you are looking for but it will help cleanse the cells of excess water weight and give you much needed nutrients and detoxification that will increase overall health while you pursue a healthy weight loss and exercise program. So throw some dandelion greens in a green smoothie and enjoy!

As you can see dandelion is a surprisingly healthy plant - maybe not so deserving of the disdain many of us have for her as she beautifies our lawns.

If you plan to harvest dandelion from your own yard make sure you have not used any chemical fertilizers or weed killer on your lawn as those substances are quite toxic. There are many options for dandelion and dandelion tea on the internet so if your dandelions aren't safe to consume take a peek below for a few featured organically grown dandelion teas.

If you find a good source of organically grown dandelion near you it is quite easy to make your own dandelion tea. There are many ways to make dandelion tea - from the flowers, leaves and even the roots. Each method yields a slightly different taste so stay tuned for a few dandelion tea recipes. Until then try out the many dandelion tea benefits with one of these fine organically grown dandelion teas for sale on Amazon.

Dandelion Root Tea - 30 - Bag List Price: $9.81 Sale Price: $7.16 You save: $2.65 (27%)   Eligible for free shipping!

Traditional Medicinals Organic Roasted Dandelion Root Herbal Tea, 16-Count Wrapped Tea Bags (Pack of 6) List Price: $33.00 Sale Price: $21.17 You save: $11.83 (36%)   Eligible for free shipping!

This post on the many dandelion tea benefits shared on Fight Back Friday.

Dandelions: Can’t Beat em Eat em – Ten Dandelion Tea Benefits is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

Have you been looking for a kids toothpaste that is so good your children will WANT to brush their teeth? Now how about one that is loaded with natural effective ingredients instead of all the artificial junk found in most kids toothpaste?

We tried out a really effective herbal all natural toothpaste made by Vita-Myr awhile back and we loved it - the only problem was one of the main ingredients was clove. Clove is a very effective antibacterial and anti-inflammatory which is great for gum health, however it does have a strong taste - our 4 year old thought it was too "spicy".

Is there a Natural Kids Toothpaste that kids will like?

Alas, back to the gunky un-natural kids toothpaste.... but not long after we wrote up a review for the Vita-Myr Zinc Plus toothpaste - we received a surprise from the fine folks at Vita-Myr - a couple tubes of their Natural Orange Flavor Children's Xylitol toothpaste. It has the same beneficial ingredients as the Zinc Plus toothpaste along with Xylitol which is a proven powerful cavity fighter and antioxidant - it even has clove. But with the nice subtle orange flavor you'd never know - and your kids won't either.

Teeth brushing success a Natural Kids Toothpaste that tastes good

Proof in point... when I brushed our 18 month old's teeth with the Vita-Myr Children's Xylitol toothpaste the first word out of her mouth was More! (and she wasn't a big talker at the time so it must have been good)

She now loves brushing her teeth - and I love knowing that Vita-Myr natural kids toothpaste contains no harmful chemicals, fluoride, artificial sweeteners or colors - not to mention this toothpaste is so effective at removing teeth scum it makes them squeak.

Check out these sales on Vita-Myr natural kids toothpaste and other herbal kids toothpastes below

Default Featured items Bestselling Price: low to high Price: high to low Newest arrivals On sale

Children's Zinc Plus Herbal Toothpaste - with Xylitol Orange Flavor - 5.4 oz. List Price: $8.95 Sale Price: $6.50 You save: $2.45 (27%)   Eligible for free shipping!

Vegetable Glycerine - 1 gallon,(Starwest Botanicals) List Price: $50.00 Sale Price: $44.95 You save: $5.05 (10%)   Eligible for free shipping!

If you've discovered a great effective natural kids toothpaste leave a comment below - we are always looking for new natural health products to try.

This post on Vita-Myr natural kids toothpaste shared on Real Food Wednesday and Fight Back Friday

Are You Looking for a Natural Kids Toothpaste Your Children Will Love? is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

Are you looking for an easy way to get a jump on a cold winter morning? Here's a simple to make powerful natural cold remedy that helps boost metabolism, brain activity, and the immune system all in one shot - plus it has plenty of other mighty fine heath benefits.

Simply make a mug of hot lemon water and spice it up with cinnamon and fresh ginger! Kapow - instant superfood celebration and natural cold remedy.

The Secret Superfood Ingredients in an Immune Boosting Cold Remedy

Natural Cold Remedy Ingredient Number one: Lemon

Lemon is widely known for its high Vitamin C content and digestion aiding effects but the real powerhouse here is the cinnamon and ginger and the combination of all three.

Natural Cold Remedy Ingredient Number Two: Cinnamon

In traditional Chinese remedies cinnamon is praised for its warming qualities (sounds pretty good on a cold winter morning) and has been used to provide relief when faced with the onset of a cold or flu, especially when mixed in a tea with some fresh ginger. Cinnamon's scent has also been shown to boost brain activity so when you add a touch of cinnamon in your morning tea make sure you give it a big whiff to help get those cobwebs out of the brain and perhaps help you remember where you put your keys.

When consumed with high carb foods cinnamon can help lessen carbohydrates impact on your blood sugar levels because cinnamon reduces blood sugar as well as cholesterol and triglycerides. It also has anti-microbial properties that help stop the growth of bacteria and can be effective in preventing candida overgrowth.

A Cold Remedy Just isn't Complete Without Ginger

Natural Cold Remedy Ingredient Number Three: Ginger

Ginger completes the digestive three way tag team because it is an intestinal spasmolytic (a substance which relaxes and soothes the intestinal tract). Ginger is also an excellent carminative (a substance which promotes the elimination of intestinal gas) so you don't have to ride the toot toot train all the way to work with this cold remedy. Ginger was shown to be far superior to Dramamine the motion sickness drug and is well known to be very useful in reducing the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Ginger contains very potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols. Ginger extracts have been shown to have both antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects on cells and is especially effective in inducing cell death in ovarian cancer cells.

Ginger is not only warming on a cold day with its spicy kick, but helps promote healthy sweating, which is helpful when you have a cold or the flu. So if you are doing a winter detox adding a little ginger in the morning will really help the detoxification process. A good sweat may do a lot more than simply assist detoxification as German researchers have found that sweat contains a potent germ-fighting agent called dermicidin. Dermicidin is manufactured in the body's sweat glands, secreted into the sweat, and transported to the skin's surface where it provides protection against invading microorganisms, bacteria and infections.

Now after all that appetizing talk of sweating and digestion why not lose yourself in a spicy sweet hot mug of lemon ginger cinnamon tea.

This Immune Boosting Natural Cold Remedy Shared on Freaky Friday and Fight Back Friday

Winter Detox, Brain and Immune Boosting Cold Remedy is a post from: Natural Health Goodies