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dandelions

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Eating dandelions, the backyard wonder weed

For many people in our area right now, the annual war on dandelions is in full swing. The first sight of those stems reaching for sunlight has us reaching for the spray bottle. We dig them up, burn them, mow them. But whatever our weapon of choice, we have it all wrong. What we really should be doing is eating them. “Dandelions are one of the most nutritious plants on the planet,” said Doug Oster, garden editor for the Tribune-Review and everybodygardens.com. “Every part of the plant is actually edible.” The leaves and crown provide considerable amounts of vitamin A and vitamin K which promote blood clotting and new blood cell growth. Dandelions also provide healthy doses of potassium, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, magnesium and iron. Eat enough of them and benefit from lutein and zeaxanthin, two nutrients important in maintaining healthy eyesight. The American Optometric Association reports these nutrients…