叶草篇（一）- 蒲公英叶 Herbs (I) - Dandelion Greens
English Text is further down.
蒲公英是早春生长的植物，正是配合我们春季的排毒。蒲公英的苦味是其强大疗愈效果的原因，这种苦味源自于植物酸和疗愈的生物碱这些药用成分。蒲公英能够帮助净化我们的血液和各大器官，去除体内的辐射、重金属、敌敌畏和其他毒素。
蒲公英叶对肝脏特别有益，能够帮助排出体内毒素并给身体提供最关键的矿物质。其所含的光合化学物净化血液并将其送入难以达到的地方，因此对于改善血液循环问题极其有帮助。同时其苦味是为了将毒素从淋巴系统中排除，使其成为非霍奇金淋巴瘤、肿胀的淋巴结和浮肿的最佳药物。
蒲公英不仅仅帮助排毒和净化，而且也给我们身体留下许多重要的营养元素，诸如维生素A、C、E和K，以及钙、铁、锌、镁、碘、锰、硒、硅和铜等。蒲公英叶的蛋白质含量在14%，这比菠菜所含的蛋白质还要高（菠菜之所以是大力水手最喜欢的强健肌肉食物是因为其所含的丰富蛋白质）。蒲公英叶极高的β胡萝卜素和类黄酮含量使其非常有益于免疫系统和心血管系统。蒲公英叶也是植物性维生素K最丰富的来源之一，维生素K是骨骼和神经健康必需的营养元素，维生素A则对眼睛和皮肤健康至关重要。这些关键的营养元素给予我们能量，帮助我们身体抵御疾病。蒲公英可以对抗任何一种疾病，而且对于前列腺特别有益。
蒲公英叶在春季和初夏的几个月可以找到，请确保没有被喷洒任何农药，请用冷水清洗。叶子也可以烘干后作为药用茶。蒲公英黄色的花和根也可食用，并且营养极其丰富，这将在以后的文章中进一步讨论。尝试在汤、沙拉、果汁或果昔中加入一些蒲公英叶。它们也可以与大蒜和生姜一起蒸熟，然后加上少许特级初榨橄榄油食用。
Herbs (I) - Dandelion Greens
Dandelions come up in the early spring, just when our bodies are due for a spring cleaning. When consumed, the dandelion’s defining characteristic is bitterness, and this is the very feature that lends it restorative properties. That bitterness is medicine derived from plant acids and healing alkaloids. Dandelions shake you out of hibernation, getting your blood pumping and your organs cleaning house from radiation, toxic heavy metals, DDT, and other poisons.
Dandelion greens are especially beneficial for the liver and aid in flushing out toxins and remineralizing the body. Phytochemicals in dandelion leaves purify blood and also help bring it to hard to reach places, so the leaves are a must for circulatory issues such as poor circulation. The leaves’ bitterness is also geared to squeeze toxins out of the lymphatic system, making them ideal for addressing non-hodgkin’s lymphoma, swollen lymph nodes and edema.
Dandelion is not just a cleansing herb. It’s like a housekeeping service at a fancy hotel that after tidying up and gathering the trash, leaves a mint behind on your pillow. Dandelion’s parting gift is vital nutrients such as vitamin A, B, manganese, iodine, calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, silica and chlorophyll that give you energy and help your body stave off disease.
Dandelion greens are packed with vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, C, E, & K, and calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium & copper. Dandelion greens are also about 14% protein, which is MORE protein per serving than spinach, popeye’s favorite muscle building food.
It’s high beta carotene and flavonoid content also benefits the immune system and cardiovascular system. Dandelion greens are also one of the richest sources of plant based Vitamin K which is essential for bone and neurological health and Vitamin A which is vital for eye and skin health.
Dandelion is a preventative for virtually any illness, and is especially great for the prostate.
Dandelion greens can be found at most health food stores and farmer’s markets, but they also can be found in the spring and early summer months in your own backyard.
Just make sure they have not been sprayed with any pesticides and wash in cold water before using. The leaves can also be dried and later used as a medicinal tea. The yellow flower tops and taproot are also edible and nutrient packed and will be discussed further in a separate post. Try adding a few dandelion leaves to your soup, salad, green juice, or smoothie. They can also be steamed with garlic and ginger and drizzled with a little extra virgin olive oil.