Can dandelions be eaten raw?

Dandelion is a bitter herb and also a plant that can be eaten. Dandelions have many benefits for the human body, such as supplementing vitamin C. Of course, there are many ways to eat bitter herbs, and eating them raw is one of them. However, eating bitter herbs raw has both advantages and disadvantages. In order to fully ensure your own health, it is recommended that you cook the bitter herbs before eating them.

1. Can bitter herbs be eaten raw?

Can be eaten raw. Dandelion is cold in nature, bitter in taste and non-toxic. It is one of the most common wild vegetables. It is eaten mainly in cold salads, soups and stir-fries. There are two ways to eat it cold: blanching and then cold salad and direct cold salad. Direct cold salad means eating it raw, which tastes more delicious and is also a popular way of eating it.

Although bitter herb is a wild vegetable, it is a non-toxic wild vegetable and will not cause food poisoning whether eaten raw or cooked. However, bitter herbs are cold foods, and eating them raw in large quantities can easily cause diarrhea, so you should pay attention to it.

2. The pros and cons of eating bitter vegetables raw

1. Benefits of eating bitter vegetables raw:

Eating bitter vegetables raw can minimize nutritional losses. The content of vitamin C in bitter herbs is very high. The content of vitamin C in 100 grams of bitter herbs is more than 8000 micrograms. It is an antioxidant food. Vitamin C will be broken down by high temperature and lose its activity when heated and cooked. Eating it raw can ensure that vitamin C is not broken down, thus reducing nutrient loss.

2. The disadvantages of eating bitter vegetables raw:

(1) Indigestion

Dandelions are cold in nature. Eating this type of food will increase the coldness in the body, and the coldness will be even worse when eaten raw. It can easily cause spleen and stomach deficiency, and lead to indigestion symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal distension.

(2) Calcium loss

Dandelion is a high-oxalic acid food. If it is not heated, a large amount of oxalic acid will enter the blood after consumption and combine with calcium ions in the blood to form insoluble calcium oxalate. In mild cases, calcium loss will increase, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. In severe cases, calcium oxalate crystals may even precipitate and lead to urinary stones.

3. Is it better to eat bitter vegetables raw or cooked?

Overall, bitter herbs are better eaten cooked.

Raw bitter vegetables contain a lot of oxalic acid and are cold foods, so it is best to cook them before eating. If you really like to eat it cold, it is recommended to blanch it to fully dissolve the oxalic acid in the bitter herbs, then cool it down with ice water and eat it cold, thereby reducing oxalic acid intake.