How Dandelion Root Tea Benefits Health
It is typical for chamomile and peppermint to come to mind when thinking of herbal tea. They are the most popular choices and have been around for quite some time, after all. However, dandelion root tea is becoming an increasingly popular trend. It is known the herb itself has been used for many centuries in treating various medical conditions.
As dandelion root tea is rising in its popularity, many individuals are seeking to gain from its reported health benefits, although it's important to note research is ongoing. Researchers are aware, however, dandelion root has a diverse nutritional value. Here are various ways in which drinking dandelion root tea can benefit everyone's health.
Promotes A Healthy Liver
It is thought dandelion root tea promotes a healthy liver as it contains a variety of nutrients such as vitamins A, D, C, and E. According to a 2005 study, treatment with vitamin C has potential effects against fatty liver disease. Vitamin C, combined with vitamin E, helped lower levels of biomarkers in seventeen out of twenty-seven of participants who received nutrient treatment. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with liver disease by a number of sources. One source is a study including 118 patients with liver disease. Researchers found 109 of the participants suffered from vitamin D deficiency.
Research also indicates dandelion root tea helps cleanse the liver. The herb contains a fiber called inulin, which is suggested to enhance bile acid excretion, thus helping carry more toxins out of the body. In addition, dandelion root contains substances called polysaccharides. The benefits of several polysaccharides, DRP1 and DRP2, are shown in a 2017 study featuring mice. Based on findings from this study, it is possible polysaccharides can help reduce the risk for APAP-induced liver injury.
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Prevents Urinary Tract Infections
There is further research indicating dandelion root tea prevents urinary tract infections. Dandelion root is considered a diuretic as it enhances the production of urine from the kidneys. During urination, the bacteria within the tract is removed. Dandelion root's benefits for urinary tract health are presented in a study published in 1993. The study included fifty-seven female participants suffering from recurrent cystitis. For a month, the participants either received a concoction of dandelion root with uva-ursi extract or a placebo substance. The study concluded the concoction to have prophylactic effects on the participants' conditions.
In a study from 2013, dandelion supplementation presented antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli (E. coli). This bacteria is known to be the most common cause of urinary tract infections, accounting for at least eighty percent of cases. For the study, participants were given a dosage of one hundred mg/ml. The plant was also demonstrated to have strong antibacterial effects against less common causes of urinary tract infections, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. The plant's antibacterial properties are possibly due to its polysaccharide content.
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Improves Appetite
It is widely believed dandelion root tea improves an individual's appetite. Dandelion root is known to contain a bitter flavor. Bitter foods, in general, are suggested to help enhance the production of bile as well as gastric juices. The bitterness of the root comes from substances in the plant called eudesmanolides. These substances are also known as taraxacins, which gave the root its medical term. In addition, the root is a major source of zinc. This mineral is also suggested to be an appetite stimulant. Beyond these facts and evidence, however, additional research is needed to assess dandelion root's stimulant abilities regarding appetite.
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Lessens Constipation
As dandelion root stimulates bile production, it lessens constipation. Further effects come from the root being a major source of inulin, a soluble fiber. Several studies show promising effects of the fiber on constipation. In a 2011 study, inulin was found to improve the function of the digestive system in elderly patients. The patients were instructed to take a daily fifteen grams. Satisfactory results are also revealed in a 2014 review, which focuses on a series of studies conducted from 1995 to 2013. The studies are revealed to have featured 252 patients suffering from chronic constipation. The patients saw significant improvements in bowel habits. Moreover, dandelion root is high in vitamin C, which is thought to act as a laxative as well.
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Reduces Water Weight
It is also suggested dandelion root tea reduces water weight. The herb's effect on water weight is due to its diuretic properties. The properties are shown in a 2009 study including female participants. In the study, participants were given three doses of eight milliliters every day, and they presented improvements in urinary output. Several studies report dandelion root is rich in potassium, which may explain how the herb works as a diuretic. The mineral is believed to help regulate sodium levels in the body, which is useful for reducing water weight as sodium contributes to water retention.