The most delicious and healthy weeds that people have forgotten about: burdock, quinoa, wheatgrass, plantain, dandelion, shepherd's purse, clover, viburnum and runny. People have always thought that weeds are only harmful to their cultivated plants. But this opinion turned out to be wrong. Today, people know a large number of weed species that are considered not only useful, but also tasty.
There are a huge number of different weeds around the world. Most of them are unknown to humanity, but among those that people know about, there are several thousand species. We are accustomed to the fact that such plants are completely useless and often they significantly impair the productivity of agricultural crops, as well as affect their quality. This is due to the fact that weeds, growing near cultivated plants, absorb a lot of moisture and nutrients from the soil, which often leads to a deterioration in the growth of crops or their death.
In fact, few people know that weeds, in addition to harm to crops, also bring benefits. They can not only heal many diseases, but also become the main ingredient for the preparation of various dishes. Such plants are called "edible" because they contain all the necessary components for beauty and health.
Burdock
There is also a popular name for this plant "big burdock", since a mature weed has large and extensive leaves. It can be found anywhere: in the field, in the garden, near the banks of a river or road. Leaves, stems, burdock root and even fruits have beneficial properties.
Since burdock leaves are rarely used for cooking (its leaves have an unpleasant bitter taste), they are widely used for medicinal purposes. For example, they have a good wound healing and antipyretic effect. Also, if a burdock leaf is applied to a sore spot with rheumatism, it will significantly reduce pain. In addition, an infusion can be prepared from the leaves, which is used for constipation, kidney disease and even diabetes mellitus.
Burdock roots are high in fatty acids and essential oils. Preparations based on burdock root extract help to treat skin diseases (eczema, dermatitis, furunculosis, etc.). Also, the oil of this weed is often used to restore hair growth in case of baldness. There is an opinion that burdock is able to fight cancer, because it contains substances that effectively kill cancer cells.
In cooking, burdock is no less popular than in medicine. In this case, its stems and roots are most often used for cooking. The root is considered especially tasty and healthy, because it contains the substance inulin. It is he who gives it a delicate sweetish taste. It is used for making salads, soups and other dishes. For example, fried root is considered a popular dish. It is thoroughly soaked in water and prepared as a main course or added to others. Burdock root tastes like a cross between chicken and potatoes.
Quinoa
If you cook this plant correctly, then it will be not only tasty, but also useful. Indeed, thanks to the huge content of vitamins and minerals, quinoa is very nutritious. It is known that even during the time of the terrible hunger strike, people survived by eating this weed. Soups, salads, sauces are prepared from young leaves of quinoa, but from a ripe plant that has seeds, you can make porridge that tastes like buckwheat.
In addition to delicious dishes, weed is also used to cleanse the body. It contains a huge amount of fiber and pectins, which effectively remove toxins and toxins. Traditional medicine recommends using quinoa for constipation, as it improves digestion.
Wheatgrass
In fact, this weed is the worst enemy for fields and vegetable gardens, because growing among cultivated plants, it negatively affects their growth. But on the other hand, few people know that this plant has a huge amount of nutrients. For example, these are ascorbic acid, carbohydrates, carotene and essential oils.
It is best to use a young plant for food, which is still without seeds. Soups, sauces, salads are prepared from it, and also added to fish, meat and vegetable dishes. The root of the plant is used exclusively for making flour. Such flour is used to bake pancakes, bread, and even boil porridge.
Plantain
This weed got its name due to the fact that it grows mainly near roads. But, in addition, it can be found near the river, in wastelands and meadows. Everyone knows that this herb has many medicinal properties, for example:
- has a hemostatic effect;
- heals wounds;
- has a powerful antiseptic property as it kills germs, fungi and infections;
- treats gastritis and stomach ulcers;
- has a good expectorant effect, especially with bronchitis and even whooping cough;
- helps to get rid of acne.
Plantain is used both for the preparation of medicinal products and for culinary "masterpieces". At the same time, both in cooking and in folk medicine, the whole plant is used: leaves, root and seeds. Soups are made from plantain, delicious, vitamin salads are made, and dry leaves are also added to various seasonings. If you add a few leaves of this herb together with sorrel to the cabbage soup, then it will be a delicious and original dish.
Dandelion
Dandelion leaves, flowers, root and stems are used to prepare various dishes. This plant contains a large amount of protein. Despite the fact that this weed has a bitter taste, especially the leaves, they are used to prepare salads, sauces and add to soups. Jam is made from flowers and various desserts are prepared. It contains many useful vitamins, including vitamins A, B2, C, etc. In addition, it contains trace elements such as calcium, magnesium and iron. It also contains a lot of fatty oil, which contains glycerides of lemon balm, oleic and cerotinic acids. The presence of a large amount of biologically active substances makes this weed simply indispensable in human nutrition.
Dandelion Healing Effect:
- improves metabolism, which contributes to normal digestion;
- improves appetite;
- it is used for sleep disorders and disorders, since it has a good sedative effect;
- reduces high body temperature;
- treats dry cough, as it has an expectorant effect;
- used in the treatment of anemia, diabetes and gout;
- used for vitamin deficiency.
Shepherd's bag
This weed, in its nutritional qualities, resembles the various garden greens that we grow. But, despite the fact that this plant is a weed, it will complement your favorite dishes with a piquant taste. It is also interesting that an already mature plant has a completely different taste, sharp with sourness. An excellent dressing is made from the seeds of this weed, which is no worse than mustard.
Shepherd's purse is part of many medicines that help with many problems, for example:
- has a good hemostatic effect, and also heals wounds;
- improves digestion and blood clotting process;
- treats various infectious diseases in the oral cavity (stomatitis, periodontitis, periodontal disease, etc.);
- helps with cystitis and pyelonephritis.
Clover
Clover is a very free plant, because it can grow both in the field and among cultivated plants. Not only is this weed tasty and healthy, it also has beautiful flowers that are healthy as well. There is almost no fat in clover, but most of all it contains proteins. In addition, it contains a lot of calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, as well as vitamins A, B, C. Due to such a huge content of useful components, clover leaves can be eaten if you are very hungry. This will help restore strength and give you a boost of energy. Means based on the flowers of this weed have a good expectorant effect and help with any type of cough.
Clover can be eaten raw or boiled. Its leaves and flowers go well in salads, soups, sauces and seasonings. If you pour boiling water over the clover flowers, you can enjoy a fragrant and healthy tea. Both the leaves and the buds of the young plant are pickled and fermented for the winter, you can add it to your favorite dishes or just eat it as a salad seasoned with olive oil.
Nettle
Unlike other weeds, nettle is better known and is often used in cooking. For example, the well-known recipe for green cabbage soup, where instead of sorrel, young nettle leaves scalded with boiling water are added. Also, in our time, it is not uncommon to have different salads and sauces from this plant in restaurant menus. Of course, nettle is not consumed as often as, for example, parsley or salad, but this is in vain. In fact, people have not yet fully appreciated the beneficial properties of this herb.
In addition to original and tasty dishes, nettle must be used for another purpose. After all, even our ancestors considered it to be the main ingredient for the preparation of various medicinal products. It helps with such diseases:
- due to the high content of vitamin K, it has hemostatic and anti-inflammatory properties;
- has a good diuretic effect, which allows you to remove toxins and toxins from the body;
- improves metabolism and lowers blood sugar levels;
- treats various skin diseases.
To dream
This plant is considered to be very useful and nutritious as it contains many different components. For example, proteins, carbohydrates, organic acids, flavonoids, potassium, iron, magnesium, etc. Glee is used to prepare many dishes, but a seasoning from this weed is considered very popular. To do this, dry leaves and stems are dried and crushed into powder, then added to your favorite dishes.
In medicine, runny is used to treat many diseases. For example, these are arthritis, arthrosis, rheumatism, diathesis, eczema, bacterial infections. In addition, the weed has a huge number of beneficial properties, including:
- diuretic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- wound healing;
- pain reliever;
- sedative;
- fortifying.
Many of us do not even know that every day they literally walk with their feet on plants that have unique properties. Almost everyone is convinced that these are common weeds that have no "right to life." But our article will make you think differently. And even if this is just a small part of such plants that we have discovered, the main ones will help you to be healthy, beautiful and well-fed!
For more information about tasty and healthy weeds, see this part of Natalia Tyshkevich's author's video blog:
