If you’ve been paying any attention to health and wellness trends, you’ve noticed a recent surge in the number of practitioners touting the mental and physical benefits of flower-infused foods, beverages, and nutritional supplements. maybe. “Our interest in health has fueled our curiosity to explore different types of food-like substances,” says Samira Jones, Ph.D., MPH, registered dietitian and owner of Sunshine Nutrition 4 Health Enterprises. , RD tells her TZR about this phenomenon. But unlike many other hot-button wellness trends (we’re looking at collagen here), science has confirmed the basic claim that consuming certain edible flowers actually yields visible results. Supported.
Read more: 18 beauty teas that do wonders for your skin and hair
Overall, flowers’ status as superfoods is due to their complex and individualized chemical profiles. “Flowers are naturally rich in phytochemicals, which are bioactive nutrients that have health benefits,” says Maria Ouspensky, founder of loose-leaf tea retailer The Tea Spot. told TZR. Additionally, some of these edible flowers may be sprouting in your backyard.
Research published in peer-reviewed academic journals suggests that common seeds such as roses and dandelions can improve vision, strengthen brain function, and protect organs such as the liver. Frontiers of plant science At the beginning of this year. In this review, the authors conclude that “their incorporation into the daily or regular diet may help prevent systemic… and/or specific pathologies.” Translation: Eating certain edible flowers regularly or occasionally can help prevent disease. (When asked for comment by TZR, corresponding author Stefano Benvenuti, a researcher at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Agro-Environmental Sciences at the University of Pisa in Italy, said: “Unfortunately, my English Please conduct an interview.”)
In addition to researchers like Benvenuti, nutritionists and nutritionists also praise flowery foods. “Many Americans are increasingly relying on holistic treatments for health problems, rather than relying solely on prescription drugs. These include teas, supplements, and other nutritional treatments. products,” Divya L. Selvakumar, Ph.D., RD, registered dietitian and nutrition expert and founder and CEO of Divine Diets, LLC, tells TZR.
Beyond that, flowers bloom in the health world. Its benefits could make it perfect for your health routine, so take note.
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rose
Roses are best known for symbolizing romantic interest and love, but Selvakumar says they can also reduce inflammation, soothe pain associated with menstruation, and heal wrinkles from the digestive process. One of his particularly well-known rose beverages is Rose Milk, a pink, frothy confection with the aptly named name that has appeared on the lifestyle influencer’s Instagram grid. I don’t feel any discomfort either. “Rose milk is definitely one of my absolute favorites,” says Uspensky. “This is great…with a little honey.”
dandelion
Selvakumar says that like roses, dandelions also promote digestion. It can also lower bad cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure, and promote weight loss, she says. Finally, they can also feed “good” gut bacteria and may even improve pancreatic health, says Andrea Arikawa, Ph.D., MPH, RD, LD/N, Nutrition and Nutrition Associate Professor of Science and Co-Director of the Clinical Nutrition Doctoral Program. University of North Florida told TZR.
Uspensky details the benefits of dandelions, noting that they belong to a class of non-toxic plants called adaptogens. For those who aren’t familiar, adaptogens help the body adapt to or resist the effects of stress (although adaptogens are not a cure for stress). Dandelions can be eaten from top to bottom, but some ingredients taste better than others. Because of this, the roots are more often exposed to the brewing process than the petals and leaves, Uspensky said.
jasmine
Jasmine flowers, when the essential oil extracted from their petals is used to flavor tea, have the “stimulating and alerting” effect described by Uspensky. As a result, the shrub may reduce anxiety, improve concentration, and act as an antidepressant, Uspensky says. Jasmine can also treat diarrhea and relieve abdominal discomfort and general body aches, Selvakumar said.
hibiscus
Hibiscus, the most popular ingredient in floral teas across the United States, is highly recommended for people who have prediabetes and are at risk of developing Type II diabetes as a result, Uspensky said. “Due to its antiseptic properties, this herbal tea has come to be used as a folk remedy to equalize blood sugar and blood pressure levels,” Uspensky says.
Additionally, hibiscus, like roses and chamomile, can help fight inflammation and infection, Jones says. “These flowers actually reduce the production of apoptosis-related proteins, proteins that promote cell removal,” she says. Additionally, hibiscus “promotes skin and hair health,” Selvakumar says.
chamomile
It is not the active ingredient in the tea you drink when you feel sleepy, which is stocked in large quantities for free in university cafeterias. According to Uspensky, chamomile has calming, relaxing, and antispasmodic properties. Medical professionals have been aware of its beneficial abilities for centuries. “Egypt has chamomile flower hieroglyphics dating back to 1550 BC,” Uspensky said. Selvakumar says that thanks to its soothing effects, women have historically relied on chamomile to relieve painful menstrual cramps, but the plant can also treat other common gastrointestinal complaints and symptoms. He says it can be done. Generally speaking, it “protects the stomach,” Arikawa says.
Warning: Not all flowers are edible
Before you start sampling local plants at will, you should realize that not all of the estimated 400,000-plus plants in existence are suitable for consumption. Some flowers, such as eggplant and hemlock, can cause serious illness or even death if eaten. (In the 1999 Bildungsroman white oleanderFor example, the protagonist’s mother uses the titular shrub to poison her former boyfriend. )
Edible flowers and the phytochemicals they contain can be ingested in a variety of ways (Ouspensky says some, like lavender, can be eaten whole), but Arikawa recommends one. “In my opinion, the best way to consume edible flowers is by drinking tea,” she says. In comparison, she refuses to recommend dietary supplements. “Just because there’s so little human research on its effectiveness,” she says.. Jones herself regularly drinks floral tea and reports that she feels noticeably better after drinking it. “She notices that she is more alert, has better performance and energy when she is taking it compared to when she is not taking it,” she says.
Naturally, this anecdote raises the question of how much tea you have to cut down on to feel the effects. Ouspensky notes that there is a paucity of related research, and one study conducted by researchers in Taiwan found that drinking 30 to 40 ounces (about five cups) of lavender tea a day was the best for postpartum women. It is said that they concluded that it is effective. That said, as she points out, the old adage “everything in moderation” itself suggests reasonable parameters. If you plan to DIY your drinks, be sure to buy your flowers from a reliable source to avoid accidentally ingesting pesticides, fungicides, and other potentially harmful compounds.
Quote source:
Benvenuti, S., Mazzoncini, M. (February 22, 2021). Biodiversity of edible flowers: discovering new flavors and new health benefits. Frontiers of plant science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.569499
Warren, J. (2016, January 15). Why do we consume only a fraction of the world’s edible plants? World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/why-do-we-consume-only-a-tiny-fraction-of-the-world-s-edible-plants
Aggie gardening. Common poisonous plants and plant parts. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/landscape/poisonous-plants-resources/common-poisonous-plants-and-plant-parts/
Gine, RPF, et al. (July 23, 2020). Edible flowers, old traditions or new gastronomic trends: A first look at consumption in Portugal and Costa Rica. food. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9080977
Chen, SL and Chen, CH (November 2, 2015). Effects of lavender tea on fatigue, depression, and mother-infant attachment in postpartum women with sleep disorders. A world view of nursing based on scientific evidence. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12122
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