All About Italian Dandelion

“Be like a dandelion. Whenever they fall apart, they start again. Have hope." - @therandomvibez

You may not think of a dandelion when you think of food, but forms of dandelion, like the leaves of Italian dandelions, can add a unique flavor and nutritional punch to your meals.

Five Fun Facts

Italian dandelions are actually not a true dandelion but the features are similar.
Italian dandelion comes in two varieties - red and green.
Italian dandelions are native to Italy and part of the Chicory family of plants.
You can find Italian dandelions in everything from soups, salads, sautéed in a pan with oil – to even tea, and a coffee substitute.
If you thought spinach was a great source of iron, Italian dandelions actually contain more!

Nutrition Info

Italian dandelions are a good source of:

Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin K
Iron
Calcium
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids

They also contain:

Antioxidants
Potassium
Dietary Fiber
Zinc
Phosphorus
Magnesium

In ⅜ of a cup of Italian dandelion, there are 35 calories, two grams of protein, and 0.5 grams of fat.

Benefits

Due to various nutrients, Italian dandelions can provide several benefits.

Besides supporting bone health with calcium, Italian dandelions can also help to regulate blood pressure, promote eye health, protect against cancer, reduce inflammation, and with zinc and other nutrients, even boost the immune system.