Widely despised as a weed, dandelion is known by a variety of names such as lion’s tooth, fairy clock, pissabed, priest’s crown, swine’s snout, blowball, milk gowan, and wild endive. It belongs to a family that also includes marigold and daisy. Because it is so widely despised, many people have a hard time seeing it as a healing herb and in some circles as a weight loss tool. 

If you are considering dandelion tea for weight loss, here is some information on this medicinal herb that goes back more than a thousand years. 

Before you make yourself a cup of dandelion tea for weight loss especially for those who want to lose weight without working out, it is important to examine this “weed”. When used for natural healing, it is mainly the roots that are used although the leaves can also be used. 

Dandelion stimulates the flow of bile and is one of the top herbs that is considered a diuretic (promotes the increased flow of urine). Some uses for this herb that go back a thousand years include but are not limited to; The diuretic action of dandelion is the reason it is recommended for weight loss even if what you will be losing is water weight and the effects are only short-term.

If you need to lose water weight, dandelion is for you because when the amount of water in the body is decreased, you will weigh less

which is why it is one of the best ways to lose weight without working out. 

Other claims include it being able to flush out the kidneys, boost metabolism, and cut your craving for sweets. Most of these claims are unsupported though as is the case with many natural remedies. However, it is a known diuretic so you can lose water weight. In addition to its medicinal uses, this herb can be used as a food and beverage. The roots can make a coffee substitute and the flowers can be used for wine and schnapps. 

When using dandelion as a weight loss tool, you can eat the fresh leaves in a salad or sandwich or you can steam the leaves and eat them as a vegetable. To make dandelion tea for weight loss, use about ½ ounce of the dried dandelion leaves per cup of boiling water. Steep it for around 10 minutes and drain. Drink up to three cups every day.

Dandelion has a slightly bitter sharpness but is still reasonably pleasant. Besides drinking it as a tea, you can also make a root decoction (boiling 2 to 3 teaspoons of the powdered root) or you can use a dandelion tincture or other commercial preparation. Using dandelion tea for weight loss or any other preparation using dandelion should only be for use in the short term.

This should never be a long-term weight loss tool and it cannot be anyway because any water weight you lose today will return soon enough. In addition, using diuretics repeatedly will allow the body to get used to them and urine output will decrease as the body adjusts to diuretics. 

Continued use of diuretics can also cause dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities. While you can certainly use dandelion tea for weight loss as well as the many other ways of consuming dandelion, this should only be for the short term.

I hope that I have helped you with this article, even if in a small way.