With the arrival of spring, everyone begins to feel a surge of strength, revitalization. Nature awakened from winter sleep, clean spring air, the singing of birds returning from the south and many other changes associated with the arrival of spring have a beneficial effect on the mood and on the general mood of the human body. During this period, you want to work at your summer cottage, make repairs in your apartment, play sports and, of course, improve your health.
An integral part of a healthy lifestyle is good nutrition, which must include fruits and vegetables. True, their harvest will still have to wait until summer. But in the spring you need to take advantage of other gifts of nature - useful plants. Many will be surprised, but common weeds - dandelion, nettle and burdock - are useful and healing spring plants. There are several simple recipes that use these weeds.
Dandelion
Dandelion is a herb used for medicinal and prophylactic purposes, from its leaves and buds, you can prepare a healthy and nutritious salad. For one serving, 100 g of leaves are enough, which must be soaked for 30 minutes in cold salted water before use. After soaking, the leaves need to be squeezed out and finely chopped. A boiled egg, grated on a coarse grater, and a dressing of sunflower oil or sour cream are added to the chopped leaf mass. Salt is added to taste.
The beneficial substances contained in dandelion leaves (carotene, vitamins, salts and others) are necessary in the treatment of constipation, vitamin deficiency and anemia.
Nettle
The nutritional properties of nettle are comparable to those of mushrooms and legumes, and their medicinal properties are very similar to those of dandelion. This weed helps to normalize the level of hemoglobin in the blood in case of anemia, it can be used to stop bleeding. But it is not recommended to use nettle for people with a diagnosis of fibroids, thrombophlebitis and pregnancy.
Nettle is suitable for preparing salads, green pasta for sandwiches, and also as an ingredient in mixed vegetable salad. Before use, it is recommended to scald the leaves with boiling water. When using nettle for soups, add the leaves 3-5 minutes before the meal is ready.
Burdock
Burdock is another weed that occurs naturally in large quantities. Its leaves have nutritional value, as they contain many useful elements and trace elements. You can use the plant for food not only in the spring, but also in the summer.
Before preparing soup or salad, it is recommended to hold the leaves in boiling water for half an hour so that excess bitterness comes out. After that, they need to be washed and finely chopped. The salad is seasoned with any sauce (optional), and the leaves are added to the soup only after the potatoes and cereals are ready. Spices, carrots and onions each add to taste.
These useful and accessible herbs, when used regularly, will strengthen the immune system and overall health.
