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Originally Posted On: https://www.islsnac.com/post/5-edible-flowers-potentially-good-for-your-health

 

Many edible flowers have many uses and purposes. They can be used to decorate for a special event, be given to someone as a gift, be planted in gardens, or even used for their fragrance in certain body products and perfumes. But what many people don’t know is that numerous flowers can be eaten and incorporated into different food and drinks. Additionally, many of these flowers also have significant health benefits that can help you with multiple problems. Today, we will be talking about five edible flowers and their health benefits that you may want to consider adding to your diet.

Roselle

Roselle, also known as sorrel, is a type of hibiscus flower that originated in Africa. It spread to Asia, the West Indies, and other places in the Caribbean around the 16th century. Roselle is well known for its healing properties that people have been using for hundreds of years. It is often put into food such as salads or made into the bright red sorrel drink, also known as flor de Jamaica, or made into a hibiscus brew tea. It is also a sought-after ingredient in many beauty products such as scrubs and facial masks.

People compare the taste of roselle to cranberry. It has a sweet and slightly bitter flavor and has an intense red color. Many people will add sugar or honey to the roselle tea to make it sweeter and enhance the flavors further. Roselle can also be made into jam or syrup as a healthier alternative. You could even substitute anything where you would need cranberries for roselle since they taste so similar.

Something else you can do with sorrel is making wine. The sweet flavor of the dried flowers combined with the appropriate amount of molasses, brown sugar, and spices make a raspberry and lemon flavor that is delicious! It is commonly made with cinnamon, cloves, ginger root, star anise, and orange peel, which gives it a nice, refreshing fall feel. It is also a more nutritional option than regular wine, and there are even non-alcoholic versions or sorrel wine.

Some of the health benefits that roselle possesses include relief from menstrual pain, boosting the immune system, relieves cold, flu, and fever symptoms, and it helps regulate blood pressure. Roselle is also an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-depressant, and even has anti-cancer and tumor properties. Additionally, it has been known to aid digestion, protect the liver, and help you lose weight. People also recommend that pregnant women eat roselle as it is exceptionally high in iron which pregnant women need.

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum is originally native to China but was adopted by the Japanese later because they were so fascinated by it. They even made it a symbol of royalty and put it on their Emperor’s seal and crust. Although the flower is from China, its name is Greek, and it means gold flower. It is customarily used in medicine to cure various issues but is also commonly made into tea.

You can eat all types of chrysanthemums, but depending on the kind you have or how you prepare it, it will determine the flavor. For example, if you are eating the flowers raw, they may have a tangy or peppery taste, which is why they are great for salads. On the other hand, if you seep the flower and make a tea, they have a sweeter flavor similar to honey but milder and not intensely floral.

Chrysanthemum is often compared to chamomile and made into tea. In India, they even combine chrysanthemum with roses to make a very floral and relaxing tea. It is said that chrysanthemum tea is good for your mind and can help you clear your head of negativity and stress.

Chrysanthemum can help with high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and chest pain. It can also help cure flu and fever-like symptoms such as dizziness and headaches. Additionally, chrysanthemum combined with other herbs has been proven to help cure specific types of cancer, including prostate cancer and stomach cancer.

 

 

Nasturtium

Nasturtium, also referred to as capuchina or watercress, is native to Central and Northern South America and Mexico. It is in the mustard family, and both of the leaves and flowers are eaten. Nasturtium is popular because they look lovely and also has a ton of vitamin C.

Nasturtium is one of the most well-known edible flowers. They have a sweet yet peppery flavor and are commonly used on salads or recipes you want to add a little spice to. Some people even make the buds into capers. Nasturtium can be made into jams or jellies but is also used for dishes such as pesto, ice cream, or even pizza. It is also often infused into vinegar or oil to add a different flavor to multiple dishes.

As far as the health benefits of nasturtium, there are many. They are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-septic, and anti-microbial. Nasturtium is also great for healing and disinfecting wounds, plus people also use them as a natural antibiotic. These versatile flowers are also known to help get rid of colds, treat infections, reduce swelling, and get rid of fungus.

Geranium

Geranium is a flower that originates in South Africa. This plant is visually appealing, and it also is medicinal and can help with many problems. Generally, people use these flowers to make geranium oil which serves many purposes. It can be used as an astringent or facial cleanser, but many use it to help with balancing excessively dry or oily hair or skin.

There are hundreds of kinds of geranium, and they each have their unique flavors. For example, lemon geranium has a citrus taste, whereas rose geraniums taste floral and like roses. Others are spicier, resembling nutmeg or ginger or slightly sour ones.

The most common way to consume geranium is to make it into tea. But some people also use it in baked goods to give unique flavors. Geraniums can also be used to garnish your baked goods, drinks, or salads. They are also ideal for candying.

As mentioned before, geranium is great for balancing out your skin, but it is also great for treating acne, skin irritations, and infections. This is because they are anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, and anti-microbial. Geranium can also help people with severe neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson’s. Additionally, it can help with allergies, diabetes, and shingles pain.

Geranium has calming properties to help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. Various studies have proven this to be accurate, and it has resulted in geranium being more commonly used, even in hospitals. In addition, doctors and nurses have used it to help relieve anxiety from first-time mothers in labor.

Lilac

The Lilac flower, also known as Syringa, originates in Eastern Europe and Asia. In the 17th century, colonists ended up bring the lilac over to America. The name Syringa is Greek, and it means tube or pipe. This is because the lilacs stem resembles a tube or pipe and can even be hollowed out. Lilac is often made into an essential oil that can be added to food or drinks or used for medicinal purposes.

Like many other types of flowers, the flavor of the lilac depends on what kind of lilac you have. Typically, lilacs have a fragrant citrus flavor and are a little bit bitter. Lilacs are commonly used in desserts and drinks. Many infuse water with lilacs which can help relieve anxiety, relaxes you, and uplifts your spirit.

Lilacs have plenty of excellent health benefits. For example, they are anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, so they can help with infections and removing fungi from your body. They are also a febrifuge; helps with fever symptoms, and a vermifuge, an anthelmintic drug that helps your body get rid of worms in the intestines.

Lilacs are great for your skin. They make an excellent astringent or toner, and they help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It tightens up your skin and reduces sagging skin as well. Another benefit of lilac is that they promote healthy skin and help treat cuts, burns, rashes, and sunburns.

Something unique about lilacs is that they can potentially have psychic effects. Some people say that after consuming lilac, they have more prolific psychic abilities and having ethereal experiences. Many reports that it can also give you a better sense of the spiritual world.

 

Final Thoughts

There we have it, five edible flowers that have fantastic health benefits. We all know that certain herbs and plants have health benefits, but now we know many flowers possess these. Flowers are a great way to spice up your dishes and drinks while also benefiting from all of the medicinal properties they contain. If you are looking for fun things to do near me while also learning about different flowers and plants, botanical gardens are a great place to do it. It will help educate you on various flowers and plants that may also have health benefits while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the gardens. You never know; you may find a flower that will benefit you and your health.