Edible flowers are often used as a colourful garnish for dishes, but they are also used in traditional medicine for their nutritional value.
In fact, edible flowers such as lavender, dandelion and hibiscus have been consumed for thousands of years as natural remedies for various health conditions.
Not all flowers are edible, but they can add unique flavour and colour to many dishes, including salads, sauces, drinks, and appetizers.
For centuries, edible flowers have been used to decorate kitchen creations and enhance the flavour of appetizers, desserts, and beverages’ flavour.
The History Of Edible Flowers
Eating flowers is a practice deeply rooted in human history.
These days, you see edible flowers on fancy desserts in fancy restaurants (and you probably put them aside).
The origins of eating flowers date back to ancient times.
Ancient Roman, Greek and Chinese herbalists said much about the benefits of consuming flowers. The Incas, Aztecs and Hindus also incorporated edible flowers into their religious rituals.
Interestingly, the common practice of eating flowers has no definite beginning but an end. The industrialization of food put an end to this custom.
Edible flowers became a novelty when everyone bought food instead of growing them.
How Do Edible Flowers Taste?
Flowers, similar to herbs, have the capability to light up your food and give a shake to your taste buds.
With the modern approaches of veganism and eco-friendly food habits, the floral world is opening wider with an ocean of tastes and flavours.
Some edible flowers have sour, bitter, and spicy flavours, adding taste to salads and hearty dishes.
Popular edible flowers include nasturtiums, pansies, and violets. Not only does it add flavour, but it also adds colour to any dish.
These flowers can be easily home delivered with the help of trustworthy flower delivery in canberra, where you get fresh and organic blooms at home.
These include nasturtium, chives, echinacea, etc. Others, such as rose, lavender, and dandelion, have a sweeter flavour that adds spice to dishes.
In addition to their unique flavour, edible flowers add colour and visual appeal to any dish.
However, it is important to note that not all flowers are edible, and some can cause allergic reactions. Therefore, it is best to do your research before incorporating it into your diet.
Edible Flowers With Health Benefits
Below are ten different flower species that possess highly useful health benefits. These can be cooked and processed into amazing dishes and provide you with the fun of flavours and the goodness of health.
So keep reading!
1. Hibiscus
Hibiscus contains antioxidants and essential compounds such as anthocyanins and flavonoids and has many health benefits that help balance and lower blood pressure. This beautiful ruby-red flower is a common sight on the streets of India and dreams of Hawaii.
A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, titled “Effects of Sour Tea (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) on Essential Hypertension,” found that drinking Hibiscus Sabdarifa tea for about 12 days reduced systolic blood pressure by 11.
One study suggests that oral intake of hibiscus flower extract for 21 days may lower blood sugar levels. High cholesterol can clog arteries and increase the risk of heart disease.
Oral intake of hibiscus flower extract can lower total cholesterol levels by up to 22%.
Shampooing with hibiscus is a good option if you care about healthy hair growth.
2. Roses
These beautiful flowers of love are rich sources of vitamins that help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
Eating rose petals provides flavonoids, antioxidants, and immune-boosting vitamins and minerals.
Rich in vitamins A and E, rose hydrates and firms the skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and softening dark circles under the eyes.
With its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, roses can also help calm breakouts and relieve skin symptoms like eczema and rosacea. Studies have shown that roses have mood-enhancing and stress-relieving properties.
Vitamin C supports the production of white blood cells to help our bodies fight infections, colds and flu. Rich in antioxidants, roses can also help fight the effects of oxidative stress and free radicals that can cause disease and premature aging.
This amazing flower can be blended into a tea to give your sip a soothing flavour. Rose petals are also common in the preparation of several desserts.
Therefore, if you have a sweet tooth, this flower can shower all its blessings upon you!
Made with rose petals and rose hip powder, rose body care creams and beauty products support glowing skin and immunity, are rich in antioxidants and relieve PMS symptoms.
3. Lavender
Studies suggest that taking lavender as a tea can help with digestive problems such as vomiting, nausea, gas, upset stomach, and bloating.
It is also known for its calming properties, which can help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. 100g of lavender contains 49 calories and 1g of fat.
It is a great source of antioxidants and has been associated with improved mood and relaxation.
One serving of lavender contains 287 IU of vitamin A, which helps prevent cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, night blindness, dry eyes, and eye infections.
It also contains 215mg of calcium per 100g, increasing bone strength and reducing premenstrual syndrome symptoms.
It also contains over 100 known compounds, including phytochemicals and antioxidants such as limonene, which can stimulate digestive enzymes in the liver and help detoxify carcinogens.
It is also known for its soothing properties that help relieve stress, anxiety, rheumatism, bloating and insomnia.
4. Chamomile
These flowers are often made into a tea that has been found to help reduce inflammation, promote relaxation and better sleep, relieve menstrual cramps and relieve congestion.
Chamomiles contain flavonoids, nutrients found in many plants and play an important role in the healing properties of chamomile.
Some studies have shown that chamomile tea can lower blood sugar in people with diabetes.
Sources suggest that chamomile may improve glycemic and lipid profiles and oxidative stress in people with diabetes and reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications.
The results do not show that chamomile is a viable replacement for diabetes medications, but it may be a useful addition to existing treatments.
Chamomile tea can help people relax and fall asleep. A 2019 review found that people with generalized anxiety disorder experienced an improvement in symptoms after 2 to 4 weeks of chamomile treatment.
Chamomile treatment can also improve the quality of sleep. Moreover, chamomile tea has been used in natural medicine for thousands of years, often with encouraging results.
Those interested in trying chamomile tea should use it as a supplement, not as a replacement for a regular regimen.
5. Dandelions
Dandelion is a nutritious plant rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre from root to flower.
Dandelion root is rich in the carbohydrate inulin, a soluble fibre found in the plant that aids in the growth and maintenance of healthy gut bacteria in the digestive tract.
Dandelion is high in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that protects against cell damage and oxidative stress.
They are also rich in another class of antioxidants called polyphenols. Polyphenols are found mainly in flowers, roots, leaves and stems.
Some animal studies suggest that dandelion extract may prevent liver damage and disease. Other animal studies have shown that dandelion extract reduces excess fat stores in the liver and protects against oxidative stress.
6. Carnations
Carnations are a species of Dianthus native to the Mediterranean region. Carnations are known as “Flowers of God”.
Growing these at home or in the garden allows you to enjoy instant remedies for various mental and physical health problems.
These sweet and fragrant flowers have been used in several herbal remedies to reduce stress and inflammation and treat gastric issues and nausea.
Because of its bright and peppery flavour, carnations sometimes add cloves to dishes. Sprinkle the chopped petals on the base of a salad or use them as a cake decoration, which also adds a bit of spicy flavour.
However, the bunches of the carnation plant taste slightly peppery or like cloves.
Like many options above, they can be used in delicious salads and sweet desserts. Carnation blossoms have long been used to calm the nervous system, treat inflammation and reduce swelling.
7. Nasturtiums
Traditional uses of these plants include making teas and tonics to relieve sore throats and colds and using the flowers, seeds, and leaves as natural antibiotics to treat internal infections. includes.
Recent research has shown that the nasturtium plant has many healing properties. It contains antioxidants, vitamins, trace minerals, and bioactive compounds that can support the immune, respiratory, and digestive systems.
The green leaves and flowers of nasturtium are rich in nutrients such as antioxidants and vitamin C.
Numerous studies have shown that essential oils (flower and leaf extracts) and compounds isolated from various parts of these plants contain natural antibacterial, antifungal, antihypertensive, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties.
The nasturtium leaves have natural antibiotic properties that can help manage ailments and infections such as respiratory infections, constipation, coughs, bronchitis and colds.
Studies have found that these compounds have natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight various ailments.
8. Honeysuckle
These fragrant blooms, honeysuckle, often pale yellow or white, carry nectar that may be consumed straight from the flower.
In addition to being used in salads, honeysuckle blooms may be used to brew tea.
Honeysuckle has been used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
For centuries, using honeysuckle has been essential in traditional Chinese medicine. In the culinary world, honeysuckle is typically used to produce tea or fragrant, tasty syrup.
Several studies show that honeysuckle may have anti-inflammatory qualities, but additional study is needed to validate its usefulness as a therapeutic therapy.
Honeysuckle is a fragrant flower known for its distinct aroma, sweet flavour and traditional medicinal uses.
However, some cultivars yield berries that might be poisonous if consumed in large quantities.
Thus, it is suggested to either ingest honeysuckle berries from proven non-toxic kinds or to avoid them completely.
9. Marigolds
Marigolds are versatile plants with a wide range of therapeutic effects thanks to the essential oils and resins trapped in bright yellow flowers.
It has been used to treat skin conditions, heal wounds, and add colour and flavour to recipes.
It is also used as a natural dye to give cheese and butter a more attractive yellow colour, and dried flowers are added to certain teas to make them more appealing.
Fried marigold is a culinary delicacy that can be served as finger food or a summer salad.
This flower has many uses, such as spasms and indigestion, nausea, stomach ulcers and period pains, headaches and sleep, and as an anti-inflammatory and relaxant in cold packs and baths. It is a low-maintenance, long-flowering beauty grown all over the continent.
The seeds look like small semicircles and have little hooks that stick to the fur of animals and allow them through the garden world.
10. Purslane
Purslane greens are occasionally used in cooking, just like dandelion greens. If you’re preparing sauteed veggies, garnish them with a few flower petals for added flavour and texture.
Moreover, the blooms of greens like arugula and chives may offer a flare of colour and taste to salads or as a garnish on top of soups.
Don’t be afraid to experiment using the entire plant in your cooking!
Purslane, often called small hogweed, is widespread worldwide. In actuality, this slightly sour and salty plant is completely edible and offers a number of remarkable health advantages.
Purslane’s health advantages are a bonus for this hardy gardener’s treasure. Purslane contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that may significantly affect health.
For instance, vitamin A strengthens your immune system and keeps your eyes healthy.
Because it promotes proper cell division, vitamin A is also essential for the health of your organs.
Purslane is also rich in vitamin C, which is important to keep your collagen and blood vessels in good shape, as well as helping injuries heal.
Nature And Health
Staying close to plants can help you focus better at home or work. Studies show that performing tasks under the calming influence of nature leads to better performance, more accurate execution, and higher quality results.
In addition, his memory and attention span improve by 20% when placed in an outdoor natural environment.
Establishing parks and botanical gardens in local communities has many direct benefits for residents, but additional benefits bring special events and cultural opportunities to people otherwise unaffected.
Placing flowers in your home or workplace can significantly reduce a person’s stress level.
Parks and urban green spaces impact people’s health by providing cheap (often free) and convenient recreational opportunities.
As a result, residents of areas with beautiful parks are healthier, less susceptible to physical illness, and more resistant to minor ailments.
