Words of Wisdom
There is new life in the soil for every man. There is healing in the trees for tired minds and for our overburdened spirits, there is strength in the hills, if only we will lift up our eyes. Remember that nature is your great restorer.
Speech, Jul. 25, 1924
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Bottom Line Secret's Daily Health News features Duke in article on edible flowers
Dr. Duke was featured in an August 6 article about edible flowers appearing on the high-circulation Daily Health News letter from Bottom Line Secrets. An excerpt with a link to the full article appears below.
Not Just Eye Candy: Edible Flowers...Beautiful & Healthy
According to Dr. Duke, all flowers contain protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and sugars. His Web site, www.greenpharmacy.com, makes it easy to find the precise chemicals in your favorite flowers. Most contain several antioxidants, including Vitamin C, but some also have particular health benefits:
- Violets, kin of the vivid Johnny-Jump-Up, add a grassy flavor to garnishes and desserts. These are a good source of rutin, believed to reduce capillary fragility.
- Borage, which hints at cucumber, is good in salads. It should be used sparingly, but can be helpful when you have a cold or cough.
- Lavender petals taste sweet and contain chemicals thought to benefit the central nervous system.
- Roses have a sweet, astringent flavor. Rose petals are rich in antioxidant-like polyphenols that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Different colors have different bioactive pigments -- and white has the least. Eccleston cautioned against eating the ones you buy in stores as they are grown with chemicals and dipped in fungicide.
- Nasturtiums, lemon gem marigold and calendula (petals only) are all delicious in salads, each bringing its distinct earthy flavor and color to the table, so to speak. The orange calendula (marigold) petals contain lycopene and other cancer-fighting nutrients, while the yellow ones are rich in lutein, which is good for the eyes.
- Daylilies contain Vitamin B and chemicals associated with reduced risk of heart disorders.
- Squash blossoms contain Vitamin A precursor carotenoids.
Mix these with fresh lettuces, dress lightly and admire your chef d’oeuvre before consuming it.