Raw food dieting with edible wild plants involves eating pure, unprocessed foods provided by nature. Don’t be intimidated by the term “wild” — many wild plants are highly nutritious and can boost your immune system, improving overall health and reducing the risk of diseases like cancer and heart issues.
Incorporating these natural plants into your daily diet can offer numerous benefits, including better skin, digestion, and bowel movements. They are rich in proteins and essential medicinal properties, helping you maintain a healthy weight without compromising your internal health. Adding these plants to your diet can help you reach your fitness goals faster.
You might find some of these wild plants in your local market, while others may be region-specific and available online or by traveling to their native areas. Let’s explore some top edible wild plants you can include in your diet:
**Top 16 Edible Wild Plants**
1. **Clovers (Trifolium)**: Widely found in grassy areas, clovers can be identified by their trefoil leaflets. It’s best to boil them to remove bitterness.
2. **Burdock (Arctium lappa)**: Known in Japan, this plant with large leaves and purple flowers can be eaten raw or boiled. The root is also edible after peeling and boiling.
3. **Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)**: All parts of this plant are edible. Pick flowers young and boil mature leaves to remove bitterness. The roots can be used to make tea.
4. **Amaranth (Amaranthus Retroflexus)**: Native to the Americas, this plant’s leaves should be boiled to remove oxalic acid and nitrates. The seeds are also edible.
5. **Asparagus (Asparagus Officinalis)**: Common in many parts of Europe, North Africa, North America, and West Asia, wild asparagus is thinner than store-bought. It’s rich in nutrients and can be eaten raw or boiled.
6. **Chicory (Cichorium intybus)**: Found in Australia, North America, and Europe, all parts of chicory are edible. Young leaves taste best raw or boiled.
7. **Cattail (Typha)**: Common around freshwater wetlands, its rootstock needs thorough cleaning before eating. The stem and leaves should be treated like spinach and boiled before consumption.
8. **Curled Dock (Rumex crispus)**: Native to various continents, it has long red stalks that need peeling and boiling to remove bitterness.
9. **Field Pennycress (Thlaspi vulgaris)**: Grows in many regions and is edible if not grown in contaminated soil. Avoid plants near roadsides or superfund sites.
10. **Wood Sorrel (Oxalis)**: Found globally, particularly in South America, this plant can be eaten raw or boiled. It’s a good source of Vitamin C.
11. **Green Seaweed (Ulva lactuca)**: Available in oceans worldwide, rinse and dry before eating raw or adding to soups.
12. **Plantain (Plantago)**: Found worldwide, this plant’s young leaves are less bitter and can be eaten raw. It’s high in Vitamin A and calcium.
13. **Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium)**: Common in the Northern Hemisphere, its tender leaves are best. The stalk is also edible when young.
14. **Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia)**: Found in North American deserts, it requires careful removal of spines before consumption. The young stem should be boiled for better taste.
15. **Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)**: Native to Asia and Europe, this weed has a lemony flavor. Due to oxalates, it should be consumed in moderation.
16. **Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)**: Though seen as a weed in the US, it’s nutrient-rich and can be eaten raw or boiled to remove sourness.
**Wild Plants to Avoid**
Some wild plants can be harmful. Avoid plants with:
– Soapy or bitter taste
– Milky or discolored sap
– Seeds, beans, or bulbs inside pods
– Thorns, spines, or fine hairs
– Three-leaved growth pattern
– Almond smell in leaves or woody parts
– Grain heads with black, pink, or purple spurs
Use these guidelines to help identify which wild plants are safe to eat. Embrace raw food dieting with edible wild plants to enjoy unique health benefits and nutrients that processed foods often lack.