Happy Wellness Wednesday!
Have you ever spotted this strange pod along a nature trail and wondered what it was? That’s milkweed, a plant most of us walk right past without a second thought. Traditionally, it’s been noted for its calming and digestive-supporting properties, often steeped as a gentle tea.
And beyond its uses in wellness, milkweed once played a surprising role in history. During World War II, children across North America were asked to collect its fluffy seed pods. The silky fibers inside were so buoyant they were stuffed into life jackets and pillows for soldiers at sea. These days, some people use it for crafts, though it is highly flammable once dried.
How People Have Used It:
Tea: Dried leaves or flowers have sometimes been steeped into a mild tea.
Vegetable: Young leaves or shoots (properly boiled) were traditionally eaten like spinach or added to soups.
⚠️ Safety First
- Not all milkweed species are safe. Some are quite toxic compared to common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).
- Never eat raw leaves or pods. They must be boiled (sometimes twice) and drained to reduce bitterness and compounds that can be harmful.
- Think of it like fiddleheads or pokeweed shoots, delicious if prepared right, risky if not.
Milkweed reminds us that wellness isn’t always packaged or branded, it can also be something unexpected, growing right outside our doors.
I started out over 10 years ago watching Forks Over Knives, decided to “try out” the plant-based meal plan and had shockingly incredible results. I’ve never turned back. I have lost nearly 50 pounds, and that is just one side effect that me, my family, friends and clients have experienced after making the change.
Having been an incredible cook my entire adult life, I started my own personal chef service, NuYu Nourish, to extend my help to others. I interned under a celebrity chef, became a celebrity chef myself and have been expanding my reach and goals ever since! My plan follows strictly and simply those of Dr. Mcdougall, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Esselstyn.
