Before you pull that weed — watch this.
Most gardeners spend money on seeds and fertilizer while unknowingly ripping out plants that have fed and healed people for thousands of years. In this video, we cover six of the most common backyard weeds that are not only edible but genuinely nutritious — and in several cases, more beneficial than what you’re deliberately growing.
From purslane packing more omega-3s than any other plant on earth, to stinging nettle rivaling kale in nutrients, to dandelion greens outperforming carrots in beta-carotene — these plants have a long history of being used as food and medicine across cultures worldwide.
We also cover lamb’s quarters, chickweed, and wood sorrel — plants most Western gardeners have never considered eating, yet have been dietary staples for centuries.
The idea that these are “just weeds” is surprisingly recent — and largely shaped by the lawn care and herbicide industries, not by nutrition science or food history.
Next time you see one of these in your yard, you might want to think twice.
⚠️ Disclaimer: EverFood is not a doctor or medical professional. Nothing in this video should be taken as medical advice. Always do your own research, consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herb medicinally, and never replace prescribed treatments without professional guidance.
Sources 👇
USDA National Nutrient Database — Purslane, Dandelion, Chickweed nutritional data
Simopoulos A.P. — Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Purslane, Journal of the American College of Nutrition (1992)
Escudero N.L. et al. — Nutritional Value of Lambsquarters, Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (2003)
Bhatt A. et al. — Medicinal Properties of Stellaria Media (Chickweed), Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine (2012)
Schütz K. et al. — Dandelion Bioactive Compounds and Health Benefits, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (2006)
Wichtl M. — Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals — Wood Sorrel and Clover documented uses (2004)
National Gardening Association — Average American Household Lawn Care Spending Survey (2023)
24 Comments
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I love purslane. What a yummy little plant. I have yet to harvest any of the others but I'm willing to try. No chemicals here.the ad at the end of the video was for Roundup for lawns.😂
I have ate all of those weeds lol. Grew up in a rural area of Ontario. All those, and more grow wild throughout the family property.
Common plantain is good for iron & vitamin C. Pollen nodes on the central spike can be made into an oatmeal like cereal, or dried and ground into a sweetener, or used for a self sweetening flour.
Stinging nettle can be boiled into tea, that helps detoxify the body.
The milk from a thistle plant can be used to heal liver damage. I had recommended it to a friend before. He had hep-C and it caused swollen liver. He could not drink and had to be careful what he used for pain relief, cause heavy meds made the next day worse. In a month, swelling was reduced. 2 months of taking thistle milk daily, and his liver was normal size and functioning properly again. Years on end, doctors said they could not help his liver function or the swelling. All he needed was a weed lol.
Lots of edible fungi, roots, and plants. Moringa tree is another. Was used by 4 of the oldest civilizations of the world. Now grows almost everywhere, and hardly anyone remembers it.
Raspberries are well known, but the leaves can also be boiled into a tea that is a pain reliever.
I could probably make a small booklet of local edible stuff in the wilderness lol
dandelion cores cancer
Wow, I have every one of those plants in my yard in large amounts!
I saw Dandelions at Whole Foods . I decided to try it. After eating it I instantly had horrible explosive diarrhea. Any one that can explain this?
I do not spray…ever😮
AI?
Luckely humans are curious enough to eat anything!
Chemicals dont even kill dandelions
Dandelion, Purslane, Lambsquarters, Wood Sorrel, Clover, Chickweed
Why do Americans spend so much money on lawn care? That' just wierd. Grass grows. Mower mows. Hand mower costs less than 50 quid and lasts for years, no power problems, just sharpen the blades now and then and it's good exercise. Just make sure you leave the dandys and clover plenty of space ot the little people will slit yer gizzard…ok that last bit I made up…but seriously don't use that chemical crap at all you numpties.
Thank you! ❤ I make an amazing dandelion hair oil with the dandelion flower. Google it! 😂
That is interesting, but I am not a 🐰, and I don’t have them in my house, and my dog 🐕 likes 👍 🥩 , as for myself, I don’t like greenery, or fruit to eat,it’s just to expensive for my budget, still it is interesting what nature has in store, thanks 🙏 for the info
The leaves from a dandylion, are called cinquefoil
It has an astrological sign too from it's cycle. Some plants can heal and some can kill.
My favorite subject!❤😊
You just keep getting better and better
Am I seeing this wrong? The map showing where purslane grows, shows the US lower states and Alaska but not Canada.😂 Like, it stops at a straight line at the border. 😅😅 It's like many US weather maps. What does this say to you?
Milkweed with a touch of herbicide sauce mmmmm
Please let’s eliminate chemical pesticides from our gardens!
Nonsense. All the plants mentioned in this video are potentially dangerous, more dangerous than most vegetables except spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) and some other species, primarily because all, with the exception of clover and chickweed, contain significant amounts of oxalic acid, which is toxic and dangerous to people prone to oxalic kidney stones.
1. Dandelion [Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg.] is a potent diuretic due to its high potassium content and its latex, which is irritating and contains potential allergens, is dangerous for individuals with allergies to species from the family Asteraceae Bercht. & J. Presl.
2. Due to its is richness in oxalic acid, common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is relatively safe only when cooked. Eighth, ω−3 fatty acids have no cardiovascular benefit and only very high dosages under medical supervision (4 μg daily), might help in limited cases with extremely high triglycerides.
3. It is generally recommended to avoid eating large quantities of the raw leaves of lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album L.) because of the oxalates. In addition, this species primarily in its roots and seeds contains triterpenoid saponins. Saponins can cause mouth irritation or mild gastrointestinal distress and are considered antinutritional in large quantities unless reduced by cooking.
4. It is not known what kind of wood-sorrel (Oxalis L.) is meant here; The genus contains 584 species, 1 native and 17 introduced in Europe and 30 native and 6 introduced in North America. I assume that it is the American Oxalis montana Raf.. All wood-sorrels are toxic to pets and livestock due to soluble potassium and sodium oxalates that bind to the body's calcium, leading to rapid hypocalcemia and potential kidney failure. Small, rare nibbles usually only cause mild gastrointestinal upset, significant ingestion can cause severe tremors, drooling, vomiting, and kidney damage. The bitter taste often prevents large ingestion by livestock, but ingestion of large amounts can be very dangerous for cats and dogs. The only edible oxalis species, which is grown as a root vegetable in the central and southern Andes for its tubers, is Oxalis tuberosa Molina (uqa, oca, yams in New Zealand), a perennial that overwinters as underground stem tubers.
5. Due to high levels of nitrates (causing weakness, headache and vertigo) and saponins (although poorly resorbed, they cause digestive issues if eaten in large amounts), chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Vill.] can cause mild to severe toxicity if consumed in large quantities.
6. Although red (Trifolium pratense L.) and white clover (T. repens L.) are generally considered non-toxic and edible for humans in moderate amounts, large amounts, especially raw, may cause nausea, vomiting or stomach pain.
Very stupid and irresponsible video.
Well you seem like you aren't a.i. so far, but maybe a little to perfect. Let your language mishaps be seen, or felt, or known…
What if you are maniacal, and really are into population control? Even though we need alot more spiritual beings. We are the future, not a.i.