Dandy Blend: An herbal coffee substitute

I haven’t sipped a cup of coffee for years, but I still long for the flavor of coffee and the comfort of a latte on occasion. I’ve also received questions from readers about tips for overcoming coffee addiction. Recently, my friend Genevieve at Mama Natural introduced me to Dandy Blend in one of her videos and I was instantly intrigued.

Dandy Blend is a powdered coffee substitute made with the extracts of roasted roots and grains. It is naturally caffeine free and tastes very similar to a cup of coffee! Here are some things to keep in mind about Dandy Blend:

• Dandelion root is a traditional detoxifying herb with mild diuretic properties
• Dandy Blend is suitable for a grain free diet because the “meat” of the grain – which contains the hard-to-digest components – is left behind during processing, and only the “juice” of at the grain is used in the final product (see below for more details)
• Some people report a laxative effect (which can be helpful if things are backed up!) due to the detoxifying properties of the dandelion, so introduce it slowly
• Even though Dandy Blend is tested to be gluten free, it is possible for sensitive individuals to react to other components of Dandy Blend

Dandy Blend is available here from Amazon and you can also find it at most health food stores. 

Is coffee bad?

I don’t believe coffee is inherently bad. As a matter of fact, numerous studies show that it may have a protective effect against diseases including Type II Diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. Coffee agrees with me, and I enjoy it as a morning ritual.

With that said, I don’t think one food is good for everyone. For example, nuts and seeds, including coffee, is excluded from the Autoimmune Paleo Protocol due to the potentially irritating properties of nuts/seeds.

Additionally, you may not tolerate the caffeine in regular coffee due to impaired liver function. Did you know that symptoms such as jitteriness or shakiness after consuming caffeine indicates a lack of liver enzymes in the Phase 1 detox pathway of the liver? (Source)

Is it really gluten free?

Dandy Blend ingredients include: extracts of roasted barley, rye, chicory root, dandelion root and non-GMO sugar beet. Barley and rye? How could it be gluten free? 

This is what they say on their website:

Dandy Blend is made of the water-soluble extracts of five ingredients; three roots and two grains (barley and rye), not from the ingredients themselves. The ingredients are roasted separately and then combined in prescribed proportions, placed into a vat, covered with hot water, and allowed to steep for a prescribed period of time. The water, with the soluble portions of all the components, is separated from the grounds and spray dried. The remaining fine brown powder left after the water is driven off is what becomes Dandy Blend. All the gluten and other water-insoluble substances are left behind in the grounds to be composted.
 
Hence, there is no gluten in Dandy Blend. Goosefoot Acres periodically submits samples of Dandy Blend to Elisa Technologies Laboratory in Florida, one of the most respected gluten testing labs in the United States for analysis, and so far, every test has come back gluten-free. Click to see test results letter.
 
Therefore, from the standpoint of containing gluten, Dandy Blend is safe for celiac sufferers and other gluten-intolerant individuals.

My experience with Dandy Blend Coffee Substitute

I was curious (and nervous) to see if I would react to the “juice” of the rye and barley in Dandy Blend, but I experienced no reaction! No puffy eyes, no hives, no stomach ache, no shakiness or other symptoms that I experience when I try a food that doesn’t agree with me.

Even better, my “latte” was delicious! I prefer it with a hearty dose of the Dandy Blend for a full flavor and a splash of coconut milk. It’s also naturally sweet due to the natural fructose in the roots.

Are you kicking a coffee habit? Have you tried Dandy Blend?