Are you eating purslane? This plant will help vegans get much-needed omega-3s, fatty acids usually found in meat, says functional medicine doctor Mark Hyman, M.D.

Hyman spoke to the mindbodygreen podcast about purslane. “If you’re a vegan, purslane is an incredible weed,” he says. Purslane includes two types of omega-3s, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The plant has exceptional levels of ALA, five to seven more times than spinach!

“Purslane has the highest level of alpha-linolenic acid, which is an omega-3 fatty acid essential for human nutrition, compared to any leafy green vegetable,” one report shared. Purslane is also full of vitamins A, C, and B, not to mention potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron.

Purslane tastes a little like watercress and spinach. Try it out in this Eggplant and Purslane Pilaf With Peanuts [Vegan] and Quinoa Salad with Figs, Purslane, and Goji Berries [Vegan] or even add purslane to sandwiches or stir-fries.

Source: Dr. Paul Haider/YouTube

Want more information about the benefits of omega-3? Here are a few articles to get you started:

Looking for more salad recipes that use common and less common greens? Try any of these!

This Simple BLT Salad uses romaine lettuce and has all the flavors of a good BLT, but the “B” is not vegan bacon. It’s for the black beans in the recipe. This salad is complete with homemade croutons and a mayo-based dressing. There’s no reason to sacrifice flavor for health.

Speaking of flavor, this amazing Grilled Apricot and Endive Salad has plenty. This citrusy salad is set on a bed of baby spinach and the bitterness of the endives balances perfectly with the sweet apricots and the apricot-mint dressing that ties the whole dish together.

For even more salad ideas, check out these 13 Grilled Summer Salads Guaranteed to Wow Your BBQ Guests and these 15 Summer Salad Recipes.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects. 

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some resources to get you started:

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