Get Energized with Stinging Nettles
By Marilyn Zink
Stinging nettles are a great way to get energized when you add them to your diet.
Most of us are familiar with stinging nettles and know to avoid touching them or you’ll get stung.
But did you know that adding stinging nettles to your diet is a great way to take advantage of the many health benefits in nettles?
Yes, they have a myriad of vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamins A and C and minerals like iron, potassium, manganese and calcium. Stinging nettles are also good for the liver.
You can cook the fresh nettle leaves like spinach by plunging them in boiling water for several minutes and then add the leaves to a soup or stew.
But you can also make a smoothie with stinging nettles. Now you may worry about your mouth getting stung by the nettles. I don’t blame you.
However, chopping the leaves and then whirling them in the blender will remove the formic acid from the nettles, eliminating the sting.
Use gloves to pick a fresh handful and mix it with berries. You can also add other veggies like kale. I have done this and it works out well.
If you’re cautious about getting stung, parboil the nettle leaves for about 5 seconds, then plunge them into ice cold water. Voila, the sting is gone and you still get the benefits.
Stinging nettles are a great way to get fresh, raw food that grows abundantly in nature. Be careful where you pick it and be sure the area is unsprayed.
Get recipes for stinging nettles, learn more about stinging nettles and other herbs when you become a member of Herbguide, a herbal community.
