The Amazing Health Benefits of Nettle

We have March – we drink nettle! As Paul Pitchford wrote, “Wild vegetables give us a lot of strength and vitality, especially when we collect them ourselves.”

There is a lot of truth in this, because the movement in the open air is the basis of health. That’s why we take gloves and run to forests, parks and gardens for fresh nettle.

March is the best time to harvest. We can remove it and then drink it in the form of infusions, use as a hair rinse. But later, in spring, I encourage you to drink freshly squeezed nettle juice.

Nettle has a protective effect on the mucous membranes of the body due to the high content of beta-carotene (provitamin A). The chlorophyll contained in the cut inhibits the development of viruses and allows the lungs to expel the remains of chemical vapors, coal dust, tobacco smoke – something that is in effect after the heating season.

If you’re looking to improve your health, nettle is a fantastic herb to incorporate into your overall nutritional plan. Let’s take a closer look at the health benefits of nettle.

Nettle Health Benefits: Nature’s Powerhouse Herb

Nettle is packed with nutrients and offers many beneficial health properties including:

• Pain relieving
• Infection fighting
• Oxidative stress reduction
• Blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol reduction
• Inflammation reduction
• Cancer fighting

Nettle is also…

Chock-full of Minerals

Nettle is packed with minerals, especially magnesium and calcium. Studies have shown that nettle has more calcium, magnesium, potassium, boron, phosphorus, and strontium than other popular herbs including peppermint, sage, and even chamomile.

Packed With Beta Carotene

Also due to the content of beta-carotene, the nettle has a protective effect on the lungs and large intestine. And as we know, the large intestine is our body management center (to pair with the brain).

A Gentle Diuretic

It works as a gentle diuretic and improves the functioning of the kidneys, so it is good to get rid of excess water from the body. It has beneficial effects on the kidneys, urinary bladder and urinary tract, and thanks to chlorophyll for hair growth and blood reconstruction, which is important for people with anemia or, for example, those with celiac disease.

Vitamin B9 Rich

Nettle juice is a very good way to deliver folic acid to the body, which we often lose while cooking green vegetables. And folic acid, together with iron, copper and vitamin K – nettle ingredients – are involved in the formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin, that is, improves the quality of blood.

Full of Antioxidants

Nettle contains a lot of antioxidants in the form of vitamins C, E, folic acid or beta-carotene, which deal with these free radicals, responsible for the aging of the body and the formation of diseases.Therefore, it helps to keep our body young.

The Bottom Line

The health benefits of nettle are many. Nettle is packed with minerals, folic acid, antioxidants, and other key nutrients. There’s a reason nettle has been a stable among herbalists for centuries.

Stinging nettle grows wild in temperate regions globally so the usage of nettle as a nutritive herb is widespread too. This means getting a hold of some is as simple as buying nettle tea at your local grocery store or visiting your local herbalist.

If you’re looking to improve your health, try some nettle tea today for some easy and refreshing nourishment!

About Jason Spencer

Jason Spencer has a tremendous enthusiasm for all facets of health, fitness and physical performance that stems from an athletic lifestyle from childhood. Jason was fortunate enough to compete in collegiate football and learned to love the challenges that physical activity placed on the body. As Jason progressed through his higher education and became increasingly aware of how science is applied to physical activity and how it reveals the benefits of exercise, he realized very quickly that he wanted to pursue a career that gives him the opportunity to teach others to compete, challenge, and push themselves towards something more valuable to them than anything else; health, fitness and self worth. Being a fitness professional allows Jason to do this for them and he is always incredibly grateful for that. Jason has a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. Neuroscience and his acquired knowledge of the nervous system and muscle stimulation techniques has been extremely instrumental towards building a unique ability and feel for training the body for optimal form and function. As a personal trainer he is certified with ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine). He's also a strength & conditioning specialist with NSCA (National Strength & Conditioning Association). He has additional certifications in both kettlebell principles & techniques (Equinox), and Flexibility & Corrective Exercise (Swedish Institute of Health Sciences in NY). Jason has worked as a trainer and conditioning specialist in a variety of fitness facilities over the years such as: LA Fitness in Piscataway, NJ, the YMCA in Metuchen, NJ, and Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York, NY. He also does private in-home sessions all over the Manhattan area.