Nettles for Vitality

The leaves and stems of stinging nettles are rich in iron, potassium, manganese, calcium, iodine, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and the B-complex vitamins, and have long been used in northern climes to improve vitality. The Gaelic saint Columba favored nettle broth during his sojourn on Iona. Four centuries later and half a world away, the great Tibetan yogi Milarepa acquired a greenish complexion from years of subsisting entirely on nettle soup while meditating in a cave.

Nettles pop up in the same places year after year and are harvested in early spring (wear gloves!), well before they flower. Use them instead of (or in addition to) spinach, kale, mustard greens, or chard in any of your favorite recipes. Or steam and serve them as a side dish with a little butter and Parmesan cheese. Nettles lose their sting when cooked but their color deepens to an astonishing shade of green that’s particularly welcome after a long winter.

Deborah Willoughby is the founding editor of Yoga+.

By Deborah Willoughby, Yoga+

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Fred H.

8:27AM PST on Jan 26, 2013

Thank you Megan, for Sharing this!

January 26
send a green star

Leah C.

2:27PM PDT on Jun 8, 2012

I am wondering what time of year can they be harvested? Are they still edible after they flower?

June 8
send a green star

Danielle I.

3:46PM PST on Jan 7, 2012

I haven't seen a nettle plant in so many years I can't remember

January 7
send a green star

Howard C.

3:37PM PST on Jan 7, 2012

I live in Eastern England - nettles grow big and mean here - they can easily sting through clothes and toward the end of their season they can reach to nearly head height. Eating them is a far better idea than simply hating them - I'll try this next year - nettle season starts around April normally but this winter has been so much warmer that last year (10c compared to -10c last January) who knows!!

Joe R.

4:15PM PST on Dec 6, 2011

I like to serve them freshly picked in a salad for my in-laws.