Little weed … the nettle is good for diet and health
There’s a sting in the tale – Be Nice to Nettles Week is observed each year in the UK from May 14 to 25.
The days recognise the humble weed’s critical role in preserving wildlife ad their benefits to humans.
The week also ties into broader movements towards sustainable living and rediscovery of local flora for food and medicinal use, reflecting a cultural shift towards appreciating and utilising native plants that were previously undervalued.
The nettle has been used as food for many centuries and was relished as a springtime treat and can be added to porridge.
Nettles are often substituted for spinach and can be used to make pesto, soups, stews, tea, and beer.
A dairy company has come up with nettle cheese. Nettle contains high levels of calcium, magnesium, iron, and vitamins – a superfood.
Nettle use has been recorded as far back as the
Bronze Age. Troops of Julius Caesar used nettles to stay awake during battles.
Nettle can be made into different textures from silky to coarse. Nettle fabric can be dyed or bleached. It was a common household textile in the 16th and 17th centuries. During the First and Second World Wars, nettle fibre was used as a substitute for cotton yarns.
Nettle has high nutritional content and low calories, making it popular in the kitchen. A cup of nettle contains 37 calories, two grams of protein, and six grams of dietary fibre.
They also contain vitamin A, iron, and calcium. Nettle leaves taste a lot like spinach and are simple to steam. The leaves become bright green and lose their sting when cooked.
Nettle has a long history of medical use too. Greek doctors used nettle leaf in the first and second centuries to cure respiratory problems as well as for its laxative and diuretic effects.
Nettle was used as a gargle for throat and mouth infections and to heal wounds and skin diseases by 17th-century herbalists.
The nettle plant’s root has also been used to promote good prostate function and regulate male hormones. Nettle can help maintain sinus health and treat upper respiratory conditions.