Nettle seeds

Yesterday I was collecting female seeds from nettles  when on my walk. I dry them out in order to use them in bread, porridge, smoothies and seed bars. It is easy to tell the female nettles as the seeds hang down in big clumps, whereas male nettle seeds are on sparse strands and point up or out to the side. Female nettle seeds are full of vitamins, iron, calcium and essential fatty acids. They are great for fatigue and burnout, and are anti inflammatory. Recent studies have shown that they can also slow down renal failure and repair the liver. It is best not to eat over 30g of them a day, though, as they are a stimulant and could keep you awake all night.

I dry my nettle seeds in my conservatory, but a dehydrator could be used.   When picking the nettles I wear gloves and use scissors to cut the stems off and place them into a bag.  It is easy to then strip the seeds off when I arrive home.  Nettle stalks make a great addition to my compost.

Once they are stripped and dried, I store my nettle seeds in jam jars to use throughout the winter. Dried nettle seeds are a good substitute for poppy or chia seeds.  These are not cheap to buy. How crazy is it that we all buy the expensive alternatives when nettles are free and abundant and all around us? It is even more mad that most people don’t even know. There are so many other plants out there that are good for our health, and could help with minor ailments, but naivety has us popping pills instead.  Foraging in this way saves me money and increases my nutrition.  I also love the fact that it is a natural ingredient.   Always take care not to get the seeds from areas next to roads or with high pollution.