The nettle, also scientifically known by the name of Urtica dioica L., is a wild evergreen plant that belongs to the urticaceae family and is native to the Mediterranean regions. This plant is well known all over the world due to its leaves with stinging hairs, which does not give it a very good reputation. However, nettle is a vegetable that is used as a medicinal remedy for different conditions and problems due to its richness in nutrients.
One of the best known uses is to use it as a weight loss supplement due to its fat burning properties. That is why, in this oneHOWTO article, we show you how to drink nettle tea to lose weight and, in addition, we tell you some of its properties and benefits.
Nettle nutritional composition
Nettle is a plant that can offer different benefits to our body thanks to its richness in the following nutrients:
- Vitamins: It is composed of B vitamins, such as niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, and choline, as well as others such as vitamin C and A.
- Minerals: Its richness in potassium, calcium, sulfur, iron, magnesium and aluminum stands out.
- Acids: among them, caffeic, ferulic, acetic, linoleic and oleic.
- The stinging hairs of this plant contain nutrients such as histamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine.
- Finally, the nettle also has a wealth of the following nutrients: mucilage, lecithin, tannins, betaine and chlorophyll.
Properties of nettle to lose weight
Nettle is used as a dietary supplement in weight loss diets due to the following: slimming properties:
- This plant has diuretic properties that help us reduce the retention of fluids and fats in our body, while purifying it of toxins.
- Also offers hypoglycemic properties, which regulates the sugar levels in our body.
- Nettle is a powerful lymphatic stimulator that increases the release of waste from the kidney and, also, accelerates our metabolism, which we helps burn fat.
- Being a stimulant for the digestive systemIt also avoids some problems related to it, such as abdominal bloating, which prevents us from losing weight more quickly.
- Nettle hairs release serotonin and acetylcholine which are two neurotransmitter substances with excellent satiating properties. This greatly reduces your appetite and therefore helps you eat fewer amounts of food.
- Also, serotonin too reduces anxiety levels that you can produce by being on a diet, improving your mood.
How to drink nettle tea to lose weight
In this section, we teach you how to make nettle infusion to lose weight. You just have to have the following ingredients in your kitchen:
- 25 grams of nettle root
- Half a liter of water
Preparation and treatment
- Pour half a liter of water into a saucepan and let it heat up little by little over a low heat.
- When the water is starting to boil, add the 25 grams of nettle root and turn off the heat.
- Let the roots rest for 10 minutes, then strain the infusion.
- Once it is warm, you can sweeten it with a teaspoon of honey. Sugar is not recommended since it is a slimming infusion.
- You are now ready to drink nettle tea to lose weight.
To obtain results with this infusion, it is recommended that you drink 2 to 3 glasses a day, especially before main meals.
Contraindications of nettle infusion
Before you start drinking nettle tea, it is recommended that you read the following side effects that it could cause. The hairs of the plant are stinging, so it could cause some symptoms such as heartburn, itching and rashes in different areas of the body.
Furthermore, the nettle is fully contraindicated in the following cases:
- People with diabetes: its mucilage content can alter blood sugar levels.
- Hypertensionn: It is not recommended if you are taking medication to treat this disorder.
- Renal disease: It is totally prohibited in cases of kidney failure, nephritis or inflammation in the kidneys.
- Pregnancy: nettle is an abortifacient plant so it is not recommended in pregnant women.
This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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