What transformation occurs to stinging nettle leaves upon cooking or drying?
Answer
The stinging mechanism is neutralized, making bulk minerals and stable vitamins readily available for absorption.
Stinging nettle, while possessing stinging hairs when fresh, undergoes a beneficial change when subjected to heat treatments like cooking or simply drying. The process immediately neutralizes the stinging mechanism contained within the hairs, which is critical for safe handling and consumption. Furthermore, this processing allows the body to more easily absorb the plant's nutritional components, ensuring that stable vitamins and essential minerals become readily accessible rather than being locked away behind the physical barrier of the fresh leaf structure.

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