If I had to pick a favourite green it would definitely be kale. This superfood can be found on the shelves of most grocery stores. Don’t let its accessibility fool you into thinking it is any less healthy than all the imported superfoods. Nutritionally kale stands out among other vegetables.
Here are 10 reasons to eat more kale:
1. High in fiber – The fiber in kale will help with digestion. It also helps maintain frequent bowel movements and keeps you full after a meal.
2. Antioxidant rich – Kale is loaded with antioxidants (flavonoids and carotenoids) that protect our cells from oxidative stress caused by free radicals.
3. Rich in vitamin K – This vitamin is necessary for a number of bodily functions such as maintaining bone health and normal blood clotting. It also helps fight against inflammatory related problems such as asthma, arthritis and autoimmune disorders.
4. Good source of vitamins C and A – Vitamin C is an antioxidant and will boost your immune system. Vitamin A is great for your skin and eyes.
5. Mineral rich – Kale contains phosphorus, manganese, sodium, copper and potassium which are essential in human nutrition.
6. Provides sulfur – The sulfur in kale helps detoxify the body. Sulfur is known as a “beauty mineral” because it aids in keeping the skin and hair healthy.
7. High in calcium – Consuming kale on a regular basis can aid in preventing bone loss (osteoporosis). Per calorie kale has more calcium than cow’s milk.
8. Decreases cholesterol – The high fiber content of kale helps lower cholesterol.
9. Provides omega-3s – These essential fatty acids help reduce inflammation throughout the body and boost brain function.
10. High in iron – Iron is used to produce hemoglobin which transports oxygen in the blood. Iron is also important for immune system health.
Kale can be incorporated into the diet through smoothies, kale salads and kale chips (totally addicting). Kale can be quite bitter and it may take people who are new to this green some time to acquire a taste for it.
I have found the best way to incorporate kale into my diet is through smoothies. A great way to prepare kale for smoothies is to buy a few bunches of kale at once. Wash, dry, destem and pack the kale into freezer bags. Put all the freshly packaged kale into the freezer, where it can be stored for weeks. For some reason, once the kale has been frozen, its bitterness decreases greatly. Following this method you can load tons of kale into your smoothies and get all its nutritional benefits without the bitter green flavour.
Kale can be prepared in a variety of ways. Enjoy it regularly to take advantage of kale’s amazing health benefits.
Share your favourite ways of including kale in your diet in the comments section.
To your health!
Jesse
Informative article Jesse – all the more reason to love kale! You provide some great reasons here 🙂
also, I never knew that freezing kale decreases it’s bitterness! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Freezing kale greatly reduces its bitterness – This allows you to add so much more to smoothies ramping up their nutrition! Give it a try 😉
Thank you – I’m glad you enjoyed my post! Kale is definitely a nutrition powerhouse 🙂
I chop kale finely and add it to soups, stews, stir frys, etc.
That’s great SLP! – Its uses are numerous 🙂
I recently discovered Kale and use it in my morning smoothie, the most noticeable thing since starting is that I feel quite full after the smoothie. The Banana & Berries help to mask the bitterness however I might try the freezing technique so thanks for that idea.
John – Yes definitely try freezing kale to preserve it and cut the bitterness. When it is less bitter you can pack more into your smoothies.
Great you are into a morning smoothie routine – keep it up 🙂