Why We Love Kale
BY APRIL PASCARELLI
At this point in the health food game, it's probably safe to assume that you have heard of a little leafy green called kale. If your immediate reaction is “kale, yeah!", we are right there with you! Kale is undoubtedly one of the healthiest and most nutritious within the greens family and comes packed with a surplus of powerful benefits. A cousin to cabbage, this cruciferous veggie has several reasons why you should be adding it to your diet. Keep reading to learn why.
Loaded With Nutrients
Compare a cup of kale to anything, and you will soon see that just about everything else pails in comparison when it comes to nutrition. One cup of this raw green goodness will tally up the totals in vitamins and minerals real fast! Consider that you will get more than 600% of your recommended daily value in vitamin K (an absolute essential vitamin that plays a role in preventing blood clots) and more than 200% of the recommended daily value in vitamin A (important for our eye and skin health). Add in more than 100% of your recommended daily value in vitamin C (hello immune boost), plus a good amount of vitamin B6 and the minerals manganese, calcium, copper, potassium, and magnesium…now you have got yourself quite the combo.
Kale is a leader in being known as one of the most nutrient-dense foods. Eat more of this superfood, and your health may substantially surge in your favor.
High In Antioxidants
Leafy greens, in general, are known for being high in antioxidants. Kale sets the bar here as well. Antioxidants more specific to kale are beta-carotene (great for your eyes), vitamin C, polyphenols, and flavonoids. The thing is, we need these antioxidants in our lives. These substances help to counteract oxidative stress and damage done by free radicals within the body. Antioxidants are potent powerhouses that protect the heart, lower blood pressure, combat inflammation, viral infections, depression, and cancer (and the list goes on)!
Digestive Health
When you are looking to add more fiber to your diet, do not overlook kale. It is high in fiber and water content, and both will help to keep you regular, prevent constipation, and promote a healthy digestive tract. If you consistently battle bloat or digestive issues, consider cooking your kale first. Lightly sautéing, steaming, and even baking it will reduce the volume of it before you eat, allowing this veggie to go down a little easier and providing your stomach with less to break down.
High In Iron
Popeye may have missed the memo on this one. Though the iron content between kale and spinach is so similar, kale edges out spinach slightly at about 1 percent higher in terms of recommended daily value for the body. Iron is a mineral we need for multiple reasons, and when your body is low in it, you will feel it. We need this mineral for the growth and development process. Additionally, it is vital in making some hormones and, for making hemoglobin, the
protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, including the muscles. Without enough iron daily, it will leave your body feeling extremely tired and even short of breath, resulting in a condition called anemia. Ps. If you want to increase the iron absorption in your body, soak up a little additional vitamin C with your iron (as simple as squeezing some lemon juice on top of your kale salad).
Great Source of Calcium
Would you believe that kale consistently chalks in per calorie at having more calcium than even whole milk? In addition, our bodies absorb the calcium from kale even better than they would from that same glass of milk. Calcium plays an essential role in building and maintaining strong bones. It also is crucial in making our heart, muscles, and nerves function properly.
So, to conclude, kale is here to stay and is not just some trend of the ages. If it seems like it pops up everywhere in the health food world, well, that's because it does and because it is so good for you! And though many perceive it as a hippie health food, and some need to acquire a taste for it, it does taste good! This veggie will not “kale your vibe”. It will do the opposite by helping to enhance your mental and physical performance so that you can “kale it daily”. Can we get a “kale-lelu-jah”! Okay, okay, we will stop. But in all seriousness, you really cannot beat the benefits you will get from adding more of this hearty, wholesome vegetable into your life. Not to mention, the plethora of cute kale puns you will add to your vocabulary.
Keep an eye out for this impressive veggie! It has a host of benefits that appear to be endless. Be sure to pop some onto your plate (or into your smoothies) to get the max gains from this nutritional green. And hail to kale, the queen of all greens!