Food & Fitness Friday: Kale Yeah!

Of all the super healthy greens, kale is king. It is definitely one of the healthiest and most nutritious plant foods in existence.

Kale is loaded with all sorts of beneficial compounds, some of which have powerful medicinal properties. It is very high in nutrients and very low in calories, making it one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet.

Many powerful antioxidants are found in kale, including quercetin and kaempferol, which have numerous beneficial effects on health.

Kale is extremely high in vitamin C, an antioxidant that has many important roles in the body. A single cup of raw kale actually contains more vitamin C than an orange.

Kale contains substances that bind bile acids and lower cholesterol levels in the body. Steamed kale is particularly effective.

Vitamin K is an important nutrient that is involved in blood clotting. A single cup of kale contains 7 times the RDA for vitamin K. Kale contains substances that have been shown to help fight cancer in test-tube and animal studies, but the human evidence is mixed.

Kale is very high in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that the body can turn into vitamin A.

Many important minerals are found in kale, some of which are generally lacking in the modern diet. These include calcium, potassium and magnesium. Kale is high in lutein and zeaxanthin, nutrients that have been linked to a drastically reduced risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.

As a nutrient-dense, low-calorie food, kale makes an excellent addition to a healthy diet. 

I hope every one has a kale-er weekend!

xoxo

the little chef with the big heart