Kale here, kale there, kale, kale every where! All this talk about kale! I know you’ve seen more kale snacks in your local health food stores lately. If you’re like me and were asking, “what the kale is going on here?” , I’ve got some answers for you! Now kale and I first met when I started my first juice cleanse and since then it’s been on our grocery list. Kale is known to be one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet! So before you run to the grocery store, let me give you some quick facts.
According to WebMD, one cup of kale contains 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and 15% of the daily requirement of calcium and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), 40% of magnesium, 180% of vitamin A, 200% of vitamin C, and 1,020% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus.
Now I know you all want to run out and get some right now! Before you do let me also say that it’s rich in antioxidants and can lower your risk for cancer. Some of kale’s nutrition content is even enhanced when cooked. You can’t beat that!
Kale is such a power house of nutrients that it’s crazy to say that there would be any draw backs but there are some. Kale has a natural occurring substance called oxalate which can get in the way of calcium absorption. If you’re taking anticoagulants, too much vitamin K can pose a problem to your health so consult your doctor before adding kale to your diet. For most of the population though this isn’t the case.
According to WebMD, one cup of kale contains 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and 15% of the daily requirement of calcium and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), 40% of magnesium, 180% of vitamin A, 200% of vitamin C, and 1,020% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus.
Now I know you all want to run out and get some right now! Before you do let me also say that it’s rich in antioxidants and can lower your risk for cancer. Some of kale’s nutrition content is even enhanced when cooked. You can’t beat that!
Kale is such a power house of nutrients that it’s crazy to say that there would be any draw backs but there are some. Kale has a natural occurring substance called oxalate which can get in the way of calcium absorption. If you’re taking anticoagulants, too much vitamin K can pose a problem to your health so consult your doctor before adding kale to your diet. For most of the population though this isn’t the case.
There is so much more to say about kale but before I lose your attention I’ll leave you with a few recipes/tips on how to incorporate this into your diet. My favorite is to throw it in my smoothie or to juice it with some sweet red bell peppers.
ENJOY!
