Why Kale?

Kale is one of those “love it” or “hate it” kind of foods. For those of you who have jumped onto the Kale loving bandwagon, it will do nothing but good for you! If you are not a fan of Kale, it might be best to blend it up in a smoothie so you cannot taste it, but still can reap the benefits it has to offer! In the latest recipe, Air Fryer Kale Chips you will have the chance to have another look at consuming kale in a crunchier sort of way! Did you know that Kale is one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet? It is a member of the cabbage family, and is closely related to cabbage, broccoli, and brussels sprouts. Take a look below at the benefits of eating Kale, and it might make you want to eat it more regularly! [1]

Kale’s Nutritional Properties

Varieties of Kale Kale contains a variety of vitamins and minerals which are good for everyday life and wellness. Some vitamins and minerals present in Kale are: A, K, C, B6, Manganese, Calcium, Copper, Potassium, and Magnesium. Probably one of the more impressive qualities Kale conveys is the amount of antioxidants it possesses. Both quercetin and kaempferol are some powerful antioxidants found in Kale and they are known to do wonders for the body. [2] These two super compounds are best known to decrease inflammation in the body which in turn wards off a whole host of diseases!

Kale also has an abundance of Vitamin A and C which helps protect both your skin, and immunity from harsh free radicals that wreak havoc in the body. Lastly, another great quality Kale provides is the fact that it is high in calcium. That’s right, Kale has more calcium per serving than milk does! Who would have even guessed?  If you are not a dairy lover, but like Kale you are in luck for ample amounts of calcium to sustain healthy bones and teeth! [3] Overall, it is nutrient dense and comes in a variety of colors and types. The most popular types are Scots, Curly, and Tuscan otherwise known as Dinosaur Kale!

Facts On Kale

  • Kale develops large, curly or plain leaves arranged in the form of rosette. Leaves can be light or dark green, violet-green or violet-brown colored.
  • Kale was an integral part of human diet before the introduction of cabbage (its closest relative), somewhere during the Middle Ages.
  • Kale can decrease blood cholesterol level and absorption of fat from food. It also acts beneficially on the function of liver.
  • Kale develops large, curly or plain leaves arranged in the form of rosette. Leaves can be light or dark green, violet-green or violet-brown colored.” [4]

Even though this food gets teased as a “trendy” food that might be a fad to some, it truly has been around for thousands of years. Back in the middle ages it was an important part of the human diet, and nothing has changed since then! Go grab yourself some nutritious kale, and get ready to reap the benefits ten fold!

Resources

  1. http://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-kale#section2
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19253943
  3. https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4408/Top-10-Health-Benefits-of-Eating-Kale.html
  4. http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/kale_facts/1557/

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