ALL ABOUT KALE – THE MIGHTY VEGGIE KING
Kale truly embodies the popular adage – old is gold. Its dense foliage has been keeping humanity healthy since 2000 BC. Kale vegetable is quite literally a gold-mine of nutrients. Its lush green leaves have their encyclopedia worth of health benefits and use. Kale's cornucopia of health and wellness are delved into in the following section.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF KALE VEGETABLE
Kale leaves are packed with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that are vital for a healthy heart. It is a great source of potassium with significantly fewer calories than most high-potassium foods. Potassium helps in maintaining blood pressure. Vitamin K, which is crucial for blood clotting is also found in abundance in Kale. Its deficiency can cause hemorrhages.
Kale is rich in fibre content. An increased fiber intake can reduce blood glucose levels. It is also a good source of sulphur, which is imperative for detoxification and the production of glutathione, one of the most important antioxidants in our body. Sulphur is also highly significant for glucose metabolism to decrease weight and the risk of diabetes.
Kale is widely known as a weight-loss must-have food due to its high fibre and lower calorie content. Since Kale is also a source of magnesium, it could be helpful in this regard as well. Magnesium also helps to alleviate stress which could otherwise lead to weight gain.
THE HEALTHIEST OF ALL
Kale vegetable is arguably the healthiest food with regards to fighting against ovary, prostate, colon, bladder, and breast cancers. Kale’s sulphur content inhibits tumour development. Its bounty of antioxidants plays an important role in eliminating free radicals from the body which are proven to cause cancer.
Iron, found in green leafy vegetables is responsible for haemoglobin formation, which in turn is responsible for supplying oxygen to the organs and is also essential for muscle, nerves, and brain functioning. Omega-3 fatty acids found in Kale too are vital for brain memory, performance, and behavioural function.
WAIT THERE’S MORE TO IT
Another importance of Kale’s high fibre content is its significance for cleansing and detoxifying the body as it picks up excess cholesterol compounds by combining with bile in the digestive tracts and pushes them out.
It is no secret that calcium, potassium, and iron are the three most vital nutrients when it comes to bone health, all of which are plentiful in Kale. Although these minerals are found in many other vegetables, they are much more difficult to digest as compared to Kale’s as it has a much lower oxalate content. Oxalate is a compound that occurs naturally in food and excess of it can lead to kidney stone formation.
Yet another use of Kale’s sulphur content is in purging the skin of toxins, collagen production, and scar reduction. Kale’s vitamin C and vitamin A content to are magical for skincare. Vitamin C and vitamin A are important for brighter, glowing, youthful skin and wrinkle-free skin and hence are used to treat dullness, dark spots, uneven skin tone, and anti-aging.
AND THAT’S HOW YOU EAT KALE VEGETABLE
The all-important consideration here is not just what you eat but also how you eat (or how you prepare what you eat).
Most will agree the fresher the better. Fresh Kale vegetable can be consumed in the form of salads and smoothies. However, green vegetables tend to have an inherent bitterness which is most pronounced when consumed fresh, making the meal unpalatable. A better way of consuming kale can be made by dehydrating the leaves. It keeps the nutrients intact while making up for a healthy snack.
P.S. If you’re looking for some tasty ready-to-eat Kale snacks, our Kale Crisps is the perfect option for you. Available in three different flavours it’s neither fried nor roasted by slowly dehydrated, gluten-free food, cholesterol-free, has no added MSG or preservatives, and is keto-friendly.