Nutritionists consider kale to be the absolute king of superfoods. This humble and inexpensive green vegetable might lack the exotic appeal of superfruit berries like Goji, but as a complete food you could probably live on, Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world.
Kale is a member of the cabbage family similar to broccoli, cabbage, and sprouts. It is low in fat, although it does contain alpha-lipoic acid, which is a source of omega 3 which is fantastic for health.
Kale is high in vitamins and minerals
In addition, kale contains an amazing array of vitamins and minerals. One single cup of raw Kale contains:
- Vitamin A: 206% of RDA
- Vitamin K: 684% of RDA
- Vitamin C: 134% of RDA
- Vitamin B6: 9% of RDA
- Manganese: 26% RDA
- Calcium: 9% of RDA
- Copper: 10% of RDA
- Potassium: 9% of RDA
- Magnesium: 6% of RDA
All these nutrients are great for boosting health and this combined with very-low-calorie intake – only 33 calories per cup, makes kale fantastic support to any weight loss diet.
Kale is high in antioxidants
Antioxidants are molecules found in natural fruit and veg that have a protective effect on your immune system and can help protect against the signs of aging. Kale is rich in beta carotene, quercetin, and kaempferol, which all have positive effects on strengthening your immune system.
It has a positive effect on eyesight with antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, so will help maintain healthy vision which is often an issue as we age.
Kale is a great source of vitamin C too. This vitamin cannot be stored by the body, so it is crucially important to top up levels every day to protect health and vitality.
Kale is fantastic for lowering cholesterol levels and when taken in liquid form can work as well as cholesterol-reducing drugs.
So what are the downsides of Kale?
There are no downsides to eating Kale. This leafy green veg is fantastic for health and is inexpensive to buy. The only reason why we do not eat as much kale as we should is that many people just do not like the slightly bitter flavor.
If you want to enjoy the health benefits of Kale without actually having to eat it, there are some great supplements that make the vegetable far more palatable to modern tastes.
Amazing Grass Protein and Kale is a plant-based protein shake that delivers the health benefits of Kale in a vanilla-flavored smoothie. Each serving gives you the nutritional equivalent of a whole plateful of greens plus 20 gms of plant-based protein and is ideal for bodybuilders and people looking to lose weight, as well as those people who want the benefits of kale without the taste.
The supplement is manufactured by Amazing Grass, a small Kansas-based company that utilizes organic grasses grown on the company’s own farmland plus natural organic green vegetables.