Most people eat Kale and know it to be a market stall staple but 4 things about Kale that you probably do not know are that
- It comes in varieties
The Kale you know and usually eat is typically green but kale can also be red, or purple. Kale is one of some 3,700 species and comes from the mustard family (these are usually herbs which tend to grow all year round).
Cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli are in the same family as kale and are known as cruciferous vegetables with a crunchy texture.
- It has the honour of being called a super food,
Kale has been reported to slow the growth of cancer cells and protect against prostate and colon cancers. In addition to being high in vitamins and fibre it also has properties that studies show can ease lung congestion, and is beneficial to your stomach, liver, and immune system and also contains a substance that helps protect your eyes.
This important super food is very heat sensitive; the cooking process of kale results in lowering of the antioxidant activity of its antioxidants especially of vitamin C. Kale should be eaten in raw form or just undergo little processing , for example blanching- so do not over-cook it to get the most from it.
- It has a variety of nutritional qualities
From kale you can get your daily vitamin C needs (twice as much as an orange) your vitamin A (good for your vision and your skin) and your vitamin K (which has always been known as the “coagulation” vitamin because it helps with the body’s blood-clotting mechanism). Kale has more calcium per serving than milk and is loaded with important omega 3 fatty acids that keep your brain sharp and your heart throbbing.
Kale has beneficial hypoglycaemic effects and even though beef may be known as a “go-to” food for iron kale per calorie has more iron than beef.
- It is a detox darling
Detoxification or detox regimens—also called “cleanses” or “flushes”—have been suggested as a means of removing toxins from your body or losing weight. In the detox world, kale is a darling because it is full of fibrous materials which help with digestion and bowel movement.
However, there is no convincing evidence that detox or cleansing programs actually remove toxins from your body or improve your health. The weight loss on a detox diet may happen because often these diets are usually very low in calories.
