Kale is one of the healthiest green vegetables to include in your diet and there are plenty of recipes that it can be prepared in. As a member of the cabbage family, kale is available in smooth or curly form. But exactly how good is kale for you? Find out more…
- Promotes Good Eye Health. Kale is the highest source of Lutein and this is essential for healthy eyes and stopping Macular Degeneration, along with promoting good skin and a healthy heart, as well as various other benefits. One study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts found that consuming green leafy vegetables on a frequent basis may help to lower a person’s chances of developing glaucoma by up to 30%. There were 63,893 women involved and 41, 094 men involved in the study over a 28 year period from 1984 to 2012 and 1986 to 2014. All subjects were at least 40 years old at the start of the investigation and none had been diagnosed with glaucoma. Of the volunteers tracked, 1500 of them developed glaucoma. Scientists compared the subjects’ eating habits along with their risk of developing glaucoma. The participants were categorised based on their eating habits and the amount of green leafy vegetables consumed. The group eating the highest levels of leafy green vegetables were found to have a 20-30% lower risk of developing glaucoma in comparison to those eating less greens. Researchers believe that eating more leafy green vegetables increases the level of nitrates and this is converted into nitric oxide within the body. This increase of nitric oxide within the body can help with maintaining properly functioning blood flow within the eyes. One great reason to eat more of this leafy green vegetable! Asides from kale, lutein can also be supplemented and found in high doses in Active Life caps, MaxiFocus™ and NewFocus™.
- Kale Can Help Build Strong Bones. Kale is a rich source of calcium and this can help with protecting against damage that may be caused during physical exercise. As calcium is essential for building bones, you will want to eat kale daily for this reason alone if nothing else. Eating 100g of kale can provide 15% of your daily serving of calcium, as opposed to 12% in 100g of milk.
- Helps with the Healing Process. Kale contains high levels of Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that can help with muscle repair following a tough workout. Vitamin C can help aching muscles to repair themselves, making it easier to get back into the gym the next time around. A powerful way to get more Vitamin C into your diet alongside eating the kale is to include Altrient C from Good Health Naturally. This is a liposomal formula that is designed to be easily absorbed into the bloodstream for maximum intake.
- Can Help You To Build Muscle. Kale is a protein rich food that’s also rich in fiber as opposed to meat. A serving of kale contains 5% of the recommended daily fiber intake, along with 2 grams of protein – so you won’t be missin out on either by enjoying a big plate of kale!
- It Can Support Your Physical Endurance Levels. Kale is rich in iron, per calorie it has more than beef. It also plays an integral role in the formation of enzymes and haemoglobin, providing a supporting role in the promotion of oxygen circulation around the body. Good circulation is especially essential during exercise where the body needs it most. Eating kale could therefore help you to push yourself further in the gym.
- Great for a Detox. Due to its high levels of fiber and sulfur, kale is a great food to include in your diet if you want to detoxify your body and keep your liver healthy. If you are looking to specifically detox your liver you might want to try Liver Balance Plus – a powerful herbal formula designed to assist with the detox process, when combined with a naturally healthy diet and lifestyle.
- Can Protect Against Cancers. The chlorophyll in green cruciferous vegetables such as kale have been shown to be effective at blocking the carcinogenic effects of heterocyclic amines. These are generated when foods are grilled at a very high temperature. Eating kale raw is best advised if you want to get the maximum benefits of the chlorophyll.
- Low Calorie and Nutritionally Dense – Ideal for Weight Loss. Kale is fairly low calorie with one serving containing approximately 30 calories. It is also nutrient dense, providing a day’s worth of Vitamin C, twice the amount of Vitamin A, along with several times the amount of Vitamin K. If you want to lose weight, it’s a good idea to include plenty of kale in your diet.