Even though it’s got a lot of competition, kale is one of the healthiest foods available.
One piece of evidence: a new rating system, called the Andi scale, rates the density of nutrients per calorie. The scale is ranges from 0 to 1000 and kale takes the top spot because this leafy green delivers the most nutrients for only 36 calories per cup.
Until recently, nutrition was thought of simply as Vitamin A through zinc, yet it turns out that the consumption of a variety of phytochemicals (such as indole-3-carbinol, found in cabbage) helps your body to detox and repair, protecting you from disease.
Kale is high in Vitamin K, which is important for bone mineral density and osteoporosis prevention.1 A lack of Vitamin K in your diet can also contribute to excessive inflammation in your body, leading to joint pain and symptoms of arthritis.
Vitamin A, found in kale, helps treat and prevent acne because of its anti-inflammatory effects. The retinoids in Vitamin A prevent the inflammation of acne and reduce the overproduction of oil in the skin.2 One cup of kale contains over 100% of your required daily intake of Vitamin A.
Kale is a good source of Vitamin C, which prevents the buildup of uric acid in your system. This acid buildup can deposit in your kidneys and joints and possibly lead to the development of gout and kidney stones.3
Soluble fibres are great at binding the bile acids and lipids in your intestine that are used to create cholesterol in your system. This lowers the amount of cholesterol in your system and can lower your overall risk of Heart Disease.
Kale contains compounds that play a role in reducing the risk of bladder, breast, colon, ovary and prostate cancer by inhibiting the growth of tumours.4
PLEASE NOTE: If you have a thyroid condition be sure to limit and/or cook kale, and any cruciferous foods, before consuming. Read more about thyroid conditions and cruciferous foods, here.
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