The Benefits of Eating Kale

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Kale is one of the most overlooked vegetables in the world. People have been using it as garnishes for other dishes for as long as I can remember. Its usually the last thing left in the dish waiting to be disposed of. Kale happens to be a super food. It has been used for over 2000 years in Europe brought to popularity during Roman times and the Middle Ages. It only came to the U.S. in the 17th Century.

Facts about Kale:
1. A serving of Kale has more absorbable calcium than a carton of milk!Who would have thought that this green leafy food would be a calcium powerhouse.

2. Kale give more bang for your buck in the Vitamin department. One cup of raw kale has only 30 calories and contains more than 600% of Vitamin K, 205% of Vitamin A, 135% of Vitamin C, PLUS Iron, Fiber, Magnesium, Copper, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Folate, Omega 3s, and 2 grams of protein. Yes, I said PROTEIN!

3. Kale belongs to the cabbage family and is related to not only cabbage, but brussel sprouts and collard greens. All of these vegetables possess phytonutrients which reduce inflammation, reduce certain types of cancers, such as: colon cancer and prostate cancer. It improves the livers ability to detox and helps protect your brain cells by reducing stress. Kale is AWESOME for a healthy mind and body.

4. Kale has no fat and no cholesterol. It’s loaded with beneficial anti-oxidants that help protect your cells from free radical damage. Free radical damage is basically daily aging of our bodies. As your cells break down, this process causes us to age. Kale fights against that along with other high antioxidant foods.

5. Kale contains Zea-xanthin, an important dietary nutrient that gets absorbed into the the rental macula lute in the eyes where it provides antioxidant and protect e light filtering functions. It helps prevent retinal detachment and offers protection against age related macular degeneration in the elderly.

6. Kale is best after the first frost when all the starches in this green leafy veggie begin turning into sugar. Although I love it just about anytime of year.

7. Kale comes in a variety of colors and textures. Try them all to see which ones you like best.

Want to add kale to your diet? Here is a good resource for Kale recipes. Enjoy!

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Chocolate Kale Smoothie?

For many years we have heard some pros and cons about eating chocolate. Chocolate has been around for centuries. It has been enjoyed by people from all over the world. Holidays are built around the sales of chocolate in the USA. We have Valentines Day in February and then Easter.

Some studies say, do not eat it, as it causes cancer, or headaches or etc etc. Some say that it is very healthy and should be enjoyed often. So what do you listen too? Chocolate in fact has many more pros then it does cons.

Have you ever heard of free radicals? Free radicals are things that cause the body to age, inside and out. They can come from the environment and from within our own bodies as well. They are in fact part of the natural process people have as part of the digestion and respiratory systems. They are harmful compounds that cause the mitochondria to slow its production of energy. The mitochondria are the power plants of our cells. They are the energy source of our bodies. Eating chocolate, which contains a ton of anti-oxidants, fights the slow down of the mitochondria, helping the body to gain more energy. Anti-oxidants are known to help combat free radical damage from both inside and outside our bodies. Fruits that are richly colored such as blueberries and cherries are also rich in anti-oxidants as well.

If stress is what you are up against, and who isn’t these days, then Kale is the food you want to eat. Kale, that dark green leafy stuff that many people use as a garnish, is known for being rich in vitamin B. When people feel stressed, the bodies demand for Vitamin B becomes increased. Vitamin B also fuels the production of mitochondria in our cells. So when we feel stressed, our cells become depleted of the Vitamin they are in most need of in order to continue producing what the body needs for energy. The ripple effect takes hold of us when we are under stress. Since the cells are not getting their Vitamin B and we are feeling fatigued, our brain realizes this first and the result of our stress is fogginess and faulty memory. Luckily green leafy kale can rescue us. Three to four servings a day of not just kale but any dark green leafy veggie can help us in our time of needed energy.

Gotta run make a chocolate kale smoothie. 🙂

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