Kale

Why is everyone talking about Kale!

The quality of your skin is only as good as the quality of the food you eat! It’s therefore no wonder that Kale is currently the ’saveur du mois’ on all the best nutritional blogs.

Aside from the fact that Kale is DELICIOUS, it’s also a nutritional supremo and known as one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet.  It offers everything you need in a leafy green, and can help lower cholesterol and provide cancer protection.

Loaded with vitamins A, C, and K (206%, 134%, and 684% respectively of your daily antioxidant needs), Kale is also a good source of copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. Carotenoids and flavonoids are the specific types of antioxidants associated with many of the anti-cancer health benefits. Kale is also rich in lutein and zeaxanthin compounds which promote healthy eyes. Beyond antioxidants, the fiber content of cruciferous Kale binds bile acids and helps lower blood cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease.

Dr. Drew Ramsey, author of the book, “50 Shades of Kale,” says, “I love recommending kale for three fundamental reasons: Kale tops the charts of nutrient density, possesses incredible culinary flexibility, and is easy to grow almost anywhere. My ultimate measure of a food is its power to support brain health, and it is clear that more kale in your diet means a happier, healthier, sexier you — all the basic signs that your brain is running well”.

Kale can provide you with some special cholesterol-lowering benefits if you will cook it by steaming. The fiber-related components in Kale do a better job of binding together with bile acids in your digestive tract when they've been steamed. When this binding process takes place, it's easier for bile acids to be excreted, and the result is a lowering of your cholesterol levels.

Kale is now recognized as providing comprehensive support for the body's detoxification system. New research has shown that the ITCs made from Kale's glucosinolates can help regulate detox at a genetic level.

Depending on the variety, Kale’s ruffle-edged leaves may vary in color from cream to purple to black. One cup of Kale contains 70 calories; zero grams of fat; 4 grams of protein; 10 grams of carbs; and 5 grams of fiber.

This may be a foreign vegetable to some, or one just recognizable as decoration on plates at restaurants or around a salad bar, but it is actually the most nutrient-dense plant you will find at your supermarket – and all in all, a powerful ally for your skin.