7 Reasons to Start Eating Kale

Kale is one of the lesser known superfoods. A member of the cabbage family, it has either green or purple leaves...and tastes delicious! Here's why you should add it to your diet: 1. It contains more than twice the vitamin C of an orange One cup of kale contains 134% of your daily recommended vitamin C intake, which means that it has even more than an orange; which was once hailed as the superfood of vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for the growth and repair of body tissues. It is great for boosting your immune system, and also helps to heal wounds and maintain healthy bones and teeth. 2. It is low in calories I'm not a fan of calorie counting, but for those of you who follow this rule with your diet, it will please you to know that a cup of chopped kale contains only 33 calories! 3. It has a high iron content Per calorie, kale contains more iron than beef! Iron is essential for producing red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. It is also necessary to maintain healthy skin, hair and nails. 4. It is high in vitamin K Kale is packed full of this; just one cup of kale contains a whopping 684% of your daily recommended amount of vitamin K! Vitamin K has been reported to reduce the overall risk of developing cancer. It is also necessary for a wide variety of bodily functions, including good bone health and the prevention of blood clotting. Increased levels of vitamin K have also been linked to help people suffering with Alzheimer's disease. 5. It is full of antioxidants Kale is abundant in antioxidants; the two main ones being lutein and zeaxanthin, which act like sunglasses, preventing damage to the eyes from overexposure to ultraviolet light. They also help to prevent cataracts. 6. It has a high calcium content Believe it or not, per calorie, kale actually contains more calcium that milk! Calcium is vital for building strong bones and teeth, as well as regulating muscle contractions, including the heartbeat. It even contributes to the release of hormones and enzymes. 7. It's a great detox food Kale is filled with fibre and sulfur; both of which are great for your digestive system, and keep your liver healthy.   Kale has the highest nutritional value per calorie of almost any food, and is great for aiding weight loss. Although kale has clearly earned the name of a superfood, like everything, it should be eaten in moderation. Too much kale can cause overloads of the vitamins; for example, anyone taking anticoagulants such as Warfarin should avoid kale because the high level of vitamin K may interfere with the drugs. If you are at all unsure then please consult your doctor before adding kale to your diet.   For more articles like this, check out my blog.   Sources: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=38 http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20745689_5,00.html http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2461/2 http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-c-ascorbic-acid http://www.organicauthority.com/health/reasons-kale-is-the-new-beef-nutritious-sustainable.html http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-minerals/Pages/Iron.aspx http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-health-benefit-of-kale-diet-cautions.html http://yoursightmatters.com/eye-healthy-kale-salad/ https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=calcium+lkale+vs+milk&oq=calcium+lkale+vs+milk&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l2.3344j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8#q=calcium+kale+vs+milk&spell=1 http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-minerals/Pages/Calcium.aspx http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248958.php http://www.vegkitchen.com/nutrition/5-top-health-benefits-of-kale/ http://www.creativehealthsecrets.com/fruit-and-vegetables-foods-that-burn-fat-for-healthy-weight-loss/ http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4408/Top-10-Health-Benefits-of-Eating-Kale.html http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/the-truth-about-kale http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/iron-supplements