Kale… It’s all the rage nowadays, although it’s still nothing compared to the enormous outburst of popularity and praise that it was getting a couple years back, it’s still going strong. But what is kale all about? Why is it so great? And, most importantly of all, why should you be eating it?
You see, up until a few years ago, before kale arrived the seen, leafy greens like spinach and swiss chard were the ones mainly in the spotlight for their nutritional benefit.
The amount of people who hadn’t tried kale yet was insanely huge, and amount who dan’t even heard of it yet were also quite a large group. But over the last couple of years, that’s been changing for the better, nowadays, you can find kale in tons of restaurants, households and pretty much any grocery store. Whys kale so popular though? Well, it probably has something to do with it’s incredibly vast amount of amazing health benefits, it’s power-packed nutrition and also because of the fact that you can prepare it in so many ways that I couldn’t possibly count them all.
So, let’s get started, shall we? Here are several hand-picked health benefits from kale’s vast array of them. I hope you enjoy them.
Reduces Inflammation
Kicking it off at the #1 spot on the list of kale’s health benefits, we have inflammation. Or more the fact that kale reduces it. Inflammation can make the easiest days seem long and hard, and the hard days like impossible mountains that have to be climbed. No matter what, inflammation is not fun, which is why kale is here to get rid of it, as much as possible.
Supports Heart Health
Kale is an incredibly heart-healthy food! It has been shown that a diet rich in kale (and other greens like spinach or collards) are linked to prevention of cholesterol and fat building up in the arteries, a process called atherosclerosis which is a major risk factor for heart attacks.
Boosts Immunity
Kale, like many dark, leafy green vegetables, is a rich source of antioxidants. These antioxidants boost the immune system by helping to remove toxins from the body and by preventing oxidative stress to the cells from free radicals. This, in turn, can also help reduce the development of certain forms of cancer.
Provides Dietary Fiber
Dietary fiber is incredibly important to the overall health of the body – and most Americans simply do not get enough of it. Crazy right? A diet high in fiber is associated with improved digestion, easier weight loss, more efficient removal of toxins from the body and even better heart health!
Excellent Source of Nutrients
Because the American diet is so dependent upon highly processed foods, it often lacks not only dietary fiber but many other important nutrients as well. Increasing the consumption of kale can help because it is loaded with vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and even protein, all of which can help those who are trying to overcome various nutritional deficiencies.
