Authors RJ and Almu Corazón
I’m not talking about the richest woman in the world. No, I’m talking about one of the best green leafy vegetables you can eat – Kale. Kale is an exceptionally nutritious and tasty veggie. It has earned other titles such as “the new beef” and “a nutritional powerhouse.” It is part of the Brassica family that includes vegetables such as:
- Cabbage,
- Collards,
- Broccoli,
- Brussels sprouts.
A cup of kale has 35 calories, zero fat grams, and five grams of fiber. It is high in calcium, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, Vitamins A, C, and K. Per calorie, it is reported to have more calcium than milk and more iron then beef. It is known to help prevent cancer, support our cardiovascular system, help lower cholesterol, and serve as a powerful anti-inflammatory – all of this in a 35-calorie powerhouse cup of green leafy goodness. [Not to be religious – but the Creator of this is great!]
Before knowing Kale as a super food, I added it to my diet on a regular basis because I liked the way it taste and I knew, like most vegetables, it is low in calories. I love it; you can eat enough to fill yourself up without worrying about gaining weight. I try to include kale in my weekly meal plan. I’m happy that I made that choice. Vegetables, as well as exercise, have been a major contributor to my weigh lost success so far.
Kale is a very versatile food. Sometimes I steam it for a few minutes or sauté it with olive oil (just a little bit ☺) and fresh garlic. It makes an excellent compliment to meat, fish, and pasta. I also tear it up into small pieces and add it to my homemade soups or eggs for breakfast. Adding kale to my eggs in the morning makes me feel particularly good – you know, giving my body a powerful boost to start the day.
After reading a lot about kale and personally enjoying its benefits, last spring (2013), I decided to add kale to my kitchen garden. It’s the best. It grows well in my north Jersey town and it tastes delicious. I grew a curly leaf kale. It was as pretty as a flower with its deep green curly leaves. Next year, I plan to grow Russian Red Kale. I can’t wait to tell you about it.
While kale is considered a top-notch vegetable – Did your doctor ever advise you to eat this super powerful vegetable? – speak to your doctor before adding kale to diet. For example, Vitamin K, found in great quantities in Kale, and in other vegetables such as spinach and collard greens, can interfere with drugs such as warfarin – an anticoagulant. Other substances found in kale may interfere the absorption of calcium…”
As we part today, Kale remains at the top of our shopping list. We hope you will do some research on this wonderful vegetable and see if this vegetable can be beneficial to you and yours. Let us know in the comment section below how you have included kale in your diet.
Tell us about your favorite kale recipe. And, let us know what varieties of kale are sold in your area (tells us where and send us pictures)!
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