“Everyone knows kale is the hottest super food out there right now. It’s SO good for you, but better yet, it’s super yummy and delicious!” – Khloe Kardashian.
Regardless if you value Khloe’s opinion or not, she speaks the truth. Kale is a super food that’s been on the rise lately. In food ranging from salads to smoothies people can’t seem to get enough! Its popularity has been endorsed by celebrity chefs Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver, and has been made popular by starlets such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston. I know the stuff can look off-putting – it looks like something from the prehistoric era with its dark color and coarse, curly leaves – but its health benefits are crazy good. One cup of chopped kale is only 33 calories and it’s 9% of the recommended daily value of calcium. It has 206% of vitamin A, 134% of vitamin C, and 684% of vitamin K!
Why are these vitamins and minerals so important? Vitamin A is key in promoting a healthy immune system and healthy skin and nails; some people have even gone so far as to include it in face creams to lighten dark spots and possibly help treat or prevent skin cancer! More incredible still, it helps fight cancer by stopping the reproduction of cancer cells! Now, Vitamin C is known as the vitamin that helps to keep us from getting sick. But there are so many other positive attributes! It also has great anti-aging and anti- inflammatory qualities. Vitamin K is important in fighting wrinkles and helping in calcium absorption (something kale also conveniently has). A note for the future: it helps prevent the development of varicose veins. Kale is also a great source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. Its so nutritious and high in iron, it has even been called the new beef.
The net-net of this haute and healthy blog is for everyone to eat more kale. Your skin, nails, and hair will love you for it. Even if you don’t like the flavor you can: 1) learn to love it (seriously it’ll be worth it), or 2) experiment with the other ways to eat kale outside of the standard salad style. Some ways you can do this is by eating kale chips, smoothies, juices, and, my personal favorite, “Brad’s Raw Leafy Kale” snacks, which come in every flavor from naked (with vegan cheese) to nacho, jalapeño, and vampire killer (garlic)!
So keep kale in mind the next time you go to the store. Look for that dark, green, and leafy super food because it can be a life changer!