The Many Health Benefits That Kale Offers Us
If you've never tried kale before, then you really are missing out! Why's that? The answer is simple - kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods known to man. Consuming kale on a regular basis will allow you to reap numerous health benefits, such as the prevention of cancer, the strengthening of bones, and it may even help you lose weight, too. Here are ten of kale's most powerful properties:
1. It's very good for your skin.
Thanks to the high vitamin C content that kale contains, which is essential for collagen synthesis, it goes a long way towards supporting the health of your skin and joints. This is because collagen is a structural protein that is responsible for keeping the physical properties of your skin intact, thereby preventing sagging, wrinkling, and age spots from developing.
2. It promotes eye health.
Not many people know that kale is the most potent natural source of lutein that has been discovered so far. This is what makes kale so good for our eyes, since lutein plays a vital part in the preservation of eye health, including preventing the development of cataracts as well as premature age-related macular degeneration.
3. It helps to detoxify your body.
Kale contains extremely important compounds known as isothiocyanates, which work alongside your liver to help optimize your body's detoxification processes. Kale also supports the liver's role in metabolism by preventing particular enzyme levels from becoming too high, therefore preventing adverse effects from taking place.
4. It reduces cholesterol levels.
Kale is brilliant for anyone who wants to keep their cholesterol levels from getting too high. This is because it promotes the excretion of bile from the body, instead of allowing it to convert into cholesterol. What's more is that this is not the end of it, as your body then has to burn up even more cholesterol, since it uses it to convert back into bile to replace the bile that has already been lost.
5. It helps with diabetes management.
If you are a diabetic, then kale is certainly something that you should be regularly incorporating into your diet. This is because it is extremely nutrient-dense, doesn't contain many unwanted carbohydrates and is practically sugar-free, all factors which contribute to the regulation of blood sugar levels. Additionally, kale contains a lot of fiber, which helps to slow down the rate of glucose absorption into your blood when taken with other carbohydrate-rich foods.
6. It may prevent cancer.
Kale works through multiple mechanisms in cancer prevention, including minimizing exposure of healthy cells to intestinal waste and promoting the removal of general bodily waste products. What's more, kale is full of many powerful antioxidants, which reduce the amount of damage caused by free radicals that are known to cause cancer.
7. It may help with the treatment of anemia.
Anemia is a condition that can either arise due to a person having a lack of iron in their diet, or else due to them having a vitamin C deficiency, which can be detrimental to the body's rate of iron absorption. Thankfully, kale is loaded with both vitamin C and iron, both of which are necessary for those struggling to tackle the effects of anemia.
8. It helps to prevent stomach ulcers.
Kale has the unique mechanism of preventing the occurrence of H-pylori-related stomach ulcers, which cause ulceration or erosion of stomach walls. Scientists believe that this preventative mechanism is possible thanks to the high levels of glucosinolate that kale contains, which has been found to prevent bacteria from sticking to the stomach’s mucous lining.
9. It strengthens your bones.
Kale is also a powerhouse when it comes to calcium content, which is perfect for anyone who wants stronger bones and teeth. A single cup of kale will provide you with a tenth of your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of calcium, which is especially good news for people who do not consume any dairy products.
10. It can help you lose weight.
Kale is perfect for anyone who is trying to shed a couple of pounds since it contains very few calories and is also extremely filling and satisfying. Consuming kale smoothies in the morning is a great way to keep yourself going until your next meal while reducing your chances of ruining your diet with unnecessary snacking.