What’s the Deal with KALE?

This once-obscure veggie has become all the rage with health-conscious foodies across the globe. But is it really the amazing superfood that everyone claims it to be?

What exactly is kale?

Kale is a type of vegetable very similar to wild cabbage. It’s grown on many continents and comes in several different varieties.  3 varieties can be commonly found in supermarkets. Europeans ate kale voraciously up until the end of the Middle Ages.

In more modern days, the internet has revived its popularity once again by tagging it as a “superfood.”   Health-conscious eaters and dieters claim it to be a much more nutritious substitute than most other vegetables.

Is it really that good for you?

While it can depend on how you prepare it, the short answer is undeniably…yes!

Raw kale contains generous amounts of several vitamins and nutrients, most notably vitamin K, as well as hearty doses of vitamins A, C, B6, folate, and manganese. Vitamins C and B6 as well as fiber and potassium (which kale also contains plenty of) are proven to be essential for a healthy heart and useful in preventing heart disease.

Kale’s fiber and water content can also aid with digestion.  It boasts of high levels of beta-carotene and vitamin C which contribute to healthier hair and skin.

The thing to take away from its ingredients list is this: it’s impressive. Even by vegetable standards!

But wait…

One more thing to keep in mind: if a recipe calls for boiling your kale, beware! When boiled, this superfood loses the majority of these incredible health-boosts. Instead, look for recipes that call for steaming, stir frying, or microwaving the veggie. These methods have a much less damaging effect on its properties, so you’ll be able to enjoy nearly all the benefits of the green in its raw form – because let’s face it: not all of us enjoy kale in its natural, uncooked state!

So, what now?

Although kale isn’t the magical remedy that some would have you believe, its strikingly rich nutrient and protein content makes it undeniably beneficial in boosting and enriching your body. And, because it’s filled to the max with these dietary aids, it’s much easier to get the amounts you need with kale than with many other veggies.

So go ahead and shamelessly jump on that bandwagon. Your body will thank you for it!

Source: andrea heckler for gourmandize.com©

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