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Kale
May help prevent: cancer, cataracts, heart disease, high blood pressure,
macular degeneration, osteoporosis, stroke
Kale
gains second place, after broccoli, for its antioxidant power in
the list
of vegetables.
Kale supplies loads of beta-carotene, a whopping
amount of lutein and vitamin K, a good source of vitamin C, manganese,
potassium, calcium, magnesium and folate. Kale also delivers indoles,
sulforaphane, and allyl isothiocyanate, a powerful cancer-fighting team.
This team of phytochemicals provides protection against many different
types of cancers battling tumor and cancer at different stages of growth.
Indoles particularly protect against breast, cervical and colon cancer.
Kale’s hefty amount of lutein protects the eye, reducing the risk
of developing cataracts and macular degeneration, as well as inhibiting
cancer. To top it off, lutein reduces the development of atherosclerosis.
In combination with vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin K, potassium and
folate, kale is a heart healthy food that protects against heart disease
and stroke. Kale may also protect against bone loss and osteoporosis
with its high vitamin K content.
Action Tip: Kale often ends up as a garnish on our plates but with its health
benefits, it would be better as the main dish. Kale can be used in place
of spinach or finely chopped and added to pasta sauces, casserole dishes,
stews and soups. The young small kale leaves are delicious raw in a spinach
salad.
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