Kale: what is it and 8 benefits of this superfood

Surely many of you have heard the word 'kale' and don't know exactly what it is about. Kale is a type of cabbage that has become very famous in recent years, as it has very rich properties for our health and well-being. Even in America it has its own day! The National Kale Day.

In addition, experts from all over the world include kale more and more in their recipes so it should become a must in our diet. From here we explain what is kale and what are the benefits and properties of this superfood.

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What is Kale?

The kale is a type of cabbage, rough and green in structure. It belongs to the same family as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli, among other cabbages. It is characterized by its texture, which is why it can also be called kale or collard greens. This type of cabbage has become very popular in Europe although it is known that its origin comes from the United States.

Although it was known around 1980, it has not been until the last few years that it has become famous and has gained even more popularity thanks to the

increase in vegan and vegetarian recipes, as well as by the use of social networks, where celebrities and chefs from all over the world have promoted kale cabbage.

And why so much propaganda? Well, it has been known that kale is a superfood that has great properties and it provides us with many benefits.

Properties and benefits of kale

Below is a list of the properties and benefits of kale for your health and well-being, which have elevated it to the category of superfood.

1. Beneficial for the bones

For starters, kale contains a lot of calcium - a cup of kale has more calcium than a cup of milk! So consuming kale It benefits us if you suffer from bone density or osteoporosis.

2. Improves the immune system

Kale contains a lot of vitamin C, so activates our immune system and it will make us feel much better and stronger in the face of possible health problems that may affect us.

3. Better vision and skin

Kale also contains vitamin A, which help to have better vision and maintain perfect skin, so it is not only the perfect food for our interior but also for our exterior.

4. Detox and anticancer

In addition, among its benefits we also find vitamin K, known to have detoxifying and anticancer properties.

5. Balances cholesterol

The kale too has a large amount of omega 3, so if you have high cholesterol, this is definitely your food to fight it.

6. Great contribution of iron

This type of cabbage is a great source of iron, so if you suffer from anemia, kale is an ideal food to combat it.

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7. Helps to lose weight

For diets? Great! Not only is this superfood super healthy, it's rich in fiber and low in calories. One cup of kale equals 39 calories, 5 grams of fiber and best of all: 0 fat!

That is why it is not only included in traditional recipes, but we will find it in all kinds of diets to lose weight or to keep our body healthy. Experts recommend consuming kale a minimum of twice a week to enjoy the benefits of this superfood.

8. Helps prevent Alzheimer's

Apart from these properties, the kale also contains magnesium, zinc and potassium, and it is said that it has properties to prevent and reduce Alzheimer's.

Who cannot consume kale

But although it is ideal to include this superfood in your diet, always consume it responsibly and always maintain a varied diet.

Although kale has become the God of food for everything named above, it also has its contraindications:

• Consuming large amounts of kale can cause us discomfort.
• If you have an irritated colon, it still aggravates your symptoms due to its large amounts of fiber.
• If you have a thyroid, you have to be very careful since, like the rest of vegetables of its species, they interfere with the functioning of this gland
• If you have kidney or gallbladder problems, be careful as kale contains oxalates.
• Also very careful if you take blood-thinning medications, since its high content of vitamin K together with medications can be a toxic mixture.

In these cases, it is best to always consult with the doctor and dietician in case of having a special problem. But if this is not the case, the kale will always be more beneficial than counterproductive.

How to eat kale

As a vegetable, kale is a dense food, but can be eaten both raw and cooked. And best of all, this type of cabbage can be combined with any food.

The two most popular ways to consume kale are as added to salads and as an ingredient in smoothies, but there are a large number of varied recipes and for all tastes, so that each one chooses the one they like the most or the one that best suits each moment.
Impossible not to resist now to consume this delicious food!

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