This week it’s kale health benefits from Kat’s Kitchen and why it’s good to include kale in your diet.
Kale is a descendent of wild cabbage, a plant thought to come from Asia. It’s a green leafy vegetable and is a member of the cruciferous family. Kale and collards are essentially the same vegetables – the only difference being that kale has leaves with curly edges.
There are several varieties of kale – curly, ornamental and dinosaur. Curly kale has ruffled leaves and a fibrous stalk and is usually deep green in colour. It tends to have a peppery flavour. Ornamental kale has a more mellow flavour and maybe green, white or purple. Dinosaur kale is better known as cavolo nero or Tuscan kale across Europe (and especially in Italy). It has dark blue-green leaves and tends to be slightly sweeter than curly kale.
Kale is amongst the most highly nutritious vegetables; here are a few reasons to include kale in your diet:
Kale Health Benefits
- Excellent source of dietary fibre and low in calories – great if you’re watching your weight
- Kale has 3 times as much calcium and phosphorus which is beneficial as a high phosphorus level has been linked to osteoporosis.
- Full of antioxidants to prevent cancer, keep blood pressure low and provide anti-inflammatory support
- Protects the heart through low levels of cholesterol