Kale is the superfood rolling off the tip of the tongues of every beauty maven. The green juices you see the Hollywood pilates set carrying after their morning workouts are undoubtedly packed with this little miracle vegetable. Part of the cabbage family, this leafy green is also known as borecole.
Why you should add a helping of kale to your shopping list.
1. A powerful anti-oxidant, kale helps promote healthy cell turnover and is rich in vitamin A, C, and beta-caroteis.
2. Low in calories and high in fiber, eating this superfood may actually help you to lose weight.
3. Anti-inflammatory, it helps to prevent skin diseases.
4. Kale has more iron than a beef steak.
5. High levels of Omega 3 make this a fatty acid feast—promoting healthy hair, skin, and nails.
6. Containing a high ORAC rating (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), it fights free radicals that can damage your cells.
7. Kale helps increase the rate of metalloproteinases, which help to repair sun-damaged skin.
8. It helps to fight cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, asthma, thrombosis, and some forms of cancer.
Kale Recipes to Try:
Baked Kale Chips
A healthy alternative to French fries or potato chips.
Ingredients:
Kale
Virgin olive oil
Sea salt
How to:
Remove the stems of the kale and tear your kale leaves into bite-sized pieces. Wash the kale thoroughly in a colander. Dry the kale from the excess water and place on a parchment lined baking tray.
Drizzle the olive oil over the kale and top with sea salt to season.
Bake in the oven under a high heat (175 degrees C) for about ten minutes. Remove and leave to cool and you will have a healthy snack in less than 15 minutes.
—Elizabeth Whiston-Dew