Your “Kale-endar” for the Week!
Happy belated National Kale Day (October 1st)! Kale is a cruciferous veggie, relative of broccoli, cabbage, and other healthy leafy greens. So, what makes this so-called “superfood” special enough to deserve its own day of the year? Below is one reason plus one simple and healthy recipe for every day of the week!
1. Kale aids in digestion: In just 1 cup of kale, there are only 33 calories, but almost 3 grams of fiber, which not only helps regulate digestion but also makes you feel fuller for longer.
Easy Kale Chips:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Kale-Chips-51186450
2. Kale can help fight cancer: Kale contains antioxidants and glucosinolates have been shown to play an important role in the prevention of various cancers.
Curried Kale and Chickpeas:
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2014/03/creamy-curried-kale-and-chickpeas.html
3. Kale is good for your heart: The fiber-related compounds in kale help lower cholesterol levels, providing cardiovascular support.
Pomegranate, Kale and Wild Rice Salad:
http://pinchofyum.com/pomegranate-kale-wild-rice-salad-with-walnuts-feta
4. Kale is a great detox food: Kale’s glucosinolates and sulfur compounds aid in cellular detoxification, helping the body fend off toxins from food and the environment.
Kale Detox Smoothie:
http://ohmyveggies.com/kale-ginger-detox-smoothie/
5. Kale prevents inflammation: Its omega-3 fatty acid and antioxidant content has anti-inflammatory benefits, which could potentially protect against obesity, arthritis, and other health problems.
Kale Superfood Pesto:
http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Kale-Pesto-Recipe-15353477
6. Kale’s nutrient content is way underrated: Just a single serving of kale contains more vitamin C than an orange, more iron per calorie than beef, and more calcium per calorie than milk!
Garlicky White Bean and Kale Stew:
7. Kale is affordable, accessible, and convenient: Relatively inexpensive to buy, kale is also easy to grow both for local farmers (and for us in our gardens!), is practically always in season, and can easily be stored for up to a week!
Kale Brownies!
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2013/08/08/kale-brownies/
Sources:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=38#nutritionalprofile
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4408/Top-10-Health-Benefits-of-Eating-Kale.html
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/collard-greens-kale-nutritious-4281.html
http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/18/kale/
My name is Tyler Kim. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, but decided to venture out to the east coast for college. I am currently a Nutritional Sciences major at Cornell University in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. For most of my childhood, middle and high school and even part of my college experience, I was a devoted athlete, mainly a basketball player. Not until more recently did I discover my yoga practice which truly has transformed my lifestyle for the better in so many ways. I adopted and continue to embrace a wholesome plant-based diet. My passion for living and learning about nutrition and health has continued to grow, and I am incredibly grateful for everyone in my life who has guided me in the process. Through these people and my academic and life experiences I plan on pursuing my goal of sharing my knowledge and ideas with others.