KALE: Friend or Foe?
Good morning sunshine, the earth says hello. It's another beautiful day outside, but you are too bloated to move. So, you decide to unplug your iPhone from your charger, log onto instagram, and admire the endless amount of skinny girls eating healthy, working out, and looking good. Ugh. Why can't that be you? So, you decide to change your attitude. No more pre, pre workout snacks. It's time to actually workout and eat healthy. So, you get up, get dressed, and head on over to your local grocery store. While walking down the aisles, you remember hearing someone tell you the benefits to eating kale. Kale? Yes, kale.
Is it really worth the expensive tag?
Read on to find out.
Every time I pass by that colossal bag of kale at the grocery store or our local farmers market, I have the distinct feeling that I should be eating more of the dark, leafy green. But I'm not sure if that's because celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Ryan Seacrest say I should, or because the trendy veggie has any real, exceptional health benefits.
BENEFITS:
1. Antioxidants. Kale is a upserstar in this category. Carotenoids and flavonoids are two distinct antioxidants that protect cells from free radicals that cause oxidative stress. In other words, kale contains these two antioxidants, and both of these antioxidants cause people to experience less stress. WOO.
2. Vitamin K. Okay, now hold up. Vitamin K? Yes, on top of A, B, C, and D, there is a vitamin K. In fact, one cup of kale contains 1327% of your daily serving of vitamin K! Crazy, right? Vitamin K is necessary for the synthesis of protein respoinsible for strengthening our bones. Thus, the vitamin K found in kale can prevent calcium buildup in our tissue that can *gasp* lead to stroke and cardiovascular disease.
3. Cancer prevention. A healthy diet of kale provides glucosinolates, which have been shown by scientists to prevent colon, breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers. Shoutout to kale for being the real MVP.
DOWNSIDES:
1. Consuming 3-4 cups of RAW kale each day can lead to the damaging of the thyroid gland. By raw, I mean that you literally take out a bag of kale, wash it, and then inhale it. Don't do that.
2. Eating too mch kale can ultimately lead to weight gain. The human body can only use approximately .8 grams of protein per pound of body weight, according to the University of California at Los Angees publication. Although one serving of kale contains 2 grams of protein, eating 4-5 cups in a row may put you at risk for a multitude of health problems.
So, it's up to you. Is kale a friend or a foe?
Just remember to eat in moderation.
XO Ayesha
PS, looking for some easy breezy recipes? Click on the various links below! I promise that they are super tasty :-) If you're feeling up to it, comment your reactions to either this article or one of the various recipes!
http://www.yummly.com/recipes/simple-kale