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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

kale: a nutritional powerhouse

[fresh kale]
[perfect meal]
before last year, i had never even heard of kale. now, i eat it at least three times a week. it's probably all in my head, but i really believe that i can feel the nutrients from this power food seeping into my veins the second the leafy greens enter my mouth. in my opinion, kale is the closest thing there is to a perfect food. believe it or not, 1 cup of steamed kale provides you with 1,328% of your daily requirement of vitamin k, 192% of your vitamin a, 88% of your vitamin c, and a plethora of other nutrients (including b vitamins and calcium). like most other cruciferous vegetables, kale has been praised for its antioxidant properties and its anti-inflammatory properties. it has been linked to reduced cancer risks, reduced inflammatory diseases, and lower cholesterol levels.  in general, you can't really go wrong with greens of any kind, but i'd recommend choosing kale when you can. there will be a lot more research that comes out over the next several years on this incredible food and if you start eating it now you can say "psh, obviously" when your friends start talking about it in five years.