Tag Archives: omega 3 fatty acids

Kale is such a staple in my diet, that I often forget to sing its praises. A friend asked the other day, “So what’s the big deal with kale, anyway?” After going through the laundry list of health benefits and nutrients, and ending with the declaration that kale is one of the most nutrient dense leafy greens on the planet, I realized I needed to show kale some public love. Apparently I am not the only one. Have you seen all the t-shirts and stickers available on the web for you to express your infatuation with kale?  I used to work as a fashion designer, it seems ages ago, and black was the staple color that you compared everything to. One season grey may be the new black, the next it was red. Well in the old paradigm food world, beef and animal products were the standards, leaving all of us hippie veggie lovers on the outskirts like the weird kids in class. But times are a changing! Just like those popular kids in high school who were really cool back in the day but are now overweight and boring, those who preach the gospel of animal protein are starting to look shabbier than all the lean, energized, and bright-eyed vegetable eaters. Yeah, we were once the weird kids in class, but now we’re totally hot and our sexiness is way more sustainable. As a part of this shift, kale is becoming what beef was, a staple. Although I sometimes still go through the checkout line and have to explain to the person ringing me up what Lacinato (also called Dino kale) or green kale is, more and more people are singing the gospel of kale because, frankly, it’s awesome. Below are a couple of reasons you may want to join the new cool kids and learn more about purple, green, and dino kale and how you can incorporate them into your diet. If your already on team kale, I salute you. -XoXo Raw Girl 

Supports Weight Loss. Kale is incredible low in calories, high in fiber, and has zero fat. Unlike a slab of steak on your plate, eating kale isn’t going to add anything to your waistline. In fact the fiber and nutrients will promote better digestion and proper elimination, all  while providing you with some essential nutrition.

Potent Anti-Inflmmatory Food. Kale is a power green leafy vegetable which solves a major issue that is plaguing the majority of people with chronic diseases or common skin issues: inflammation. Kale is an incredibly effective anti-inflammatory food and  its  omega-3 content adds to its anti-inflammatory properties. One cup of kale has 10% of the RDA of omega-3 fatty acids which is a key missing ingredient in standard modern diets leading to arthritis, autoimmune disorders, and other health problems.

Relieves Constipation. For those who have never incorporated kale into your diet, one of the first things you’ll notice is that kale will get waste moving out of the body and induce a bowel movement fairly quickly. Why is this great? Because most people are full of s&%$# thus leading to chronic health problems, skin issues, and other conditions that could have been solved by getting waste moved out of the colon.

Nutritional Powerhouse.  Kale is an excellent source of nutrition including vitamins A, C, K, E, B1, B2, B3, calcium, beta-carotene, phosphorous, iron, copper, magnesium, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and the carotenoid lutein. This cruciferous veggie is one of the richest sources of lutein which has been proven by research to be effective in protecting the skin from UV rays. The vitamin A content promotes the repair and maintenance of the skin, maintains healthy vision, and protects against lung and oral cancers.

The A Word. You  cannot claim to be devoted to living a healthy, disease-free, and youth maintaining lifestyle if you are not getting enough foods with antioxidants. Kale is full of antioxidants which protect against cancers, fights free radicals, and promote youthfulness. 

Kale Takes the Prize for Iron & Calcium. The next time a meat-eater taunts you for loving on your veggies you may want to serve up these facts to make them consider spending a little more time in the produce isle. Kale is high in calcium, in fact, kale has more calcium per calorie than milk and helps to prevent bone loss, osteoporosis, and maintain a healthy metabolism. So much for those “got milk” ads! That’s why I always say “got chlorophyll?” In addition to this kale has more iron per calorie than beef! Although most people think of veggie lovers as being anemic, more and more meat eaters are becoming anemic and could probably use a little kale in their lives. Iron is important because it is necessary for cell growth, the formation of hemoglobin, transporting oxygen throughout the body, and more.