Kale

Have you ever tried kale?  

Kale is a leafy, green vegetable in the cabbage family.  Similar vegetables in the family include cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, collard greens and turnips.

You can eat kale raw as part of a salad or cooked.  Experiment if you can, having it in different ways to see how you most enjoy it and if you do, the health benefits are great.

Have you heard about kale as a superfood?  That’s because it contains so many nutrients.  Kale has vitamins A, B6, C and K and folate.  Additionally, there is fiber, carotenoids (acting as antioxidants) and manganese.

Eating 1-½ to 2 cups a week of kale (and other leafy green vegetables) can help bolster your immune system.

Kale can also help regulate your blood pressure.  On top of that the Mayo Clinic believes that it could potentially reduce the risk of some forms of cancer.

When you prepare kale you usually remove the leaves from the stems to make it more tender.  You could try and saute it with some garlic and mushrooms, use it in a smoothie or add it to a soup.  It’s delicious and healthy in so many ways.

To store kale, wrap it loosely and store in the fridge for up to five days. If kept longer, the leaves tend to toughen.

Private Home Health Care is impressed with the many vitamins in kale.  We enjoy it as a side dish and in soups.  We hope you can find ways to enjoy kale and add to your healthy diet.