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Kale powerful antioxidant properties
Kale is very high in
beta carotene,
vitamin K,
vitamin C,
lutein, zeaxanthin, and reasonably rich in
calcium. It is full of
cancer-preventing compounds and chemicals that promote lung, eye and
immune system health.
Kale, as with broccoli and other brassicas, contains sulforaphane
(particularly when chopped or minced), a chemical believed to have
potent anti-cancer properties. Recently, Kale was featured on an episode
of Doctor Oz where he said kale literally melted cancer cells. Kale may
also be very healthy for your lungs, and be good for your brain.
How to eat Kale
You can steam, sauté, roast or boil the green and transform it from a leafy stalk to a savory dish. Look for it in the vegetables section of your super market. Avoid Kale that is soft, brown, or wilted. Get the kale that appears blue green, and dry. Make sure you put it in the fridge and eat it in a few days. Before eating wash thoroughly in cold water.
Steaming kale is a good way to fix it. Cut off the stems before you cook it. Steam kale for 5 minutes or until the leaves turn bright green. They should be soft, but still a bit firm.
You can roast the kale too. Remove the leaves from the stems, and put them in the oven for about seven minutes or so on both sides at around 350 degrees.
Kale freezes well and actually tastes sweeter and more flavourful after being exposed to a frost. Tender kale greens can provide an intense addition to salads, particularly when combined with other such strongly-flavoured ingredients as dry-roasted peanuts, tamari-roasted almonds, red pepper flakes, or anAsian-style dressing. In the Netherlands it is very frequently used in the winter dish stamppot and seen as one of the country's traditional dishes, called Boerenkool. In Ireland kale is mixed with mashed potatoes to make the traditional dish colcannon.
In East Africa, it is an essential ingredient in making a stew for ugali, which is almost always eaten with kale. Kale is also eaten throughout southeastern Africa, where it is typically boiled with coconut milk and ground peanuts and is served with rice or boiled cornmeal.
Celebrity Fitness Diet on Kale
Gwyneth Paltrow ate lots of kale to prepare for her role on Iron Man II. Check out her diet and exercise program and some DVDs from her trainer friend, Tracy Anderson.