Ingredient in Focus: Kale

You may have heard about kale before. Or not. This member of the cabbage family has generated a lot of buzz in the health and fitness community earlier. Said to be a great weight loss food item, kale also contains a lot of health goodies.

Kale, also called borecole which may have originated from the Dutch boerenkool (farmer's cabbage), is rich in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin (a common carotenoid alcohol found in nature), folic acid, vitamin B6, manganese, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Some say consuming kale on a regular basis may provide significant health benefits like cancer protection and lowered cholesterol. No wonder kale is being dubbed as "the queen of greens," "the new beef," and "a nutritional powerhouse." Kale is one of the healthiest veggies in the world!

Aside from having antioxidants, kale is also low calorie but high in fiber. This is why it helps in encouraging body fat loss.

On the other hand, make sure not to consume calcium-rich food while eating kale because it contains oxalates, naturally occurring substances which interfere with the absorption of calcium, as well. But who needs to eat calcium-rich food while eating kale when kale itself possesses a lot of calcium, right?

Image source: howstuffworks.com

Sources:
en.wikipedia.org
webmd.com
howstuffworks.com