Kale is one of those foods that you either love or hate. Sadly, most people fall toward the “hate” side of things, thanks to the strong, bitter flavor of the leafy green.
But did you know that the nutrients that give it the strong, bitter flavor are what make it one of the healthiest of the greens? If you’re going to add anything to your juices, you’ll find that kale is the BEST of all. It has a lot more nutrients than even spinach, chard, and broccoli, and it’s loaded with nutrients that offer A LOTof health benefits.
Want to know what the benefits of juicing kale are? Check out the 10 listed below:
1. Rich in Iron
Iron is one of the most important nutrients for your body. Without iron, your body cannot produce red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for not only transporting the food you eat, but also the oxygen you breathe. A lack of red blood cells leads to anemia, which causes both fatigue and malnutrition.
Thankfully, kale juice is loaded with iron. It contains more iron per calorie than you get from even beef, so you can get a lot of iron from drinking kale juice. Another of the kale juice benefits is that iron helps to detoxify your liver!
Did you know that kale helps with hair growth?
2. High Doses of Vitamin K
Most people know about Vitamis A, C, and E, but they tend to forget about Vitamin K. Vitamin K is needed in order for you blood to coagulate, meaning it helps to stop bleeding from wounds. It is also necessary for healthy bones and body tissues, making it one of the most important vitamins for your health. It can also help deal with Alzheimer’s disease.
Kale is an excellent source of Vitamin K, so it’s worth adding into your juices in order to benefit your entire body!
Note: Everything in moderation! Too much Vitamin K can be harmful for those who are taking anticoagulants. If you’re taking medications, it’s best to check with your doctor before adding a lot of kale juice to your diet.
3. Low in Calories
Did you know that an entire cup of kale juice contains just 36 calories? One of the best kale juice benefits is the fact that it’s very low in calories, so you can pretty much drink as much as you want without worrying about overdoing it.
Another great thing about kale juice is that it’s usually loaded with fiber. While many people run their kale leaves through the juicer, those who blend the leavesget the soluble and insoluble fiber that makes kale such a healthy option.
4. Get More Antioxidants
Kale contains antioxidants like carotenoids, which are essentially a form ofVitamin A that benefit both your eyes and your skin. Flavonoids are also found, and one of the best kale juice benefits is the high dose of antioxidants in the leafy green.
Not only will these antioxidants help to get rid of the toxins in your body, but they can protect against cancer, inflammation, heart disease, and many more disease.
5. Fight Inflammation
Inflammation is the both the cause and the symptom of many health conditions. For example, chronic pain is usually caused by swelling, such as rheumatoid arthritis attacking the joints. For those with autoimmune disorders, inflammation in the body is a sign that the immune system is attacking important tissues and cells.
Thankfully, kale juice can help to reduce swelling. Kale contains Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help to prevent inflammation caused by arthritis, autoimmune disorders, and even asthma!
6. Boost Heart Health
One of the great things about kale juice is that it’s EXCELLENT for your heart–probably the most important organ in your body!
The antioxidants in kale will protect your heart against wear and tear, reducing the strain that is placed on it by your daily activity. The vitamins in the leafy greens will help to lower your blood pressure, strengthen your heart muscle, and dilate your blood vessels in order to improve circulation. If you drink kale juice with the healthy fiber in it, the fiber will help to lower your blood cholesterol levels. All in all, kale is one of the heart-smartest vegetables around.
7. Detoxify Your Body
Most people drink kale as a detox drink, and the truth is that it’s one of the most effective of the detoxifying foods on the planet. One of the things that makes it so useful for detoxing is the natural fiber found in the leaves. Fiber bonds with the toxins floating around your body, preventing them from being absorbed and sending them out the waste chute into Toilet Town. As long as you drop a few kale leaves into the blender when making your kale juice, you get all the fiber you need.
Kale also contains sulfur, a very sticky mineral. When sulfur molecules come in contact with toxins and free radicals, it tends to stick to these toxins. The combination of sulfur and toxins is much easier for your body to get rid of, effectively detoxifying your body.
8. Improve Immunity
Did you know that free radicals and toxins slow down your immune system? Your immune system is forced to deal with these problems before they can ever deal with the bacteria and pathogens invading via your skin, your food, and your respiratory system. By detoxifying your body with kale, you free up your immune system to focus on the invaders seeking to do your body harm.
Kale is also very rich in Vitamin C, the antioxidant that increases your body’s ability to fight off invaders. If you want to give your immune system a boost, the Vitamin C in kale is the way to go.
9. Fight Cancer
Remember the sulfur in kale? The organosulfur compounds in kale have proven to be effective at fighting cancer, particularly cancer in your colon. Not only will the high fiber content of the kale flush all the toxins and wastes from your intestines, but it will help to prevent the formation of carcinogens in your intestinal tract.
Considering that colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the country [1], it stands to reason that eating more kale is the smart way to go!
10. Improve Eye Health
They say that carrots are the healthiest foods for your eyes, but kale is almost as good! Kale is loaded with many of the same carotenoids contained in carrots. Carotenoids are basically nutrients your body can use to produce Vitamin A, the most important vitamin for the health of your eyes. The Vitamin A in kale will help to prevent the degeneration of your eye cells, and will ensure that they continue working for years to come!
Kale contains two very powerful carotenoids–called lutein and zeaxanthin–which prevent damage to your eyes caused by the UV radiation from the sun. It’s almost like wearing kale sunglasses!
Wow! Who knew that this leafy green was so rich in nutrients, or provided such a wide range of health benefits?
Here’s a short video showing a great juice recipe that includes kale!
Why to Juice with Kale
Kale juice may not be as tasty as apple, orange, or pineapple juice, but it offers A LOT more nutrients for your overall health.
Leafy greens can be hard to eat, and it can be time consuming to cook them up. Run them through the juicer, however, and you get a tasty juice you can mix with other juices to make the leafy greens much more palatable. Kale, in particular, is tough to eat alone, but making it into a juice makes the veggie much more enjoyable.
You get all the enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, but all in a cup you can swallow in a few quick and easy gulps!
Here’s an interesting infographic from uweightloss.com
Infographic – Green Power
Get your hands on some of this green power and try these green recipes!
