Superfoods. Collard greens.
Until very recently, I had no idea what collard greens are
Collard greens are those leafy leaves that are not quite cabbage, not quite kale, but tied into a bunch, will look healthy straight away 🙂
They belong to the same family as broccoli, cabbage and kale but they have their own distinct properties and benefits:
- Bone health, anti-inflammatory effect – collards are high in vitamin K
- Cancer prevention – sulphur-containing compounds (glucosinolates) impede the lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer process at different stages of development.
- Diabetes – one cup of boiled collard greens provides 7-8 grams of fibre (recommended 18g/day, more in the US). Studies have shown lower blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetics who consume high-fibre diets. Improved insulin levels are hugely important for our health
- Improved sleep and mood: The choline in collard greens is an important nutrient that helps with sleep, muscle movement, learning and memory
- Healthy skin and hair – collards contain vitamin A, C and Iron
- Also digestion, help with detoxification, cardiovascular support… here’s a good article on benefits and a nutrient breakdown table.
Basically, find some fridge space for the lovely collards 🙂
More greens = less rubbish calories, you’ll be fuller for longer and more of the nutrients most of us are missing.
If you’ve hypothyroid issues or are on blood thinning medications, best check with your doctor first – the high vitamin K in collards needs monitoring.
Leaving you with a few links to tasty-looking recipes. I’ve heard collards can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days, and, after washing, it is recommended to rinse in salt water for about 30 minutes to kill any germs and to rid off any residual pesticides… hmmm, interesting… I might get mine from the Saturday farmer stall…
http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/quick-sauteed-collard-ribbons.aspx
http://www.culinate.com/recipes/collections/Contributors/Kelly+Myers/quick_collard_greens
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/jeff-mauro/quick-southern-collards-recipe.html
Useful links to learn more about collards:
http://www.fullcircle.com/goodfoodlife/2012/05/24/everything-you-need-to-know-about-collard-greens/