For a good few years now humble kale is taking the spotlight and rightly so. Kale is among the most nutrient dense foods in existence and eating more of kale is a great way to increase amount of nutrients in your diet.

Here are a few main (imho) benefits:

• Kale is a good source of minerals, most people are deficient of. Calcium – bone health, very important for women; potassium – building muscle, synthesizing proteins, controlling the electrical activity of the heart; magnesium – important role in keeping type 2 diabetes and heart disease at bay; manganese – bone metabolism, helps metabolic activity in the human body.
• It is very high in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that the body can turn into vitamin A – important for growth and development, for the maintenance of the immune system and good vision.
• It is high in vitamin K – necessary for blood coagulation. Low levels of vitamin K also weaken bones and promote calcification of arteries and other soft tissues.
• It is full of antioxidants that have blood pressure lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-depressant and anti-cancer properties.
• It is very low in calories but still provides bulk that helps to feel full. Read: good for weight loss.
• It is tasty!

Read more on proven benefits of kale here including full list of vitamins and minerals.

Raw kale can be difficult to digest and can cause gassiness, here’s more on this. These issues can be avoided by… NOT EATING RAW KALE, cook it. Obviously for people with digestive disorders it might be not a solution, best to check with the doctor.

Cooking kale is easy. I like to simply saute it in butter but there are many great recipes, some good ones here.

Try kale instead of spuds for a week. See what happens 😉