Kale is a green leafy vegetable. It is also known as leaf cabbage and a type of cabbage. These leafy cabbages are basically grown because of their edible leaves. The leaves may be green or purple in color.
However, unlike the regular cabbages, the central leaves in these cabbages do not form the head. Kale is considered to be close to wild cabbages which form the domesticated form of Brassica Oleracea. It has various cultivars which are used due to their different purposes.
According to Wikipedia, kale can be categorized on the basis of its different stem length and variety of leaf types. Based on the length also, it can be differentiated. Apart from stem length, it can also be categorized on the basis of leaf color, they vary from light green to green, dark green to violet green. The color of the leave can also be violet-brown. Based on the leaf type, kale can be classified as:
- Curly leaf (Scots kale, blue curled kale)
- Rape Kale
- Leaf and spear (cross of curly leaf and plain kale)
- Bumpy leaf (black cabbage, Tuscan Kale, Dinosaur kale)
- Plain leaf
Kale is cultivated mostly during the winter season. It can survive in low temperatures up to -15 degree Celsius.
Kale Juice:
Kale is a nutritious vegetable. Nevertheless, kale juice is highly nourishing and has a lot of mineral and vitamin content which proves to be beneficial for the body. It has high vitamin and calcium content. This is true that it has a strong and bitter taste but it should be admitted that it is equally nutritious because of its “green color”. Green vegetables are extremely beneficial for health.
Health benefits of Kale Juice:
At first sight, kale does not appear to be palatable. Kale is sometimes referred to as the “powerhouse of nutrients”, but the juice of kale is far more beneficial than kale itself. Juicing kale is a much-preferred option to acquire its benefits because some nutrients are lost in the process of cooking. As mentioned, kale juice is highly nutritious, various health benefits of kale juice are as follows:
1) Boosts up energy:
Fresh kale juice is an ideal ingredient for boosting up the energy level of the individual. It is rich in B-complex vitamins which makes it able to drive out energy from the nutrients.
It also has iron and copper content which activates enzymes for the cell to use. The iron content also helps in delivering oxygen to cells which help in maintaining the metabolism of the cell.
One-quarter cup of kale juice provides up to 1 milligram of iron which is the daily recommended intake for men and women. It also provides 1055 microgram of copper which is the recommended daily intake.
2) Rich in antioxidants:
Kale is full of essential vitamins, minerals, protein, healthy fats, and other crucial nutritional components. But the most beneficial is the phytonutrients content of kale juice.
About 45 different antioxidant flavonoids are found in kale juice. Kale juice helps to fight against free radicals because of the presence of protective flavonoids. Because all these substances work together, kale juice has the characteristic to prevent cancer.
It also carotenoid content which makes it an essential ingredient for proper blood flow. The antioxidant content is responsible for reducing oxidative stress. This, in turn, helps to prevent the development of cancer.
3) Healthy for bones:
Kale juice is a rich source of vitamin C and Calcium which is very much required for bone health. As people age, they tend to lose the calcium content of the body and become weak.
The Vitamin C content helps to ensure the strengthening of the bones by inducing collagen production. Collagen thus helps in preventing the bones from any kind of damage. It helps in avoiding the joint pain which arouses due to vitamin C deficiency in the bones.
A quarter cup of kale juice can boost up to an 84.5-milligram intake of vitamin C in the body.
4) Rich source of iron:
Iron is an important nutrient required by the body.
The deficiency of iron can stop red blood cell production. Red blood cells are essential for the body as they aid in oxygen transfer. It is also rich in Vitamin A which is why it promotes the production of red blood cells. Lack of red blood cell can lead to anemia which causes fatigue and malnutrition.
Kale juice is a rich source of iron. It has more iron content than beef, therefore kale juice can provide the body with a lot of iron content. The iron content also proves beneficial as it helps in detoxifying the liver.
5) High dosage of vitamin K:
Most people are familiar to vitamin A, C, and E but they tend to forget about another essential vitamin which is vitamin K.
Vitamin K is required for coagulation of blood, signifying it helps the wounds to heal by stopping the bleeding. Vitamin K is also necessary for the body to maintain healthy bones and body tissues. Vitamin K also helps the body to deal with Alzheimer’s diseases.
Kale juice is an essential source of Vitamin K. Hence, this juice, if added to your diet, can be really beneficial for the health.
6) Reduces wrinkles:
Many may not know this but kale juice has a significant role in maintaining healthy skin. It is believed that kale juice has more advantages than broccoli for maintaining healthy and radiant skin.
Kale juice contains more antioxidants than green leafy vegetables. Hence, the antioxidant content of kale juice is very much essential to prevent wrinkles. They also help in slowing down the aging process.
The antioxidant content also helps in fighting against the free radicals which damage the skin. Therefore, kale juice can help to reduce the wrinkles of the skin.
7) Maintains skin health:
Due to the high antioxidant and vitamin content, kale juice is an essential ingredient that keeps the skin healthy.
The Vitamin A content of kale juice ensures the proper health of the skin. It also prevents a lot of skin diseases. It frees the skin of all diseases if it is consumed every night.
It also acts a very good cleanser for the skin. It detoxifies the inner body and promotes healthy and glowing skin. It plays an important role to maintain the glow of the skin.
8) Healthy hair elasticity:
Kale juice is rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acid. This combination is very rare.
The rare combination in Kale juice prevents the breakage of hair and increases the elasticity. It strengthens the roots of the hair and also makes the mane of hair thick.
The presence of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acid helps in preventing the follicular damage of hair.
9) Fights flakes:
Weak roots of the hair cause rough hair. Flakes are not at all good for hair. They decrease the quality of hair which may lead to frizzy, rough and dry hair.
Thus, drinking kale juice on a regular basis can help the hair to fight the unhealthy flakes on the scalp. It also helps to improve dry scalp by keeping it hydrated and moisturized.
10) Healthy for the heart:
Kale juice has Quercetin (antioxidant) content which protects the body from excess stress, reduces blood pressure and bad cholesterol from the body. Therefore, it offers healthy blood flow in the heart and also prevents the weakening of the walls of arteries.
It also contains bile acid sequestrants which help in controlling the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the body. This thus helps in maintaining the proper blood flow and prevents the hardening of the walls of arteries. The decent amount of bile acid sequestrants content in kale juice makes it ideal for maintaining a healthy heart.
The vitamin K content also promotes a healthy heart by preventing coagulation of blood and offering proper blood flow. It also prevents the stopping of blood flow in case of any injury or trauma.
11) Fights against inflammation:
Inflammation may be a cause or a symptom for any underlying medical condition which requires immediate attention.
Inflammation in the body is often a sign of autoimmune disorders. It may be a sign that the immune system is attacking the important tissues and cells of the body thereby being a hindrance to its functioning.
Kale juice can prove beneficial in killing all these inflammatory signs. Kale juice is rich in Omega 3 fatty acid which acts to prevent inflammation. These omega 3 fatty acids fight against the inflammation caused due to arthritis and autoimmune disorders. It can also help in fighting against asthma.
Final thoughts:
Kale juice may be bitter in taste but it is equally beneficial. Kale juice is more beneficial than the vegetable itself because of its high nutrient content. Kale juice is extremely beneficial for health and helps in keeping the skin and hair healthy.
It has high antioxidant content which helps in fighting against inflammations. It thus helps in curing a lot of diseases. Kale juice can also be mixed with other ingredients to sweeten it and then you can enjoy it.
If you wish to be benefitted by the nutritious content of kale juice, make sure to make it a part of your diet.
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