Kale for Health

It's a sorry fact of life, but most people don't even know what kale is.

It blows my mind, but just about every time I buy a bag of this mineral and vitamin-rich dark green leafy vegetable, the check-out person at the register asks, "What is this stuff?"

"It's kale," I explain, "and it's really good for you."

Most of the folks at the register respond to that comment with the same look they reserve for customers with dirty fingernails who are picking their nose.

Seriously, kale is one of the best vegetables you can eat as preventative medicine.

Did you know that kale contains more carotenoids (anticancer agents) than any other green vegetable?

Well, it does.

You will want to eat kale both raw and cooked. Some of the carotenoids are destroyed during heating, but cooking also makes more carotene available for bodily use.

Even a paltry half cup of kale a day will give you cancer-blocking benefits.

I like my kale in salads and in super green smoothies.

Others like their kale cooked. Here are two healthy kale recipes, courtesy of Shelley...

Cut one bunch of kale into bite-sized pieces. Saute 1/2 tablespoon (or as much as you like) of minced garlic in a bit of oil (I use peanut or olive). Add kale and stir fry until it turns bright green. Add one or two tablespoons of water and some powdered veggie broth. I like Vegeta brand. If you can't find Vegeta, make a small amount (1/4 cup) of veggie broth and pour over kale. Mix well. Cover the pot and steam until kale is done to your taste.

And the second cooked kale recipe...

Saute one onion and one half to one tablespoon of garlic. Add a small can of diced tomatoes with their juice. Add cajun seasoning like Zatarain's to taste. Add one bunch of diced kale and cook until done to taste. This is really good served over rice. The longer you cook the onion, the sweeter it will become and the better the tomato sauce is.

Personally, I like to have plenty of raw kale in my diet because the calcium content is so high, but I prefer it in juice rather than having to eat it.

So try juicing a big handful with celery, apple, zucchini, and a carrot. Fantastic!

Did I mention that kale is cheap?

I didn't, did I?

Well, it is.

At our local supermarket, I regularly buy a basketball-sized portion of this wonderful vegetable for 92 cents or less.

Kale may not be the tastiest veggie on earth, but it's one of the healthiest, so give it a try.

Finally, if you have thoughts about kale or a favorite kale recipe you'd like to share, please do so my clicking on the comment link below.

Chet Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com