Veggie Up: Kale Versus Spinach

March 29, 2012 at 6:07 pm | Posted in Diet, tips, Weight Loss | Leave a comment
Tags: diet, fitness, fitness health, kale, kale vs. spinach, nutrition, personal health, personal nutrition, spinach, veggetables, which vegetable

 

By Rose

Did you know that kale may help protect you from cancer and lower your cholesterol? In fact, it’s arguably one of the healthiest veggies on the planet. Not only are they nutritious, they’re also pretty delicious! Who would’ve thunk?

According to WebMD, Kale provides the following vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and nutritious content all for a low calorie count of 36 calories per cup:

One cup of kale contains 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and 15% of the daily requirement of calcium and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), 40% of magnesium, 180% of vitamin A, 200% of vitamin C, and 1,020% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus.

Kale’s health benefits are primarily linked to the high concentration and excellent source of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and K — and sulphur-containing phytonutrients.

Carotenoids and flavonoids are the specific types of antioxidants associated with many of the anti-cancer health benefits. Kale is also rich in the eye-health promoting lutein and zeaxanthin compounds.

Beyond antioxidants, the fiber content of cruciferous kale binds bile acids and helps lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease, especially when kale is cooked instead of raw.

Read the rest of this article at HerFitnessBlog