There are many kale benefits for health. Seasy to find in the market dith This affordable price contains a variety of essential vitamins and minerals that too bad to miss.
So far, most people only know kale as a vegetable that can cause drowsiness. In fact, the content of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and antioxidant compounds in kale can provide many health benefits.
Don't underestimate the benefits of kale
Just like other green leafy vegetables, kale has many health benefits. Here are some of them:
1. Keeping eye health
Consumption of kale can help maintain eye health. This is because the content of beta carotene which is quite high in kale plays a role in protecting eye cells from damage. In addition, beta-carotene is a raw material for vitamin A in the body.
Vitamin A plays an important role in maintaining the clarity of the cornea of the eye. This vitamin is also an important component in the formation of rhodopsin, which is an eye protein that functions for visual acuity in low light.
2. Increase body immunity
Vitamins A and C in kale are also able to increase the body's immunity. Both of these vitamins are known to be involved in the activation of white blood cells that fight infection. In addition, the antioxidant activity of vitamins A and C can also protect immune cells from free radical damage.
3. Fight free radicals
Apart from vitamin A and vitamin C, kale also contains various plant compounds with antioxidant activity, such as flavonoids, palmitic acid, and phytol.
Antioxidants are needed by the body to ward off free radicals that can cause damage to DNA, cells, tissues, and even organs. If left unchecked, excess free radicals in the body can trigger a variety of serious diseases, such as diabetes and cancer.
4. Regulate fluid balance
Adults need about 3,500–4,700 mg of potassium per day. To fulfill this, you need to eat foods that contain potassium, such as kale.
Potassium is needed by the body for various functions. One of them is to help regulate the balance of body fluids. In addition, kale is also a vegetable with a high water content, even more than 90%.
5. Lowering blood pressure
Kangkung can be one of the foods to beat high blood pressure. This one benefit of kale is obtained from its potassium content which is able to regulate and lower blood pressure.
However, the potassium content in kale is not high, so you need to eat other high-potassium foods to meet your daily potassium needs. Examples are beets, sweet potatoes, potatoes, avocados, spinach, kale, and bananas.
That's the benefits of kale that you can get by consuming it regularly. This vegetable can be processed in various ways, such as stir-fried, boiled, or mixed into the vegetable and fruit juices that you like.
Before processing kale, don't forget to wash it with running water so that dirt or pesticides and attached bacteria can be washed away by the water.
Although the benefits of kale are many, eating a variety of healthy foods is a better choice. So, consume kale with other nutritious foods, so that your daily nutritional needs are met properly. If necessary, consult a doctor to determine your daily nutritional needs.