Is Kale Good For You?

Kale: A Hidden Superfood

Few foods commonly available at the produce stand are as beneficial to your health as kale. And yet, sadly, it is more commonly found dressing up something not as healthy in a display case as a decoration than on someone’s plate where it belongs.

  • Kale is a form of cabbage that evaded domestication, sharing many of the same traits as wilder plant relatives, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts
  • The nutritional density of kale is virtually unparalleled among green leafy vegetables. It has a 3:1 carbohydrate-to-protein ratio, which is an exceptionally high amount of protein for any vegetable, and one reason why it has recently been acclaimed as the “new beef”
  • Like meat, kale contains all 9 essential amino acids needed to form the proteins within the human body, plus, 9 other non-essential ones for a total of 18. It also contains more omega-3 than omega-6, which is almost unheard of in nature

Its nutritional density, in fact, is virtually unparalleled among green leafy vegetables. Consider too that during World War II, with rationing in full effect, the U.K. encouraged the backyard cultivation of this hearty, easy to grow plant for the Dig for Victory campaign that likely saved many from sickness and starvation. Over a half century later, kale’s status as a former cultural nutritional hero has faded into near oblivion… until now, we hope!

Kale Contains ALL the Essential Amino Acids and 9 Non-Essential Ones

You will notice that one cup of raw kale contains less than 1 gram of fat (0.3 grams to be exact), 2 grams of protein, and subtracting the 1 gram of fiber from the total carbohydrate content (7), an effective carb content of 6 grams per serving, which is almost entirely complex carbohydrate, i.e. “starch.” This means it has a 3:1 carbohydrate-to-protein ratio—an exceptionally high amount of protein for any vegetable

Indeed, like meat, kale contains all 9 essential amino acids needed to form the proteins within the human body: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine – plus, 9 other non-essential ones for a total of 18.

Kale Is an Omega-3 Diamond in the Rough

While it is considered a “fat-free” vegetable, it does contain biologically significant quantities of essential fatty acids – you know, the ones your body is not designed to create and must get from the things we eat or suffer dire consequences.

In fact, you will notice it contains more omega-3 than omega-6, which is almost unheard of in nature. It is a general rule that you will find a 40:1 or higher ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 found in most grains, seeds, nuts and beans. Peanuts, for instance, have 1,800 times higher omega-6 fat levels than omega-3,1 which (taken in isolation) is a pro-inflammatory and unhealthy ratio. Kale, therefore, is a superstar as far as essential fatty acids go, and especially considering that all of its naturally-occurring fat-soluble antioxidants protect these fragile unsaturated fats from oxidizing.

Kale’s Vitamin Content Also More Pays for Itself Many Times Over.

For more info on the myriad of health benefits of kale, see:

Dr. Mercola: Hidden Superfood: The Secret Life of Kale – Nov 06, 2013

Dr. Mercola: What Is Kale Good For?

Is Kale Good For My Blood Type?

In a word: Yes. Kale is one of the only foods that is listed as highly beneficial (medicinal) for every single blood type variant:

A Secretor:  BENEFICIAL: Contains component which positively influences known disease susceptibility.
A Non Secretor:  BENEFICIAL: Contains component which positively influences known disease susceptibility.

B Secretor:  BENEFICIAL
B Non Secretor:  BENEFICIAL

  • This food is Diabetes SUPERBENEFICIAL for Type B

AB Secretor:  BENEFICIAL: Contains component which positively influences known disease susceptibility.
AB Non Secretor:  BENEFICIAL: Contains component which positively influences known disease susceptibility.

  • This food is Cancer SUPERBENEFICIAL for Type AB

O Secretor:  BENEFICIAL: Contains component which positively influences known disease susceptibility.
O Non Secretor:  BENEFICIAL: Contains component which positively influences known disease susceptibility.

  • This food is Cancer SUPERBENEFICIAL for Type O. This food is Diabetes SUPERBENEFICIAL for Type O