Why kale is bad

Step away from that salad. Hate to break it to you, health food lovers, but recent studies are suggesting that kale may actually be bad for you. The upshot is that rawness might be dangerous when it comes to kale, long a darling of the health food set. The human body cannot absorb much chlorophyll, but chlorophyll binds to these carcinogens and prevents the body from absorbing them.

In this way, kale may limit the risk of cancer, and pairing a chargrilled steak with green vegetables may help reduce the negative impact. Antioxidants : The vitamin C, beta carotene , selenium , and other antioxidants in kale may help prevent cancer. Studies have not found that supplements have the same effect, but people who have a high intake of fruits and vegetables appear to have a lower risk of developing various cancers. This may be due to the antioxidants these foods contain.

Fiber : A high consumption of fiber may help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer , according to a study from Find out here. Calcium and phosphorus are crucial for healthy bone formation. Some research has suggested that a high intake of vitamin K may help reduce the risk of bone fractures. Get some more tips on increasing bone density. Kale is high in fiber and water, both of which help prevent constipation and promote regularity and a healthy digestive tract.

Which foods can boost digestion? Kale is a good source of beta-carotene, the carotenoid that the body converts into vitamin A as it needs it. Beta-carotene and vitamin A are necessary for the growth and maintenance of all body tissues, including the skin and hair.

The body uses vitamin C to build and maintain collagen , a protein that provides structure for skin, hair, and bones. Vitamin C is also present in kale. Which other foods can boost hair growth? Kale contains lutein and zeaxanthin , an antioxidant combination that may help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration. Vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and zinc also play a role in eye health. All of these are present in kale. For more tips on what to eat for eye health, click here.

The table below shows the amount of each nutrient in a cup of boiled kale, weighing around grams g , without added salt. It also shows how much an adult needs of each nutrient, according to the — Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Find out more about the importance of spinach , which is another green, leafy vegetable.

Kale is a crisp and hearty vegetable, with a hint of earthiness. It contains something called progoitrin, which can interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis and essentially block the iodine your thyroid needs to function. This can result in fluctuating blood sugar levels and weight. However, it's probably not something to worry about as you would have to eat an excessive amount of raw kale to experience these negative effects — a lot more then you're likely to have in one sitting.

If you're unsure, or you have an underactive thyroid hypothyroidism already, ask your doctor or a dietitian. Read more : Bubble tea is a whole lot worse for you than regular tea. Here's why. If you regularly eat kale, it might also be a good idea to make sure you wash it thoroughly. As such, we are retracting our characterization of him as a non-scientist.

Hubbard also said he has been running other experiments that weren't mentioned in the Craftsmanship article — experiments that shed more light on the kale-thallium poisoning hypothesis. If Hubbard does publish his findings on kale and low-level thallium poisoning in peer-reviewed journals, we will be happy to reexamine the issue. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower through understanding.

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The viral idea that kale is bad for you is based on incredibly bad science. Share this story Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share All sharing options Share All sharing options for: The viral idea that kale is bad for you is based on incredibly bad science. Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. Is kale really a dangerous vegetable? Craftsmanship Magazine Back in , according to the profile, Hubbard was running a study on detoxing at the Preventive Medical Center of Marin, and noticed that many of his 20 participants' urine samples had higher than normal levels of the heavy metal thallium.

Instead, the Craftsmanship article describes him doing this: Whenever the clinic would send him someone with the kind of chronic problems associated with thallium, or any other complaints that were hard to pin down, Hubbard would scribble kale on a little note-card and turn it face-down on his desk.

Experts are extremely skeptical that one type of food can explain a vast array of health problems The approach outlined here has obvious flaws. So: Is kale really a health hazard? Delivered Fridays. Thanks for signing up!

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