Before that, many only knew of it’s use as a frilly green garnish on food platters that would go in the trash at the end of an entertaining evening. It’s amazing to me that it has taken so long for kale, a dark green leafy vegetable of the Brassica family, (cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, collard greens, kohlrabi, daikon and brussel sprouts are in the same family) to get the recognition it deserves....but maybe some of us could be OVERDOING it with kale?
The world now sees kale as a superfood, loaded with antioxidants such as Vitamin A, C, and K, loads of fiber, minerals, and having healing or prevention properties for certain cancers, liver and inflammatory disease to list a few. The antioxidants it provides in a mere cup is enough for several days worth of recommended intake of Vitamin K alone. And one cup also provides a good source of omega 3’s, which contribute to a heart healthy diet in addition to reducing inflammation associated with autoimmune disease, arthritis, and asthma. Kale is also great in a detox diet, as it cleanses the liver via it’s rich source of sulphur and chlorophyll. But could there be a down side to kale? Here are a few things to consider:
Kale is a cruciferous vegetable which, as I mentioned earlier is a rich source of sulphur. Some individuals have a sensitivity to sulphur/ sulphites and therefore should be cautious in the amount consumed. However, kale is also contains high levels of goitergens. Goitergens are naturally ocurring substances found in some foods which can contribute to a condition of an enlarged thyroid called goiter, hence how they got their name. Goitergens interfere with the uptake of iodine, a trace mineral needed for thyroid function.
A new client came to me with recent weight gain, fatigue, and just not feeling right. She had, in the past few months “become addicted to kale” and was consuming up to 3-4 bunches a day. What was happening was that the kale was preventing her body from absorbing iodine, and therefore her symptoms were due to a sluggish thyroid. Even the symptom of craving a food that is causing a histamine-like reaction is a normal response. Because she was predisposed to having thyroid problems, her prescription was to lay off the kale a bit for a while ( and other foods in this family), add kelp to the diet, and potassium iodine drops daily, and eventually add small amounts of goitergenic foods into the diet as tolerated... In this case, more of a good thing is not always better!
