Kale is known as a low-calorie food that packs in the protein, vitamins A, C and K as well as minerals, including potassium, calcium, thiamin, riboflavin and iron.Kale has one of the highest levels of antioxidants of any plant you can eat and can help reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol and detox the liver.Researchers at Oregon State University found a link between high intakes of cruciferous vegetables such as kale, and hypothyroidism—an insufficient thyroid hormone.People with no thyroid challenges who eat several servings of kale a week shouldn't have issues, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.The antioxidant activity that occurs in carotenoids works to lower inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, according to NPR's Your Health. .
Nutrition to Help Your Liver
PubMed.gov: “Fruit Fiber Consumption Specifically Improves Liver Health Status in Obese Subjects under Energy Restriction.”.Mayo Clinic: Nutrition and Healthy Eating: “Chart of High-Fiber Foods,” “Do Detox Diets Offer Any Health Benefits?”.World Journal of Gastroenterology: “Oily Fish, Coffee and Walnuts: Dietary Treatment for nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.”.International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine: “The Effect of Green Tea Intake On Risk of Liver Disease: A Meta Analysis.”. .
6 Kale Health Benefits That Will Help You Live Longer And Live Well
Our love for the versatile dark, leafy green kale is no secret as it's grown in popularity over the past years and has blossomed into a superfood due to its key nutrients.Known as “the queen of greens,” adding the vegetable to your diet — in the form of salads, soups, stews, stir-fries, and smoothies — can boost your lifespan by anything from protecting against cancer to treating arthritis.The super-nutritious veggie contains plenty of phytonutrients, such as quercetin, which helps combat inflammation and prevent arterial plaque formation, and sulforaphane, a cancer-fighting compound.According to Organic Authority, a one-cup serving of cooked kale provides about 10 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of omega-3 fatty acids that help fight these inflammatory diseases.Detoxes with kale are specifically designed to make sure the liver is kept clean of impurities, says MindBodyGreen, and to supply it with healthy nutrients that it needs to function properly.Kale contains lutein and zeaxanthin compounds, carotenoids, which act like sunglass filters and help prevent damage to the eyes from excessive exposure to ultraviolent light, according to Life Extension Magazine.A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found people with a history of eating lutein-rich foods like kale had a 22 percent lower risk of cataracts, which would otherwise have been severe enough to require extraction.Vitamin K is needed to make the "specialized fats called sphingolipids that create the structure of our brain cells, and it promotes brain cells being more resilient by influencing gene expression," wrote Dr. Drew Ramsey, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, in a blog post in The Huffington Post. .
Kale Detox Salad w/ Pesto
Although, I feel like once it hits the second week, we all stop talking about our resolutions and whatnot.Detoxing was in vogue a few year ago, but now it’s kind of lost its steam as body positivity has come more into the light.However, we CAN make it easier for our bodies by eating the nutrients it needs for these detoxifying processes to happen – i.e. foods that aid in digestion and elimination, foods that promote liver health, etc.I love talking about chlorophyll as a detoxifying agent because it’s one of the best things you can have for your liver.It’s got roasted potatoes and carrots, brown rice for fiber, chickpeas (of course), and lacinato kale – all topped with a deliciously chloro-filled (see what I did there!?).4.96 from 25 votes Print Kale Detox Salad w/ Pesto This kale detox salad is the perfect meal for a cleanse, made with whole, real ingredients.Made with a mouthwatering carrot top pesto and roasted vegetables.Juice from 1/2 a Lemon Roasted Veg 1 Lb Fingerling Potatoes cut into rounds.Few Sprinkles of Dried Thyme The Rest of the Salad A Few Handfuls Lacinato Kale Sliced Thin.Sesame Seeds if desired Instructions Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Prep vegetables - wash and dry carrots and potatoes.Add in olive oil and spices, and mix well until everything is evenly coated.This food processor is great and I use it in my kitchen multiple times a week.
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If You Have Chronic Liver Disease, Kale Is THE Super Food for Your
For the past few years, kale has transitioned from being a decorative adornment on the side of our plates to being a nutrition star in a variety of meals.Hailing from the cabbage family, which also includes broccoli, cauliflower and collard greens, kale is an excellent dietary choice for those with chronic liver concerns.This heartily textured green may be tough to chew when raw, but kale harbors a long list of health benefits.Because of its veritable superfood powers, kale is now fried or baked into chips, the basis of healthy salads, blended in smoothies and included in sautéed vegetables.According to Chinese researchers who published their findings in a 2009 review in the journal, Nature, the isothiocyanates found in kale were observed to reduce the activation of carcinogens.In addition, each cup of cooked kale contains 2.6 grams of dietary fiber, a nutrient that helps reduce hunger and aids in weight control.Although kale is clearly a super healthy food, it’s high iron content may be disconcerting to some individuals with advanced liver disease.Doctors may request that their patients with above-average iron levels in their body (common with cirrhosis) eat fewer iron-rich foods like red meat and iron-fortified cereal. .
15 Best Foods for Detoxing Your Body
You’ll be amazed to learn that many of your favorite foods also cleanse the body’s detoxification organs like the liver, intestines, kidneys and skin, preventing harmful toxic buildup.Help ward off the harmful effects of pollution, food additives, second-hand smoke and other toxins with delicious fruits, vegetables, nuts, oils and beans.Because apples are high in pectin, a type of fiber that binds to cholesterol and heavy metals in the body, they help eliminate toxic build up and to cleanse the intestines.We rarely think of avocados as a cleansing food but these nutritional powerhouses lower cholesterol and dilate blood vessels while blocking artery-destroying toxicity.Avocados contain a nutrient called glutathione, which blocks at least thirty different carcinogens while helping the liver detoxify synthetic chemicals.Time to whip up some delicious borscht soup since its main ingredient, beets, contain a unique mixture of natural plant compounds that make them superb blood purifiers and liver cleansers.They also have antiviral properties and help to block toxins from crossing the blood-brain barrier to gain access to the delicate brain.Cleanse your body from harmful bacteria and viruses that may be lingering in your urinary tract with cranberries since they contain antibiotic and antiviral substances.Add a ruby red grapefruit to your breakfast to benefit from pectin fiber that binds to cholesterol, thereby cleansing the blood.Steam some kale to benefit from its powerful anti-cancer and antioxidant compounds that help cleanse the body of harmful substances.Like cabbage, kale helps neutralize compounds found in cigarette smoke and strengthens liver cleansing.Add a handful of cooked beans to your next meal since they loaded with fiber that helps lower cholesterol, cleanses the intestines and regulates blood sugar levels.Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice (not the bottled variety) to pure water to support your cleansing efforts on a daily basis.If you haven’t tried watercress add this delicious green to your next sandwich since it increases detoxification enzymes and acts on cancer cells in the body.Eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables assists with detoxifying harmful substances from your body. .
Hold the Kale! Juicing May Be Bad for Your Health
Grapefruit juice, for instance, can interact with certain drugs that lower cholesterol, like Lipitor (atorvastatin); medication that lowers blood pressure, like Procardia (nifedipine); corticosteroids like Entocort (budesonide); and antihistamines like Allegra (fexofednadine), says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).In addition, as the Cleveland Clinic points out, consuming too much vitamin K at one time can counteract blood thinners like warfarin.That said, a study published in March 2016 in the journal Medicine concluded that there’s no evidence to suggest you should forgo vitamin K–rich foods while taking these meds.For instance, before starting to drink green juice daily, talk to your doctor to see if you’re on the correct dose of medication or if any necessary adjustments need to be made.On the other hand, switching out a glass of juice with a naturally calorie-free beverage, like water, black coffee, or tea, decreased that risk by up to 10 percent.If you’ve been told you have type 2 diabetes, eat whole fruit in moderation instead of drinking juice, advises Carol Koprowski, PhD, RD, assistant professor of clinical research in preventive medicine at Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.For fruit, fresh, frozen, or canned varieties without added sugars are all great options, says the American Diabetes Association.Fruits and veggies are naturally rich sources of potassium, which is usually a good thing — the mineral plays a key role in blood pressure regulation, according to the American Heart Association.If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), that function doesn’t work as well, and potassium can build up in your blood.As such, you’ll have to limit your potassium intake, as too much of the mineral can cause dangerous side effects, including an irregular heartbeat or heart attack, according to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).For anyone who has CKD and has experienced weakness, numbness, or tingling — signs of potassium overload — call your doctor immediately, advises Judy D.
Simon, RD, a clinical dietitian at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.While cold-pressed juice might taste the freshest, it’s not pasteurized, and it may increase the risk of food poisoning, the FDA warns.Typically, people with healthy immune systems are fine, but those who are compromised, such as pregnant women, children, and older adults, are at a greater risk.Compared with homemade or ready-to-made varieties, pre-bottled cold-pressed juice poses a bigger risk for food poisoning because microbes have more time to multiply.Yet if you’re making your own juice at home, you still need to take proper food safety measures, including washing your hands and the produce during prep, to reduce the risk of illness, says Kelly Johnston, RDN, a health coach with Parsley Health in New York City.Furthermore, a juice alone won’t deliver the nutrients needed to stabilize your blood sugar and give you the sustaining energy necessary to make it through the day, she adds.The addition of fat slows digestion, enhancing satiation, while protein helps balance your blood sugar.That’s because juice removes the pulp — or fiber — necessary to keep your colon in good working order, reduce heart disease risk, lower cholesterol, and help improve blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.Eating them can cause a spike in blood sugar that subsequently takes a dive, resulting in an energy dip, says Johnston.The macronutrient preserves and builds lean body mass, which helps keep you healthy and even burns calories, Youdim explains.In that event, use lemon and ginger to add a hint of sweetness to green juice — but try to avoid larger amounts of fruit, which are higher in calories and sugar compared with veggies.Bottom line: “If you want to live a healthy life and prevent chronic diseases without spending a fortune, eat whole vegetables and grains, not ‘detox’ [products],” says Youdim. .
The 8 Best Foods to Detox Your Body
After spending two weeks away, I am missing my routine and looking forward to stepping back into my healthy habits.In today's post, I'm sharing 8 of my absolute favorite foods to detox your body and giving you a few recipes and tips to help you along the way.The great thing about almonds is they're fairly easy to add into your diet with some simple swaps.Soluble pectic fiber (which is found in apples) soaks up toxins in the body and helps move them easily through the intestines.), which means they are absorbed slowly and don’t cause spikes in blood sugar which can affect your mood, hunger levels, energy, etc.Apple cider vinegar (ACV) can help balance your internal pH.This balancing act aids in detoxification as it helps your body run at a more optimal level.Beets can be a little intimidating to work with when it comes to cooking – most people just roast them or boil them and then toss them into salads.I love those options, but there are so many other ways you can use beets – I add them to smoothies, you can make soup, you can spiralize them into noodles and more!Ginger also improves detoxification by speeding up the movement of food through the intestines and reducing inflammation in the body.This little fruit stimulates the release of enzymes and helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form that can be easily excreted from the body.Lemon water is wonderful in the mornings as it contains alkaline-forming compounds which help to balance our pH.I know that kale has gotten TONS of buzz for being a superfood and some people feel like it's more than it's cracked up to be, but this wondrous green plant has some seriously incredible health benefits.Like many of the other foods on this list, kale is high in anti-cancer chemicals and antioxidants, both of which help cleanse the body of harmful toxins.Kale is also packed with tons of other vitamins and minerals that help promote detoxification.If you haven't heard of (or used) turmeric before, it's a spice often found in Indian and Middle Eastern dishes and does wonders in the detoxification process.Turmeric has long been known to have powerful medicinal properties due to its high content of nutrients, anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.Curcumin is a phytochemical that been linked to a decreasing risk of many diseases like cancer and cystic fibrosis, as well as chronic conditions like IBS and Crohn's.Curcumin also decreases inflammation, improves liver function AND boosts immunity.When you're thinking about detox, it's important to remember that not all bodies are created equal and it depends on where you fall on the spectrum of health.start drinking a glass of lemon water as soon as you wake up in the morning make breakfast a detox smoothie with as many of the foods listed above as you can drink ginger, lemon or turmeric tea throughout the day remove dairy from your diet completely and switch all milk to homemade almond milk (it's so easy to make!). .
Liver Detox Smoothie
Nutritious liver detox smoothie with apples, spinach, banana, carrot, parsley, turmeric, lemon, walnuts, and hemp protein powder.We typically don’t think about each of our organs when we’re sitting down to a meal with family, are going out for a night on the town, or simply making day-to-day food choices.It’s easy to overlook the parts of our body that aren’t immediately obvious, but the liver serves some pretty important functions.Storing vitamins, minerals and glycogen, removing toxins from your bloodstream, producing bile to digest fat and break down hormones, balancing protein, fat and sugar in the bloodstream, and eliminating old red blood cells are just a few of its many functions.In this sense you can see the importance of taking a load off your liver, throwing it a metaphorical bone to help it do its job more efficiently so that your overall health is in tip top shape.Foods like the ones you see in this smoothie recipe will help you get rid of toxins and will nourish your organs so that they aren’t overly taxed.The powder blends easily in smoothies and can also be incorporated baked goods, pancake batter, and/or oatmeal.Apples: Contain a good source of pectin, which is necessary for the body to cleanse and release toxins from the digestive tract.Walnuts are best consumed when liquified to make them easier for your body to digest, so adding them to a smoothie is quite brilliant!Parsley: Contains a high concentration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, chlorophyll and volatile oils, all of which support healthy liver function.Lemon: High in vitamin C, which helps the body break down toxic materials into substances that can be absorbed by water.Spinach: Extremely high in chlorophyll, leafy greens soak up environmental toxins from the bloodstream.More liver cleanse foods that I didn’t include in this smoothie are papaya, beets, artichoke, asparagus, kale, and Brussels sprouts, cabbage, lime, avocados, green tea, grapefruit, and garlic.Feel free to play with your smoothie ingredients and perhaps consider adding papaya, beets, avocado, kale, and/or grapefruit.Pour it in a pretty glass, sip it out of a fancy straw and feel your liver (and the rest of your body) thanking you for the vacation. .
