As many of us already probably know, making kale and other cruciferous veggies part of our regular diet and consuming them two to three times per week is an amazing way to better our overall health.
When it comes to kale, the green cruciferous veggie, one cup of it supplies your body with pivotal vitamins like A, C, and K, as well as other nutrients like copper, calcium, fiber, potassium, and manganese.
Moreover, with every kale serving, you also enrich your body with 45 unique flavonoids that possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory advantages. Although other green leafy veggies are also amazing, kale is definitely the king.
And, to make things even better, kale becomes sweeter after winter frost, so this period is ideal to consume it. However, though you may not necessarily be keen for a raw kale salad in winter, what about a soothing bowl of warm and nutrient-rich kale soup?
Let’s check out the recipe below!
Homemade Energizing Kale Soup
For 4 servings, you’ll need:
1 onion, peeled and chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
5 cups of bone or chicken broth
1 carrot, diced
A cup of celery, diced
2 red potatoes, diced
3 cups of kale, rinsed, stems removed, and chopped finely
2 tsp of thyme, dried
2 tsp of sage, dried
Salt
Pepper
Prep:
Heat a tbsp of broth in a soup pot. Then, sauté the onion into the pot and stir all the time. Add the garlic and sauté for 60 more seconds.
Now, add the remaining broth, the carrots, and celery. Turn it on high heat. When it reaches boiling point, reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 more minutes.
Add the potatoes and cook until they tenderize, some 15 minutes.
Afterwards, add the kale and the remaining ingredients. Cook for 5 more minutes.
Extra Tip:
If you want to simmer a bit more for extra release of flavor and texture richness, add some more broth.
What Are the Best Health Benefits of Kale?
- Helps in the fight against cancer
Like many other cruciferous veggies, kale is also rich in anti-cancer substances, in this case, indole 3-carbinol and sulforaphane.
It has been found beneficial for at least 5 types of cancer, i.e. colon, ovary, breast, bladder, and prostate.
- Cleanses the body naturally
The sulfur compounds in kale were found beneficial during the phase 2 of toxin removal in the body, i.e. when the broken down toxins are expelled from our system.
And, by supporting the detox processes on a cellular level, kale helps minimize our exposure to toxins coming from our environment and food.
- Relieves arthritis
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, it can help to those dealing with chronic ache due to arthritis.
- Protects your cardiovascular health
Thanks to the omega 3s it contains, kale helps keep your heart health and lowers your risk of blood clots and strokes.
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