Honestly, even if you gave us a podcast with unlimited time, we wouldn’t be able to shut up about leafy greens. They’re packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and so many other things your body craves. What’s more? They totally match your St. Patty’s Day look.
Kale
Kale is bananas. Not literally. But kind of. According to Healthline, “one cup (67 grams) of raw kale packs 684% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin K, 206% of the DV for vitamin A and 134% of the DV for vitamin C”.
As with anything, to get the most out of this leafy green, it’s best to eat it raw. Pro tip: if you “massage” your raw kale leaves (yes seriously) it helps make the leaves less tough and in turn makes the kale taste less bitter and makes it easier to digest. To do it, simply drizzle your kale with a bit of extra virgin olive oil and sea salt, then rub the kale leaves through both hands until you notice them start to soften up. It usually only takes about a minute!
Spinach
People can’t stop talking about spinach. It’s so super powerful that it was even recently reported that scientists are working to make spinach send emails (?!). But aside from its ability to allegedly circle back to Kendra, AND improve athletic performance, it also is packed with great nutrients we know are good for you like folate (great for red blood cell production), Vitamins K, A, and even manganese.
Did we mention this veggie is particularly great for pregnant women? When it comes to spinach, it’s all about that folate
Collard Greens
Collard green leaves are thick, packed with vitamins A, B9 (again, hi folate!), C, and K. As a matter of fact, just one cup of collard greens contains 1,045% of your daily value for Vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting, decreases the risk of hip fractures, and more.
Arugula
Meet my personal favorite, arugula. This leafy green has small leaves, but they pack a flavorful punch, with tons of Vitamin A and carotenoids, plus folate and vitamin K.
Arugula has a unique taste and is great as a base for salads, on pizza, or even in pesto!
Cabbage
This veggie actually comes in a few colors like green, white, and purple, and is filled with properties that have been shown to decrease the risk of cancer. We’re totally on board with that. An added bonus? It’s super versatile. You can eat it cooked or raw, and use it for things like coleslaw or stir fry.
Swiss Chard
Filled with Vitamins A, C, and K, plus potassium, manganese, and more, swiss chard has tons of awesome benefits. Studies have shown that it may even help balance blood sugar levels, plus it’s a dynamite addition to a salad or saute.
Happy St Patrick’s day, what’s your favorite leafy green? Let us know in the comments!
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