Getting Fat from Juicing Kale

We recently had a client who was trying hard to improve her health, so she was making and drinking plenty of fresh vegetable and fruit juices. However, after a while, she found that she was putting on weight instead of losing it, and was getting digestive issues such as stomach discomfort, bloating and gas. What was going wrong?

Kale is very popular at the moment, and with good reason. It is an excellent source of many vitamins and antioxidants- one cup contains 180 percent of the recommended daily dose of Vitamin A, 200 percent of Vitamin C, and 1,020 percent of Vitamin K. All three of these vitamins are antioxidants that help protect the body from certain types of cancer. Kale’s unusual amount of vitamin K in particular helps the body with blood clotting and bone health. Kale is rich in calcium and iron, and it contains a massive 45 different flavonoids, with a huge variety of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

However, it is often the case that anything that can have a powerful good effect on the body, if used incorrectly, can have a negative effect. Excessive use of kale, such as juicing it every day, could cause problems such as

• High levels of Vitamin K, which can increase the risk of blood clots forming in the body and causing strokes.
• Kale belongs to cruciferous family, which includes broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and bok choy. These vegetables are well-known for their cancer-prevention properties. However, they can also suppress the thyroid, causing low energy, weight gain and hair loss.
• Raw kale in particular can be hard on the digestive system, causing bloating, gas and other abdominal issues.

So Should We Avoid Kale?

In a word, no! It has many wonderful nutritional benefits. But just because something is excellent in moderate amounts, doesn’t always mean it is even better for everyone in higher doses.

There are two ways to avoid nutrition imbalances. One way is to have everything in moderation. Done correctly, juices can be fantastic, however keep in mind that they are highly concentrated, so don’t have them all the time, and have a variety of ingredients. An even better approach is to have a proper assessment by a good Brisbane naturopath, who can determine which foods are best for you and which ones you should avoid.