Keep your elderly loved-one’s health in check with kale

Kale has grown in popularity over the past couple of years and has become known as a bit of a super food as it is one of the most nutritionally rich vegetables around and is an excellent source of vitamins K, A and C. It is also virtually fat free and low in calories too.

The vegetable is also packed full of antioxidants that help counteract oxidative damage by free radicals in the body. Oxidative damage can be a driver of ageing and diseases, such as cancer.

Flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol are also found in kale and have powerful cardioprotective, blood pressure lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-depressant qualities.

We all understand the importance of the elderly eating well and we’d recommend introducing kale to your loved-one’s diet if possible. The leaves can be boiled, steamed or stir-fried, or used as a baby salad ingredient. You could even freeze it so it’s available to you all year round.

Kale was first popular in the UK in World War Two as part of the ‘Dig For Victory’ campaign. The vegetable was easy to grow and provided important nutrients, which many people were missing due to rationing.

If you or a loved-one has access to a garden, you could try growing your own. The vegetable is very hardy and grows in all soils and aspects. It can be harvested over many months and gives great colour to your dinner plate. Read all about the benefits of gardening for the elderly here.