Just like people, all vegetables are created equal but still some are more power-packed than others. Dark leafy greens are more beneficial to man than other types of vegetables since they constitute those nutritional elements in abundance that are very critical to a person’s well-being. Nutritionist advice that the darker the appearances of a vegetable, the higher the amount of antioxidants like magnesium it contains. Kale is one such miracle vegetable. Though all green leafy vegetables are excellent, kale is especially nutrient dense; it tops Dr. Fuhrman’s nutrient dense chart along with collards. Kale can help in improving vision, metabolism, immune system and elimination of free radicals and preventing osteoporosis respectively.
In view of the fact that kale and other greens constitute vital elements, medical doctors recommend aging women to take them in plenty for they help to counteract symptoms brought about by menopause. Menopause is a natural process that’s triggered by approaching old age. During this stage, the body is unable to produce sufficient hormones to keep up with its ability to reproduce. As a result of this inadequacy, women experience hormonal imbalance which often leads to symptoms like hot flashes, reduced menstruation, weight gain, lack of sleep and osteoporosis.
Kale and Menopause – Benefits of eating dark leafy greens for women in menopause phase
Since menopause is a nature instigated process, the perfect approach to countering it’s obvious effects is rooted in a woman’s capacity to take balanced diet with greens constituting the large portion. The benefits of eating dark leafy greens are identified through their ability to counter symptoms of menopause as illustrated below:
- Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a medical condition that involves thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density. Although this condition may be devoid of early signs, the patient ends up suffering from excruciating pain upon its materialization. Vitamin K, which is one of the elements found in Kale, is the appropriate solution to reversing this condition. Vitamin E helps to reduce free radicals which are responsible for causing dread ailments like different forms of cancer. Also, free radicals can cause the bones to become weak and painful nightmare to women of old age. In addition to that, almost all of the dark leafy greens including kale contain Magnesium, and this mineral is known to facilitate the absorption and transportation of calcium to different body parts. Calcium is a primary element in the development of strong yet flexible bones.
- Infections
During menopause, a woman’s body fails to produce adequate estrogen to help vaginal lining get moist. As a result of the dryness, opportunistic infections like yeast thrive causing the affected woman to feel a burning sensation especially when urinating. Fortunately, dark leafy greens contain vitamin C which helps enhance the body’s immune system. When the body’s immunity improves, opportunistic infections are kept at bay because the defense system is all alert to take action against preying pathogens.
- Hot flashes
As a result of hormonal imbalance, menopause causes women to experience hot flashes which are often characterized by sessions of high temperatures than the body finds optimal. Hot flashes are a source of discomfort and the main cause of night sweats. To manage this problem, doctors recommended aging women to eat substantial amounts of kale again because of it being Magnesium rich. Magnesium has the capacity to balance the body’s hormonal requirements. Because of that, estrogen and progesterone levels get enhanced reducing the intensity of the hot flashes.
- Weight gain
At some stage in menopause, women gain weight at a faster rate than they are able to manage. And that is why, for most women, weight gain and menopause seems inseparable. If not checked, this situation can lead to obesity or other unhealthy conditions like cardiovascular ailments. However, with dark leafy greens, you don’t have much to worry about. One thing is that they, while overflowing with nutrition, are still very low in calories. And the other thing is their Magnesium content. As an element, Magnesium has been established to help metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. It’s also identified as a key element in synthesizing of important hormones like cortisone and testosterone to produce energy that keeps the body active. They also are rich in Vitamin B, which assists in improving metabolism. When the two elements are combined, the body gets power to breakdown excess carbohydrates and fats before they can be stored as cell fat. That ability helps the body to remain healthy and youthful in nature.
I am sure you would be convinced by now to include a generous portion of greens in your daily diet; however, if you are wondering how to go about that, then let me tell you that there are many ways to do so. You can boil or steam them and have then in lunch and dinner, or you can even take them raw. Raw? Yes, in the form of green smoothies. And eaten in that form, kale and other greens would supply your body with much more nutrients than a cooked version would be ever able to provide. Raw kale contains generous quantities of anti-oxidants and anti-cancer nutrients along with beaucoup chlorophyll, calcium, manganese, and B-vitamins. Here is my favorite recipe for green smoothie. You can take it anytime of the day, but it serves as an excellent breakfast and evening snack.
Kris’s favorite Green Smoothie recipe
Ingredients
- 2 bananas
- 1 peach
- 1 cup freshly squeezed grapefruit or orange juice
- 4-5 leaves of kale
- 3-4 tablespoons Parsley
- 3-4 tablespoons Cilantro
- 3-4 tablespoons Mint leaves
Directions
Add all the ingredients to a blender. Blend for 20-25 seconds, until everything has perfectly blended, and you are ready to go. To give your body the best is that simple.
Kale and menopause – Conclusion
Kale and other greens constitute numerous benefits that women should strive to get way before menopause come calling. It’s important for women to recognize that; by dealing with a problem long before it appears, you are actually building a strong foundation to forever prevent it from taking control of your wellbeing. In that case, you must make dark leafy greens your number one selections or wait to deal with consequences that manifest later in life.