If you're following a specific diet, you know first-hand how hard it can be to know all the nutrients that the most common foods contain. It also might be hard to adjust your diet to your specific needs. For example, if you're suffering from acid reflux or GERD, you have to be careful about consuming too many acidic foods.
So you have to know whether your favorite foods are acidic and alkaline. For instance, is kale acidic?
Kale is a highly alkaline veggie, making it a wonderful addition to a low-acid diet. It also has alkalizing properties, so it can lower the acidity in your stomach, thus reducing the symptoms of acid reflux and GERD.
Furthermore, kale is a superfood loaded with nutrients and vitamins that help you stay healthy and prevent the development of many diseases. On top of that, it's delicious and can be easily added to any diet.
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What is the pH level of kale?
Kale has a high pH level of nearly 7. This makes it a very alkaline vegetable, suitable for a diet that's low in acidic foods. Kale is also alkaline-forming, helping to combat the symptoms of acid reflux and GERD. As a result, this veggie won't worsen your symptoms and may even help alleviate them if consumed regularly.
In addition to those benefits, kale is also packed with nutrients, which can help soothe your stomach and esophagus after eating acidic foods.
Furthermore, the pH level of kale depends on the method of preparation. Cooked and steamed kale has the highest pH level (even though the difference isn't drastic). However, it's also important to remember that cooking strips the vegetables of their nutrients.
So, make sure to cook kale as little as possible. For example, the best idea is to add raw kale to salads or smoothies. That way, you can still enjoy the alkalizing properties of kale as well as all the nutrients that this leafy green comes with.
Is kale healthy?
Kale is considered a superfood, loaded with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that most people don't get enough of it. First and foremost, it's very low in calories, containing only about 34 calories per one cup of raw kale.
Most of these calories come from carbohydrates, but kale also contains a lot of protein per calorie. Protein can help you feel full, thus preventing overeating on, for example, other acidic foods.
Furthermore, this green veggie provides you with approximately 200% of your daily need for vitamin A in just one serving. This high amount is what makes kale such an important superfood. Vitamin A contributes to normal vision, immunity, and reproduction, making it an important micronutrient to have in your diet.
What's more, it's a fat-soluble vitamin, so just one cup of kale can help you fill up on this vitamin as it won't get flushed out of your body instantly.
This leafy vegetable also packs in almost seven times more vitamin K than you need in a day, making it one of the best sources of this micronutrient in the world. This vitamin is essential for blood clotting, activating certain proteins that contribute to wound healing.
The form of vitamin K in kale can also help prevent osteoporosis and, along with other nutrients, protect your heart and blood vessels from damage.
Additionally, kale is rich in antioxidants that help flush out free radicals out of your body, preventing tissue and cell damage. Antioxidants also help prevent oxidative damage that is the lead cause of premature aging and other age-related diseases.
Therefore, considering how powerful the antioxidants in kale are, adding this green vegetable to your diet is a wonderful idea.
Kale is also much higher in vitamin C than other vegetables. Vitamin C helps boost your immunity, prevent scurvy, and speed up wound healing. It's also necessary for the synthesis of collagen, thus keeping your skin healthy and glowing.
As a result, vitamin C is included in many creams and beauty products, but loading up on it from natural sources is a much better and more effective way to reap the health benefits.
Is kale bad for acid reflux?
Since kale is alkaline and alkaline-forming, it's a great addition to a low-acid diet. It won't worsen any GERD and acid reflux symptoms and may even help alleviate them in the long run.
What's more, kale is comprised primarily of water which means that it not only helps you stay hydrated but also contributes to dilute the stomach acid, preventing it from rising up your esophagus and causing heartburn and other symptoms.
Furthermore, kale is a superfood loaded with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that can help you stay healthy. As a result, it's important to include it in your diet along with other leafy greens. Together they can help you control your pH levels and alkalize your stomach acid.
Therefore, eating kale has been proven to help soothe and even eliminate some of the symptoms of acid reflux and GERD.
Is cooked kale bad for acid reflux?
Cooked kale has a slightly higher pH level than raw kale. This is because once cooked, the leaves release the small amount of acid they have, further alkalizing the vegetable. Even though the difference is small, it's good to know if you're strictly monitoring your intake of acidic foods. However, both raw and cooked kale are alkaline, so safe to consume by anyone.
Nevertheless, although cooked kale is slightly more alkaline, the process of cooking causes the loss of many nutrients and minerals. Hence, to reap the most health benefits, it's best to consume raw kale or lightly steamed. It can also be added to smoothies and salads, increasing their nutritional content.
Kale is an alkaline-forming superfood that can help you load up on essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals without acidifying your body. This makes it not only an incredibly healthy veggie but also one that can be safely incorporated in a low-acid, GERD- and acid reflux-friendly diet. Plus, if prepared properly with healthy herbs and spices, it makes for a delicious meal.
Don't know what to drink? Check out these articles: 20 Most and Least Acidic Juices and 20+ Alcoholic Drinks Ranked by Acidity Level