Not many people know about the extremely important health benefits of kale. Kale is a leafy green vegetable that is a descendent of wild cabbage. It is believed to have originated in Asia Minor and brought to the U.S. in the 17^th century by English settlers. It’s a great wintertime vegetable because kale tastes its sweetest in cold temperatures. It is in season from mid-winter to the beginning of spring.

There are three different types of kale. Curly kale has ruffled leaves and is deep green in color. It has a pungent flavor with bitter peppery qualities. Ornamental kale, also known as salad savoy, has green, white or purple leaves. It has a mellow flavor and tender texture. Dinosaur kale has dark blue-green leaves and an embossed texture. It is slightly sweeter and more delicate in taste than curly kale.

When selecting kale, the leaves should be firm and deeply colored. It should have moist, hardy stems and no browning, yellowing or small holes on the leaves. Choose smaller leaves because they are more tender and mild in flavor. Do not wash before storing your kale. This will help prevent spoilage. Store it in a cool environment. You can put it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. It can last for 5 days like this. However, the longer you store kale, the more bitter it gets.

Kale is packed with antioxidants, vitamins K, A and C, and has anti-inflammatory and cancer-preventative benefits. It also has cardiovascular support in its ability to lower cholesterol. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties it can help prevent against things like chronic inflammation, which can lead to diseases such as cancer.

Here are some great recipes that include Kale that you can use in your Power Juicer.

Sweet Kale Juice
4 kale leaves
1 mango (peeled & pitted)
2 kiwi (peeled)

Emerald Glow
1 cup spinach
3 kale leaves
2 cups green seedless grapes
¼ pineapple (rind removed)
2” piece aloe (rind removed)
Juice the aloe first. Remove aloe pulp from the pulp collector and pour into the juice cup. Juice the rest of the ingredients. Mix and serve.

Kale Berry Orange
3 kale leaves
2 oranges (peeled)
½ cup blueberries
½ cup raspberries
½ cup blackberries
Note: Always juice the berries first.

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