can people with thyroid disorders eat kale?

where is kale from?

china produces the most kale in the world, with an approximate value of us $707 million annually, according to food trade organization tridge . the u.s. is the next largest grower, with most of the green coming from california and georgia, according to colorado state university .

about three quarters of canada’s kale farms are located in ontario , with 328 acres of farmland devoted to the healthy green as of 2018. nova scotia was the next largest kale cultivator, with 20 acres. 

kale is loaded with vitamins

the veg has four times as much vitamin c as spinach . vitamin c is key for healing injuries and controlling infections in the body, according to the harvard school of public health .

kale also contains 67 milligrams of the cancer-protective compound glucoraphanin . a study published in the national center for biotechnology information cites a direct link between glucoraphanin in broccoli and a lower risk of cancer.

kale may interfere with iodine uptake — is this something to be concerned about?

“ it’s true that eating a lot of these vegetables could limit your thyroid’s uptake of iodine,” according to the article. (iodine is necessary for the proper function of the thyroid.) “the amount you would need to eat to have that effect, however, is very large — much larger than most people would ever normally eat and certainly far more than would be included in a daily smoothie.”

when to eat kale

kale is one of the easiest members of the brassica (cabbage) family to grow on your own, according to almanac . the plant will only last for two years on average before it produces flowers, seeds, and eventually dies. 

kale smoothies to kale salads

some people also swear by massaging their kale. yes — rubbing the leaf until it’s softer and darker in colour. by doing this, proponents claim, you can break down the fibres in the plant to make it both more enjoyable to eat and easier to digest.