Famend for his or her thick leaves and earthy taste, collard greens are a culinary staple and a powerhouse of vitamins. They’re one of the primary greens to pop up in my backyard within the spring and I like incorporating them into soups and stir-fries. Right here’s extra on their well being advantages and how one can make this versatile leafy inexperienced style nice (so even the youngsters will eat it!).

What Are Collard Greens?

Collard greens are one of these “inexperienced leafy greens” you’re all the time listening to about. They might even be a vegetable that’s more durable to get children to eat (extra on that later). Collards and different leafy greens are the celebrity veggies that may assist you get sufficient calcium with out dairy. However that’s not all they do.

Collards are additionally half of a household known as cruciferous greens, or “brassica.” Different members of this household embody broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, and Brussels sprouts. Nonetheless, radishes, turnips, and horseradish are additionally brassicas. 

Collards and different brassica greens are additionally identified for a detoxing substance known as sulforaphane. Sulforaphane might struggle irritation, help balanced hormones, and shield in opposition to persistent illness. It’s so wanted that it’s additionally accessible as a complement (I exploit BrocElite).

Whereas broccoli sprouts are the most effective meals supply, collards additionally present this tremendous nutrient.

Why Are Collard Greens Good for You?

Collard greens are a wonderful method to get phytonutrients on an total low-carbohydrate weight loss plan. Their carbohydrates primarily seem as dietary fiber. Whereas not totally digested, fiber helps to take care of a wholesome microbiome. 

Dietary Breakdown of Collard Greens 

Collard greens are extremely nutritious and wealthy in nutritional vitamins. They’re full of vitamin A (as beta carotene), B nutritional vitamins (particularly folate), and vitamin C. One cup of collard greens has over 300% of the day by day worth for vitamin A. It additionally gives over 50% of the day by day worth of vitamin C and practically half (44%) of the day by day worth of folate. Whereas folic acid is made in a lab, folate is the naturally occurring model.

Together with kale, mustard greens, and Swiss chard, collards are one of the most effective sources of vitamin K1. One cup of collards provides 836 mcg of vitamin K1. That’s a whopping 1,045 p.c of the really useful day by day worth! Collards additionally present essential minerals like potassium, manganese, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, supporting bones, muscle mass, and total well being. 

These nutritional vitamins, minerals, and different vitamins are half of why collard greens are so helpful to our well being. You’ll discover they help many methods of the physique, together with the circulatory, gastrointestinal, and immune methods.

6 Well being Benefits of Collard Greens

Listed here are six research-backed methods collard greens might help your total well being:

1. Selling Coronary heart Well being 

Many vitamins in collards are identified for benefitting metabolic syndrome and decreasing the danger of coronary heart illness. The fiber and potassium in collards assist to decrease blood stress and blood sugar. This alone may also help to decrease the danger of coronary heart assaults, strokes, and kind 2 diabetes.

2. Anti-Most cancers Results 

Collard greens present vitamin A (as beta carotene) and vitamin C. For these causes and extra, collards help a wholesome immune system. A sturdy immune response is vital for shielding the physique in opposition to most cancers. 

Collard greens even have compounds like glucosinolates and sulforaphane, that are each topics of most cancers analysis. Glucosinolates are compounds which are transformed to isothiocyanate (ITC). ITC protects the cells from injury that might result in most cancers.

Growing leafy inexperienced greens like collards within the weight loss plan is a identified technique for decreasing most cancers danger. Research have proven advantages for prostate, breast, pores and skin, bladder, oral, and colon cancers. 

3. Supporting Bone Well being 

Together with vitamin K2 present in animal meals, the vitamin K1 in collard greens is essential for bone well being. Our our bodies want vitamin Ok for calcium absorption and to cut back the danger of fractures. The mixture of calcium, vitamin Ok, and vitamin D (from each plant and animal meals) helps guard in opposition to creating osteoporosis.

4. Good For The Eyes

Collards may also powerfully help eye well being. A wonderful supply of beta carotene (pro-vitamin A) and lutein, collard greens may also help keep wholesome imaginative and prescient over time. Getting lots of leafy greens like collards might result in a decrease danger of age-related macular degeneration.

5. Anti-Inflammatory Properties 

Some compounds in collard greens have anti-inflammatory properties. For that cause, together with them usually might profit situations like arthritis and different inflammatory illnesses. Antioxidants in collards like lutein, carotenoids, and zeaxanthin assist struggle free radicals. The diminished oxidative stress all through the physique helps to decrease irritation.

6. Supporting Intestine Well being

The fiber in leafy greens helps digestive well being by selling a wholesome microbiome. In the end, that may contribute to regularity and avoiding constipation. It could even help weight reduction. Researchers have additionally discovered a novel sugar in inexperienced leafy greens known as sulfoquinovose (SQ). This sugar helps feed good intestine micro organism, supporting digestion.

Who Ought to Keep away from Collard Greens?

Collard greens are a wonderful meals for the overwhelming majority of us. Nonetheless, these at the moment on blood thinning medicines like Warfarin needs to be cautious.

As a result of collards are excessive in vitamin Ok (named after the German phrase Koagulationsvitamin), they promote blood clotting. That’s often factor, because it retains us from bleeding out in case of an harm. Nonetheless, it additionally means meals excessive in vitamin Ok can intrude with how blood-thinning medicine work. In case you plan on including extra leafy greens to your weight loss plan, make sure you hold your physician within the loop. 

Often, collard greens might come up on a meals allergy check. If that’s the case, you’ll need to keep away from them till your immune system is again in steadiness.

Collard greens in any other case don’t are inclined to have unwanted side effects — until you eat giant quantities. In that case, the fiber might trigger uncomfortable bloating and digestive misery. A serving or two goes a great distance!

What About Oxalates?

Some folks might ponder whether collard greens are excessive in oxalates. Oxalates are compounds in sure vegetation which will trigger well being points in case your intestine micro organism can not break them down. 

General, collard greens are decrease in oxalates than spinach, kale, and different leafy greens. In case you’re limiting your oxalates as a result of of hypothyroidism, kidney stones, or different well being situations, collards generally is a safer choice.

The best way to Get Your Collard Greens In

When looking for collard greens, search for fresh-looking, darkish inexperienced leaves with no blemishes or wilting. The freshest leaves come straight from the backyard. They’re glorious sauteed on the stovetop with olive oil and garlic. Nonetheless, they’re fairly versatile and work effectively in lots of dishes. Listed here are some methods to include extra collards into your meals:

• Salads: Finely chop or shred the greens and use them as a base for salads. Therapeutic massage the leaves with olive oil and lemon juice to melt them, such as you would kale. For instance, substitute them for kale on this salad recipe.  
• Soups and Stews: Add chopped collards to soups, stews, or broths. They add vitamins and a novel taste. Attempt collards in place of kale in Candy Potato Zuppa Toscana.
• Wraps: Use blanched collard leaves as a more healthy different to tortillas or wraps. Fill them together with your favourite substances like hummus, greens, and your favourite protein. Uncooked collard greens are standard in uncooked meals diets as wraps. Give it a strive by utilizing collards as an alternative of chard on this scrumptious Chard Wrapped Salmon recipe. 
• Stuffed Collard Leaves: Make stuffed collard greens by filling blanched leaves with a mix of grains, beans, and spices, then rolling them up and baking or steaming them till tender.
• Braised Collard Greens: Gradual-cook collard greens with broth, onions, and your alternative of seasoning till tender and flavorful. Purple pepper flakes can add an additional zing. Within the American South, collard greens are a well-liked facet dish. Southerners prefer to taste them with bacon fats and garlic and serve them alongside smoked pork.
• Inexperienced Smoothies: You too can use them in smoothies for an added nutrient increase. They mix effectively with fruits and different greens like spinach. A high-speed blender works greatest for these robust leaves.  

Whether or not cooked or uncooked, collard greens provide a novel style and texture that may complement a variety of dishes.

Do you eat collard greens? What’s your favourite method to put together them? Share with us under!