Botanical Index No. 583

Kale

brassica oleracea var. viridis

Medicinal Actions

Antiatherosclerotic, Antimaculitic, Antinitrosaminic, Antinyctalopic, Antiproliferant, Antioxidant, Antiradicular, Antiretinitic, Antitumor, Antiviral, Detoxicant, Estrogenic, Glucuronidase Inhibitor, Goitrogenic, Hypocholesterolemic, Prooxidant

Primary Conditions Treated

breast colon lung skin Quinone-Reductase Inducer Atherosclerosis Cancer bladder cervix liver Cardiopathy High Cholesterol Maculosis Nyctalopia Papilloma Pellagra Stroke Tumor Virus

General Dosage

Food farmacy; eat some almost every day but don’t overdo it.

Safety & Contraindications

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects — Not covered. In huge quantities, glucosinolate/isothiocyanate-containing crucifers might upset the thyroid. And in huge doses, hard to get dietarily, indole-3-carbinol might stimulate breast cancer rather than prevent it because it does so at levels reasonably attainable through dietary consumption of crucifers. If broccoli is the master antioxidant, kale is a master contender, excelling in many ways. According to JNU, kale has seven times more beta carotene than broccoli, ~11 times more lutein, more vitamin K, and the highest ORAC score of any veggie.

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