When You Eat Too Much Kale, This Is What Happens To You - Health Digest (2024)

FAQs

What happens when you eat too much kale? ›

Plus, eating too much fiber (like what you find in kale) could wreck havoc on your GI system, causing bloating, diarrhea, gas, constipation, and even improper absorption of nutrients. Of course, you'd have to be eating a lot of kale to suffer these effects, says Manganiello, but it's still something to keep in mind.

Digestion. Kale is high in fiber and water, both of which help prevent constipation and promote regularity and a healthy digestive tract.

Studies have also proven that eating kale on a daily basis helps the body to flush out dangerous toxins. Simply put, kale contains a molecule which helps regulate the detoxifying process from within our body cells!

According to research, kale contains "progoitrin, a compound that can interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis, and thiocyanate ions, which can crowd out the iodine your thyroid needs." When consumed in large quantities, "one could experience a swelling of the thyroid, often called a goiter."

Raw kale in particular “can be hard on the digestive system” — meaning it can cause bloating, gas and other abdominal issues — “and also contains a compound that can suppress thyroid function in certain people,” she adds.

If you're taking medication to prevent blood clots, be wary of neutralizing it by eating too much kale. The American Heart Association cautions that eating foods high in vitamin K can make the drug less effective, leading to an increased risk of a blood clots.

Dark, leafy greens

Eating dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale, and chard is a great way to cleanse your colon.

Leafy greens, such as spinach or kale, are excellent sources of fiber, as well as nutrients like folate, vitamin C, vitamin K and vitamin A. Research shows that leafy greens also contain a specific type of sugar that helps fuel growth of healthy gut bacteria.

Green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, Swiss chard, kale, Brussels sprouts and asparagus are filled with Vitamin E; a natural antioxidant which has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body.

Detoxifying Properties

The fiber in kale also helps cleanse your colon as it passes through, giving your digestive tract a bit of detoxifying assistance. As an added bonus, kale is a tremendous source of Omega-3 fatty acids, a great brain nutrient that also may help lower your anxiety levels.

What medications does kale interfere with? ›

Kale, leafy greens, and other foods rich in vitamin K can interfere with blood thinners such as warfarin. Vitamin K plays a vital role in helping your blood to clot when necessary.

Kale may significantly lower blood pressure

It's rich in magnesium, potassium and vitamin C (40). A diet high in potassium is strongly linked to lower blood pressure (41).

Even though our bodies need oxalate, the foods we eat that are high in it can cause kidney stones. But kale is not one of those foods.

If you are taking blood thinning or anti-coagulant drugs, like warfarin (brand name Coumadin), you need to avoid large amounts of kale. Kale's level of vitamin K - a cup has more than 1,000 percent of the recommended daily amount (RDA) - could interfere with your drugs.

Kale is considered a goitrogenic food, meaning that it contains substances (goitrogens) that may contribute to an enlarged thyroid.

Also, like other cruciferous vegetables, kale is high in raffinose, a carbohydrate that is difficult to digest. In our intestinal tract, it combines with the existing bacteria and produces bloating and gas, which can be extremely uncomfortable and overwork the body as it tries hard to digest it.

Kale is more than a food trend, it's also one of nature's best natural laxatives. Dark leafy greens like kale, collards, Swiss chard, and spinach contain magnesium, a mineral that helps soften stools, making them easier to pass.

Along with other dark leafy greens, kale contains calcium and vitamin K, which can reduce osteoporosis. In fact, kale has more calcium per calorie than a glass of milk!

One cup of kale is considered a serving, and with no more than 2.5 servings per week recommended for optimal benefits, it's effortless to add kale to a few meals throughout your daily eating. Be sure to pair it with healthy fats like olive oil to ensure proper uptake of vitamins and minerals.

Like many of the other foods on this list, kale is high in anti-cancer chemicals and antioxidants, both of which help cleanse the body of harmful toxins. Kale is also packed with tons of other vitamins and minerals that help promote detoxification.