The Not-So-Super Food: Kale Eaters Issued A Warning

We all know about the benefits of Kale – we have certainly had them trumpeted enough in countless healthy eating features.

It is high in fibre and iron, and rich in vitamins A and C, calcium and cancer-fighting phytonutrients.

The leafy green is also packed with anti-oxidants and helps urinary tract health.

However, it could actually be doing more harm than good: at least that’s the view of yoga and wellness guru Lauren Imparato.

Lauren, who runs I.AM.YOU.Studio in New York, warns that Kale can make you bloated, slow down your metabolism and even cause kidney stones.

She says that the problem stems from the fact that Kale is one of the hardest vegetables to digest, thus causing problems when eaten raw – or in a smoothie – as many chose to consume it

‘It does to your insides what a cactus does to your skin when you rub up against it,’ she told Mail Online.

And too much can cause bloating stomach, and/or gas, she warns.

Lauren also points out that Kale is a high oxalate food, which some experts suggest plays a part in the formation of kidney stones.

And it can slow down your metabolism as it affects your thyroid, the gland that regulates metabolic process.

The vegetable contains goitrogens, which interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis, to produce an underactive thyroid.

But rather than give up on Kale altogether, Lauren suggests a few ways for sensible consumption.

The first, simply, is to cook it. This makes it softer and therefore much easier to digest and easier on the thyroid.

She also suggests eating it as part of a balanced meal with other vegetables and proteins and not have it as the main focus.

Make sure you eat it in proportion to other vegetables and proteins in your diet, she suggests: have it as a side or garnish in a salad as opposed to the main.

And an alternative way of dealing with the effects of Kale is to find alternative vegetables to fill up on. Lauren suggests red leaf lettuce, baby spinach or even broccoli, as they boast similar nutritional benefits of Kale but are kinder on your digestive system.

Nutritionist Lovisa Nilsson, from the health and fitness app Lifesum, told Mail Online: 'It’s true you should avoid eating too much raw kale, because just like broccoli and cabbage the vegetable contains a sort of sugar called raffinose, which is hard to break down for the stomach.

'Also, the fibre-rich kale can cause digestive problems or a bloated stomach, so be careful if you already have issues with your digestive system. And you should always cook it if you already have issues with the function of your gland.’