9 Benefits of Kailan for Health, Let's Start Consuming!

Did you know the benefit of kailan for health?

 If you have tried or are lovers of Chinese food, of course, you are no strangers to kailan vegetables.

This vegetable contains vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are good for the body.

This vegetable, which still belongs to the Brassica oleracea family, has the characteristic of being thick-leaved, flat, and glossy, with small-sized stems and flowers similar to broccoli flowers.

Read: 5 Steps to Make The Absorption of Vitamins in the Body More Optimal

In Chinese culture, you are sautéed with simple spices such as ginger, and garlic, or boiled and served with oyster sauce.

The name 'kailan' is pronounced in Cantonese as' gai-lan'. Besides being used in Chinese cuisine, kailan is also used as a mixture of smoothies along with other fruits and vegetables for body fitness.

Benefits of Kailan for Health

Launching from Nutrition Data, in 67 grams or 2.4 ounces kailan contains nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are very healthy for the body, namely:

• Vitamin A: 206% of DV (from beta-carotene)
• Vitamin K: 684% of DV
• Vitamin C: 134% of DV
• Vitamin B6: 9% of DV
• Manganese: 26% of DV
• Calcium: 9% of DV
• Copper: 10% of DV
• Potassium: 9% of DV
• Magnesium: 6% of DV
• Contains 3% or more DV for vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), iron, and phosphorus.

The total calories in 67 grams of vegetables are 33 calories, 6 grams of carbohydrates, and 3 grams of protein.

From the description of nutrition above, it is not surprising that it is hunted by many people because of its complete nutrition. In addition, there is still a myriad of other benefits that can be obtained from consuming kailan for health. Come on, see the following explanation!

1. Rich in Antioxidants

In the journal Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Technologia Alimentaria, kailan contains high antioxidants including beta-carotene and vitamin C, as well as various flavonoids and polyphenols.

Antioxidants are substances that help ward off oxidative damage by free radicals in the body. Oxidative damage is believed to be one of the main triggers of aging and chronic diseases, including cancer.

In addition, kailan for health also contains flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol which are useful for strengthening the heart, lowering blood pressure, anti-inflammatory or inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-depressant, and anti-cancer.

2. Source of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an important antioxidant that is easily soluble in water and has a vital role in the cells of the body. For example, vitamin C requires collagen synthesis, which is the most abundant structural protein in the body.

Read: Knowing UV Rays, the Rays Needed to Produce Vitamin D

In a study conducted by Scientific World Journal, kailan has a high vitamin C content even 4.5 times greater than spinach.

In fact, in the study, it was explained that kailan is one of the best sources of vitamin C in the world. A cup of raw kailan contains more vitamin C than a whole orange.

3. Lower Cholesterol

In the right dose, cholesterol has many important functions in the body. For example, it is used to make bile acids, that is, substances that help the body digest fats.

Then, the liver will convert cholesterol into bile acids, which are then released into the digestive system every time you eat fatty foods.

When all the fats have been absorbed and bile acids, cholesterol will be reabsorbed into the bloodstream and reused.

Substances called bile acid sequestration can bind bile acids in the digestive system and prevent them from being reabsorbed. It reduces the total amount of cholesterol in the body.

Kailan contains a sequence of bile acids, which can lower cholesterol levels. According to the Western Regional Research Center, the substance also plays an important role in lowering the risk of heart disease.

One study found that drinking kailan juice daily for 12 weeks increased HDL ("good") cholesterol by 27% and lowered LDL levels by 10% while increasing antioxidants in the body.

In addition, in other studies, it was explained that eating steamed hooks increases the binding effect of bile acids. Because, the content of steamed kailan is actually 43% as strong as cholestyramine, a cholesterol-lowering drug.

4. The World's Best Source of Vitamin K

Vitamin K is one of the most important vitamins that serve to freeze the blood by "activating" certain proteins and giving it the ability to bind calcium.

Kailan is one of the world's best sources of vitamin K.

One cup of raw kailan contains almost 7 times the vitamin K for the daily amount. The Journal of Vascular Research says that kailan contains vitamin K1 which can help prevent heart disease and osteoporosis.

5. Contains Cancer-Fighting Substances

Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth. Kailan for health contains compounds that are believed to have a protective effect against cancer.

One of them is sulforaphane, a substance that has been shown to help fight the formation of cancer at the molecular level.

Research conducted in the journal Annamalai University explained that kailan also contains indole-3-carbinol, another substance believed to help prevent cancer.

6. Rich in Beta-Carotene

Kailan contains beta-carotene, an antioxidant, which can be converted into vitamin A.

Therefore, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, kailan can increase levels of vitamins that are important for the body.

Those are the 6 benefits of kailan vegetables for health. You can process kailan into a variety of varied and certainly healthy dishes.

For example, mix them into salads, process them into kailan chips, or add them to smoothies to increase the nutritional content. Are you interested in trying it?