I recently read an article that warns about the “dark side” of kale. Kale is the latest superstar of the nutritional world and yet this article warns that if you’re consuming too much it can be bad for you. Hmmm, too much of a good thing…
This caused me to stop and think about diet/health trends and how we are so eager to jump on any bandwagon that tells us we will be healthier/thinner/happier/stronger if we just eat this or that. I’m always leery of the “just do this” advice we’re all weary of hearing but it doesn’t seem like a bad thing when someone is touting healthy vegetables. What harm can it do?
The thing is that, even when it’s healthy foods being pushed, we’re still looking for that magic pill; that one thing we can do to make us healthier. Here’s the deal: there isn’t just “one thing”. Instead we should be concentrating on a combination of healthy foods.
Drinking kale shakes until we turn green isn’t a good thing. It’s not going to cure your ills any better than popping cinnamon pills or drinking vinegar. They all might help you be healthier but they won’t fix you all by themselves. Kale is awesome, in moderation. Add some to your salad or bake it into chips, but don’t fall into the trap that more is better.
Be smart and focus on a balance of healthy foods. Don’t zero in on one idea and only do that one thing. Eat sensibly. Eat a variety of whole foods. Take supplements that you and your healthcare provider agree might help. There is no one thing that will do the trick, unless that one thing is you making smart choices. Think about that before you buy into any health claims.
