
While a single study from Czechoslovakia published in 2006 found that kale accumulates thallium from the soil, my search of the medical literature found nothing to suggest that eating kale or other cruciferous vegetables leads to thallium poisoning. People have been eating these vegetables for centuries.
Full Answer
What are the side effects of eating too much Kale?
What Are the Side Effects of Eating Too Much Kale Per Day?
- Health Complications. Digestive issues: Kale can cause bloating in people who have difficulty digesting FODMAPs 2 which are carbs found in some food.
- People on Certain Medications. People who use beta-blockers: Beta-blockers can increase potassium and are typically prescribed to people for heart disease and high blood pressure.
- Kale Allergy. ...
Why you should eat more Kale?
If you were to eat kale daily, you’d find it makes up:
- 9% of your daily value of calcium
- 10% of your daily value of copper
- 9% of your daily value of potassium
- 6% of your daily value of magnesium
- 206% of your daily value of vitamin A
- 9% of your daily value of vitamin B6
- 134% of your daily value of vitamin C
- 684% of your daily value of vitamin K
Is Kale really that good for You?
There's no doubt that kale is an excellent health food. Just one cup can give you more than 200% of your vitamin A for the day, and nearly 700% of your vitamin K . It also contains certain plant compounds that can help protect against certain cancers. But in some cases, eating kale might not be as healthy as you think.
Could Kale be poisoning you?
When kale becomes toxic
- A superfood, but…. Take my colleague Amanda Cook, a fellow Health Coach and creator of Vintage Amanda. ...
- The iodine factor. In a recent study, researchers who assessed the role of dietary iodine and cruciferous vegetables in thyroid cancer among women living in New Caledonia reported an increased ...
- Cook your cruciferous. ...
- More on kale

What happens if 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.
How much kale is too much?
One review of goitrin concentrations in cruciferous vegetables found that only an excessive intake of 2.2 pounds (1 kg) of kale per day for several months significantly impaired thyroid function in otherwise healthy adults ( 8 ).
Is it OK to eat kale raw?
Kale is a dark, leafy green you can eat raw or cooked. This superfood has been on dinner plates since Roman times and has long been common across much of Europe. The vegetable hails from the cabbage family, which also includes broccoli, cauliflower, and collards.
Can raw kale make you sick?
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.
How much kale is safe per day?
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.
What happens if you eat kale daily?
One study found that drinking kale juice every day for 12 weeks increased HDL (the “good”) cholesterol by 27% and lowered LDL levels by 10%, while also improving antioxidant status (12). According to one study, steaming kale dramatically increases the bile acid binding effect.
Who should not take kale?
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.
What part of kale is not edible?
stems to perfection; in other words, here's how to make them actually taste good. First things first: Kale and collard stems are tough, chewy, and fibrous. While we enjoy the occasional raw collard or kale salad, you should never eat the stems raw.
Can too much kale cause kidney stones?
“There's only 17 milligrams of oxalate in a hundred grams (about 3 ounces) of kale.” “So in every three ounces of kale you get nothing” in terms of oxalate, added Coe. “Essentially, it's about impossible to eat enough of kale to cause kidney stones.”
Is any part of kale poisonous?
"It is close to impossible for humans to be poisoned by eating kale from normal soil," he wrote. "However, plants (of any kind) cultivated on and near toxic heavy-metal deposits, waste and so on are to be avoided in kitchen." So the problem is less with kale, and more with growing food in contaminated areas.
Why do I feel sick after eating kale?
Kale is in the cruciferous vegetable family. Some can develop an allergy to cruciferous vegetables. Kale can also cause bloating in people who have difficulty digesting FODMAPs. You may also experience gastrointestinal distress from cruciferous vegetables if you have a C.
Which greens should not be eaten raw?
Cruciferous Vegetables Vegetables that belong to the cabbage family such as cauliflower, Brussels, broccoli, and sprouts should never be consumed raw. These vegetables contain sugar that is difficult to digest. Eating these vegetables raw may lead to a number of gastronomical problems.
What is a serving size of kale?
1 cupNutrition Facts Kale, raw, chopped Serving size: 1 cup (67 g) Calories 33 Calories from Fat 4 *Percent Daily Values (%DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
How much kale is a portion?
A portion is 2 broccoli spears, 2 heaped tablespoons of cooked spinach or 4 heaped tablespoons of cooked kale, spring greens or green beans.
Can you eat too much kale or spinach?
The truth is that both spinach and kale are heart-healthy and are great choices. “Leafy greens are so good for you that you really can't eat too many,” says Patton. “In fact, they're considered heart-healthy superfoods.”
Can too much kale cause kidney stones?
“There's only 17 milligrams of oxalate in a hundred grams (about 3 ounces) of kale.” “So in every three ounces of kale you get nothing” in terms of oxalate, added Coe. “Essentially, it's about impossible to eat enough of kale to cause kidney stones.”
The recipe
Processing pressure: 10 lbs (69 kPa) weighted gauge, 11 lbs (76 kpa) dial gauge (adjust pressure for your altitude when over 300 metres / 1000 feet)
Canning kale
This is a walk-through of the USDA's procedure for safely home pressure canning kale.
Recipe source
Spinach and other greens. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Complete guide to home canning. Agriculture information bulletin No. 539. 2015. Page 4-19.
Nutrition
Serving size: 125 g, drained (1 cup. About one half of a ½ litre / US pint jar.)
Further reading
National Center for Home Food Preservation. Got the Wintertime “Greens”? 28 January 2014.
Your Vegetables Want To Kill You
To quote Dr. Paul Saladino: “I’ve got bad news for you: Kale doesn’t love you back.”
Polyphenols: Panacea or Pesticides?
Inside plants are a host of chemicals that can cause you harm. If it isn’t a nutrient, it’s probably supposed to hurt you.
Oxalates: How Kale Smoothies Can Kill Your Kidneys
Oxalates are produced in animal biology as a waste product. They serve no functional purpose, and when there are too many in our bodies we can end up with some serious issues.
Lectins: If Beans Chose The Murder Weapon
Ricin is one of the most toxic plant compounds known to man. Found in castor beans, this lectin can kill an adult human at a dose size equivalent to a few grains of salt.
Humans and Plant Foods
So what are you saying Keenan? We need to rotate our plant foods more?
Carnivore-ish
At this point I view meat as food and I view plants as either survival food or as medicine (with potential side effects.)
Conclusion
Whether you’re a vegan or an avid hunter, you probably eat plants. Did you know they all have toxins designed to hurt you?
