The superfood series: spotlight on kale - Wellness Wednesday

Kale most definitely earns its place as a superfood – it’s packed with fiber, antioxidants, micronutrients, and even fatty acids. Just 100g of raw kale holds 93.4mg of vitamin C, easily covering the recommended daily dose of 75-90mg. Not only does this water-soluble vitamin help build immunity, it helps us absorb iron from plant-based foods and synthesize collagen protein, and also serves as an antioxidant to protect cells from free radical damage.

Another nutritional benefit is alpha-linoleic fatty acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid. Kale has low levels of fats and carbohydrates alongside a healthy dose of ALA, making it a good alternative to popular sources for fatty acids like fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds. Omega-3 fatty acids can help prevent heart disease and control the symptoms of many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Several studies have also linked increased omega-3 levels with a lower risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Cooking with kale

While bringing more kale into the kitchen might seem daunting at first, there are a few tricks which help make this superfood easier to prepare and tastier on the table. You can cut out the center rib of each kale leaf to get rid of the most bitter part of the plant. And if you take a few minutes to scrunch and massage raw kale leaves using olive oil and a little lemon juice, you can break down the tough, fibrous leaves to make a tender and flavorful salad. While there are plenty of dishes you can make with kale, if you want to get the most of its healthy nutrients, just lightly blanch the leaves or enjoy it raw in a salad.

So put some kale in your shopping basket and try this easy recipe for winter crunch salad – guaranteed to turn sceptics into converts.

Introducing Wellness Wednesdays

Life can move at quite a pace. And sometimes we can become so focused on what’s urgent that we overlook what’s really important.

Nothing matters more than our physical and mental health. In today’s demanding world taking proper care of ourselves enables us to fulfil our potential, pursue our passions, and be there for our families, friends, and colleagues.

As a proudly purpose-led organisation we are committed to doing the right thing, from our comprehensive and diverse sustainability programme to our engagement with the communities in which we operate.

So today we are delighted to announce the launch of Wellness Wednesdays. Each day at Ortho we commit our collective energies to enhancing and protecting the lives of others. We now aim to bring this thinking, and its benefits, closer to home, and promote a greater focus on self-care for all of our colleagues.

Each week we will take a fresh and invigorating perspective on how we can better look after ourselves, from diet and exercise to relaxation and the management of stress. Our hope is to provide clear, simple and practical steps towards a healthier body and mind.

We hope that you enjoy the features we bring you, and we invite your thoughts and suggestions on topics that you would like us to cover.

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