5 Reasons Why Kale Is The Ultimate Look-Gorgeous, Feel-Amazing Food

Move over açai, there's a new beauty superfood in town. Kale is the new It veggie, and for good reason — it's packed with the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients you need to look and feel your best. "Kale is the Superman of the veggie aisle," says Dr. Frank Lipman, an integrative doctor and the founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness in NYC.

He says, "When you talk superfoods, kale is top of the heap. Inside those deep green leaves are such goodies as beta-carotene, calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A, C, & K – in far larger quantities than you’ll find in most other vegetables. Kale delivers 4 times more magnesium and calcium than brussels sprouts; more vitamin C than carrots or spinach, and more folate than broccoli, according to McCance and Widdowson’s The Composition of Foods."

With all those vitamins and minerals, kale can help you fight off certain cancers; give your skin better defenses against photo-aging; nourish your hair, skin, and nails from the inside out; and even help reduce dark circles under your eyes, thanks to high levels of vitamin K. According to Dr. Lipman, it's also a great way to stay toned: "The mighty leaf keeps your gut happy by aiding digestion and elimination, as it helps detox and promote optimal liver function. Not surprisingly, kale also has no cholesterol and is low-cal, packing just 36 calories per cup, so it’s great for those who are watching their weight," he explains.

If you're not familiar with the leafy green, don't worry, we've got you covered. Raw kale can replace your usual go-to greens for a yummy salad option; it tastes delicious when sauteed with some garlic, olive oil, and lemon; and can be roasted in the oven for DIY kale chips to snack on at the office. Or, try blending up a kale smoothie — it may look like a pureed salad, but it's actually more like a super-healthy, good-for-you (and your waistline) milkshake.

Combine ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.