Moderation is a word we have all heard about haven't we?
So why does it seem to be one of the hardest practices for human beings to employ?
While the whole food kingdom provides us with potent nutrients, antioxidants, healing properties, and vitality, it too has a tipping point where the adage 'too much of a good thing' becomes worthwhile to contemplate.
Kale is a wonderful example of a health food gone amiss.
Yes it has a high ANDI score (Aggregate Nutrient Density Index), yes its green and excellent for internal tissues, yes its high in antioxidants and helps the body cleanse and YES if over-consumed, especially raw, it will slow down your thyroid because it competes with the body's ability to absorb iodine (read more here under thyroid function).
P.S. other cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and collard greens great for preventing cancer can also have the same effect if eaten in excess.
So what to do? Does this mean you never eat these foods ever again?
It all comes back to moderation. Cook it, have it raw, steam, bake, eat kale, eat chard, and rotate through the hundreds of other greens available at your farmer's market and coop.
Don't break up with Kale, just don't juice it raw every single day.
But this goes for everything. If you consume flax, olive oil, ghee, berries, lemon water (which can erode enamel if over used), the mantra to repeat over and over again is:
- Moderation & Rotation
- Moderation & Rotation
- Moderation & Rotation
Everything has a tipping point!
Too much of a good thing can create havoc but the insurance policy is very very simple.
Embrace diversity and all will be happy in your body's internal landscape!