Although it may seem like it, kale isn't a new vegetable. Thomas Jefferson experimented with several varieties of kale at his Monticello estate in the early 1800s. It's long been popular in northern Europe and now throughout the U.S. Before becoming a popular salad green, kale was often used in restaurants as a decorative garnish on plates.

But over the past 10 years, the popularity of kale has skyrocketed. You've probably heard it referred to as a superfood. Here's more about its not-so-secret powers.

Types of kale include:

• Curly kale is of one the most common types with its pungent, peppery flavor. The bright-green leaves look like ruffles.
• Dinosaur kale is also common. Its narrow, green leaves are wrinkly like dinosaur skin, which are attached to a firm stem that should be removed.
• Redbor kale has ruffled leaves ranging in color from a deep red to purple.
• Russian kale is harder to find. It has flat, fringed leaves ranging in color from green to red to purple. Its flavor is more sweet and peppery.

Kale is available at local farmers markets and grocery stores. You can buy it in fresh bunches or prewashed and trimmed in bags. Local gardeners also plant kale for their own use on the dinner table.

How do you pick out the best bunch of kale? The leaves and stalks should be dark green with small- to medium-sized leaves free of any yellowing or browning. Kale leaves should be firm and dry, not wilted and mushy.

To store kale, wrap it loosely and store in the fridge for up to five days. If kept longer, the leaves tend to toughen.

Nutrition superstar

Kale is a nutrition superstar due to the amounts of vitamins A, B6, C, K, folate, fiber, carotenoids and manganese it contains. One cup of raw kale has just 20 calories. The Department of Agriculture's MyPlate recommends any child and adult who is over the age of 9 eat at least 1.5–2 cups of dark-green vegetables every week.

Kale is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, along with cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, collard greens, kohlrabi, rutabaga, turnips and bok choy. These vegetables offer health benefits, including supporting the immune system, regulating blood pressure and potentially reducing the risk of various types of cancer.

People who may need to avoid or limit kale intake are those who form oxalate-containing kidney stones or take the blood thinners Coumadin or warfarin. Be sure to check with your health care professional or dietitian if you have questions.

Adding kale to your meals

Kale holds its texture well when cooked, and it can be steamed, stir-fried, roasted or eaten raw. You can blend it into smoothies, roast it to make kale chips, wilt it into soup, mash it with potatoes or turn it into pesto. You may want to remove the middle rib by hand or with kitchen shears because it can be tough, fibrous and taste bitter.

A good goal is to fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables every day. Here's where kale can work its superpower. Tear leaves and blend them into your morning smoothie, or use the whole kale leaf as a replacement for tortillas or bread when making a sandwich. For extra crunch, replace your regular potato chips with some roasted kale chips. For dinner, make a hearty bean soup with kale.

Try this meatless version of a Midwestern favorite made with kale:

Cream of wild rice soup

Serves 4

• 1/2 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 1/2 cups diced yellow onion
• 1 cup diced carrot
• 1 cup diced celery
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cups chopped kale
• 1 tablespoon minced parsley
• 2 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 cup unsalted prepared white beans (or about half of a 15.5 ounce can of white beans, rinsed and drained)
• 2 cups 1% milk
• 1/2 cup wild rice, cooked

In a soup pot over medium heat, add canola oil, and saute onion, carrot, celery and garlic until lightly brown. Stir in kale, parsley, stock and spices. Bring to a boil. In a blender, puree beans with milk. Add bean mixture to soup, bring to simmer and add rice. Cook for 30 minutes. Serve in warmed bowls.

Nutrition for 1 serving (2 cups): 236 calories, 4 grams total fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 2 grams monounsaturated fat, 6 milligrams cholesterol, 180 milligrams sodium, 38 grams total carbohydrates, 7 grams fiber, 12 grams total sugars, 0 grams added sugars, 12 grams protein.

Caitlin Terpstra is a dietitian in Nutrition in Owatonna, Minnesota.

This article originally posted on the Mayo Clinic Health System blog.

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