Why is this Kale pepper pesto recipe good for Eczema?
It’s a simple recipe that can help reduce the effects inflammation if you suffer from skin condition like Eczema.
Making this quick and easy Kale pepper pesto recipe yourself, from scratch, using fresh ingredients will get you motivated to heal your Eczema inflammation.
Or just alleviate some of its dry skin symptoms.
Kale Leaves
Kale leaves are rich in Carotenoids and these have an antioxidant effect which reduces skin inflammation.
This also makes it really important for heart health because they prevent the oxidation of fatty substances1.
The carotenoids in Kale help to reduce cholesterol oxidation, a process which can damage the inner lining of blood vessels.
Blood pressure is greatly affected by how flexible these blood vessels are and if they lose flexibility it can increase the risk of cardiovascular injury.
Kale is also high in Zinc and this mineral is essential in tissue healing as well as fighting infection. So its really good for immunity.
The other way that Zinc helps is in the production of oil in the skin. If the skin is producing too much oil Zinc can reduce the sebaceous secretions, so it makes the skin less oily.
Garlic Cloves
- Garlic is also important for cardiovascular health as it contains an anti-inflammatory compound called Diallyl Disulphide1.
- Garlic also has great anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, which can help boost the immune system.
- It’s packed with Vitamin C, B6, and Manganese – all important nutrients for your overall health.
The advantage of consuming it in this Kale Pesto is that you’re eating it raw, so you’re getting all its active nutritional benefits. Unfortunately, the compound can break down significantly during cooking, ie. exposure to heat.
Sweet Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are great for skin health and combining them in this Kale pesto makes it a powerful antioxidant recipe and increases the overall flavor.
They also contain a plant compound or Flavanoid called Quercetin which reduces the levels of histamine.
It is the compound that induces the itchy sensation that is associated with an allergy like Eczema. So, it’s a natural alternative to a pharmaceutical antihistamine if you need to reduce the inflammation of an Eczema flare-up.
Bell peppers contains Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant which also helps reduce inflammation.
It protects against free-radical damage that can lead to skin cancer.
It supports immunity and protects key cellular structures in the skin by protecting it from UV damage.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The largest ingredient of this dish, in terms of volume, is Olive oil which is rich in Oleic Acid.
It helps alleviate the effects of very dry skin because it hydrates and locks in moisture – good for cracked scaly Eczema patches.
Kale Pepper Pesto
Course: Anti-inflammatory, Gluten-free, Vegan, CondimentCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy, Beginner8
servings20
minutes5
minutes300
kcalIngredients
1 cup Kale leaves
1 cup Basil leaves
1 small Bell pepper, roughly chopped
0.5 tsp Himalayan Pink salt
1 tsp Black pepper
2 tsp Nutritional Yeast flakes
4 cloves Garlic
1 tbsp Lemon juice
1.5 cup Extra Virgin Olive oil
Directions
- Place the dry ingredients into the food processor except the olive oil.
- Pulse to chop the peppers and leaves until they are fine, then process on normal speed.
- Now start pouring in the olive oil through the feeder and blend until you have a saucy consistency.
- Next add in the lemon juice and blend until the pesto is well combined and creamy.
- Pour into a bowl and set aside.
Notes
- Make sure you massage the Kale for 5 minutes before combining with the rest of the ingredients.
- This pesto is great for spreading onto gluten-free bread or seeded crackers.
- Will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Nutrition Facts
8 servings per container
Serving Size50g
Calories300
- Amount Per Serving% Daily Value *
- Total Fat
56.2g
87%
- Saturated Fat 8.1g 41%
- Sodium 65mg 3%
- Amount Per Serving% Daily Value *
- Potassium 199mg 6%
- Total Carbohydrate
6g
2%
- Dietary Fiber 1.2g 5%
- Sugars 1.6g
- Protein 1.7g 4%
- Calcium 3%
- Iron 5%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Reference:
1 Pinnock, Dale. Kale, Pg 141, The Nutrition Bible. London: Quadrille, 2020. Print.
