Kale 'reaction'?

[elsie3]

I had a green recovery smoothie with kale after my Tabatacise workout yesterday. About 20 minutes after drinking it, I experienced a mild sensation like a flush (not really visible, but slightly warm and itchy) all over my body. Weird! Has anyone else experienced this with greens? It was similar to the reaction you get when you have too much niacin, but nowhere near as strong. It didn't last long and wasn't a problem--I just thought it was curious.

I usually alternate between spinach and kale and have used both for some time. The recipe is 1 C water, 1/2 small banana, 1 scoop protein powder, and 2 C greens. The kale I used was a new bunch and the leaves were smaller--it was also quite bitter. Maybe it was just extra-potent kale.

 

[RapidBreath]

The bitterness seems to me like it was (as you said) potent. I wonder what made it bitter? Often tart or bitter can be vitamin c or magnesium. Both of those can be bitter.

I'm personally sensitive to kale, but since you have that all the time, I just figure it was the natural variation that all plants have.

 

[tralaiven]

I have experienced something similar with spinach before. I had a slightly metal-y taste in my mouth while I was eating it and then my back started itching a bit later. I don't know what it was, if it was an allergic reaction or what. I laid off of spinach for a while, but now I eat it whenever and have never had the same effect again. It is just weird. I thought I was allergic, but I wasn't really. I wonder if there was some crazy pesticide or something on the spinach.