Very low in calories

Chard is very low in calories (19 kcal per 100 g fresh, raw leaves) and fats, recommended in cholesterol controlling and weight reduction programs. Also unique among the health benefits from this chenopod vegetable has been its ability to help pancreatic cells regenerate. At this point research on the beta cells of the pancreas has been restricted to animal studies, and instead of food form chard, extracts from this plant have been used to evaluate potential benefits for the pancreas. Even though it s impossible to generalize from laboratory animals fed chard extracts to humans eating fresh chard, it s encouraging to see chard extracts providing this support to pancreatic beta cells. These cells, after all, are the cells responsible for production of insulin, and it s impossible for our blood sugar to be optimally regulated without the help of insulin.