Spinach is one food that has several health benefits
Calorie for calorie, Spinach (पालक ) is one of the most nutritious vegetables around. It is not only rich in vitamins and minerals but in phytonutrients, which act as powerful antioxidants to protect cellular structures and DNA.
Food contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help keep the body functioning properly.In recent years, spinach has become more popular and people are benefiting from it.
1. Loaded with Vitamins:
like A, K, D, and E and a host of trace minerals.
2. Good for the Eyes
Cooked spinach contains beta carotene, xanthene and lutein. All three of these help prevent dry and itchy eyes as well as eye ulcers. It is also beneficial for those who are deficient in vitamin A.
3. Reduces Blood Pressure
Those with high blood pressure should eat spinach. Full of potassium, spinach lowers blood pressure. Reduced hypertension, relaxation of the blood vessels and arteries is from the folate in spinach.
4. Increases Muscle Strength
Popeye was right when he told kids to eat spinach. Factor C0-Q10, an antioxidant, is a component of spinach. It helps strengthen muscles, especially in the heart. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing states that the antioxidant can prevent and treat hypertension, heart failure, coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia.
5. Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Antioxidants:
Researchers have identified more than a dozen different flavonoid compounds in spinach that function as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents. In a recent study on the relationship between risk of prostate cancer and vegetable intake (including such healthy vegetables as broccoli, cabbage, and brussel sprouts) only spinach showed evidence of significant protection against the occurrence of aggressive prostate cancer.
6. Alkalizes the Body:
All those minerals helps to balance off the highly acid diet which most of us subject our bodies to and which drains our energy, increases obesity and a creates host of other health problems.
7. Strengthens the Bones:
One cup of fresh spinach (or 1/6 cup of cooked spinach) contains TWICE your daily vitamin K needs. This along with the calcium and magnesium in spinach is essential to maintain healthy bones.
8. Perfect for Green Smoothies and Salads:
Organic pre-washed spinach is now readily available in most grocery stores. If you haven’t yet tried a green smoothie yet and think they might taste yucky then try one with the main ingredient as spinach. Spinach is so sweet, we guarantee you will be impressed
9. Spinach is FRESH!
Studies have shown that even the artificial light in the grocery store shining on those plastic tubs of spinach can actually help keep the leaves from spoiling. This indicates the spinach is still metabolically active and fresh.
10. Protects the Skin
Spinach contains phytonutrients and pigments that protect against UV rays of the sun. In addition to protecting the skin, it can repair damaged genes to a certain point. This can prevent developing skin cancer.
Spinach can be eaten raw or cooked. It is easy to add this green, leafy vegetable to the diet, resulting in several health benefits.
Tips and Cautions while consuming SPINACH:
Tip #1: Make sure you only choose organic spinach. Non-organic spinach is on the list of top foods with lots of chemical pesticides. You can assume that canned spinach is NOT organic. I can’t imagine anyone eating canned spinach anyway but since we mentioned Popeye I thought I had better mentions that.Tip #2: Choose the GREENEST looking spinach you can find. Probably you would have anyway, but studies have shown that the greenest spinach has the most vitamin C.
Tip #3: Because spinach contains high levels of so many nutrients it also has significant levels of oxalic acid. This has been associated with kidney problems and interference with absorption of other minerals.
There is much debate whether the oxalates in spinach would have this kind of effect but just to be sure, if you have a pre-existing kidney problem, it’s better to consult your doctor before eating too much.
