Spinach – The Benefits

Everyone’s favorite sailor man loves his spinach but Popeye was really on to something when promoting the power of spinach. Green, leafy vegetables have more nutrients the human body needs than any other food. Not only does spinach make you strong, it also helps you prevent a number of diseases and health conditions including heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, and colon cancer. Spinach contains at least 13 flavonoid compounds that are considered to be antioxidants. Spinach extracts have even begun to be used in certain cancer treatments.

Incredible Health Properties

In addition to the antioxidant properties, spinach offers over 200% of the daily value of vitamin K in just one cup of fresh spinach. Vitamin K is necessary for maintaining bone health, If the spinach is boiled, one cup (which includes 6 x’s as much spinach) can total over 1000% of the daily value of vitamin K. Vitamin K1 aids the prevention of cells that break down the body’s bone. After Vitamin K1 is ingested, bacteria in the intestines convert it to Vitamin K2 which activates osteocalcin. Osteocalcin is the top non-collagen protein in bones. Helping bones even further, spinach contains magnesium and calcium.

Vitamin C and Vitamin A are also found in spinach. Both vitamins are important antioxidants that help to reduce the amount of free radicals in the body. They help to keep cholesterol from building up in the blood vessels and cuts down in the incidents of blocked arteries, strokes, and heart attacks. Spinach is also an excellent source of folate, which is needed to help convert the dangerous chemical homocysteine which can cause heart attacks and strokes if levels get too high.

Spinach Keeps Us Young

Research has shown that spinach may even help protect the brain from the effects of stress and age-related brain health issues. This is especially important because as we age, we start to lose our mental performance abilities. Eating 3 servings of spinach or other green leafy vegetables per day can help slow the rate of decline. Interestingly, when compared in studies against fruit, vegetables, and brain health, vegetables were shown to improve brain function while fruit studies did not.

Other properties of spinach includes lutein, which helps protect your eyesight from disease such as macular degeneration and cataracts and iron which helps prevent iron deficiencies especially in menstruating woman and helps the body efficiently transport oxygen to the lungs.

Choosing Spinach

Spinach should be chosen fresh, with deep green leaves and no signs of yellowing. The best time for spinach is from March to May and September to October, though it is available all-year round. You should store fresh spinach in a plastic bag in the crisper section of the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for approximately 5 days. Remember to wash the spinach only right before you are ready to use it and not before you store it or the excess moisture will ruin the freshness. Cooked spinach should be eaten and dispose of the left overs as it does not store well after cooking.