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Loading...8 Benefits of Spinach: The First Superfood
- Diana Herrington
- July 13, 2011
- 8:07 am
- 216 comments
Spinach was a powerfood even before there was the term powerfood.
We’re referring of course to Popeye the Sailor Man. “TOOT TOOT!” One can of the green stuff and he turned into muscle popping tornado of energy.
Even without Popeye’s recommendation, spinach contains more nutrients per calorie than any other food on the earth.
8 Benefits of Spinach:
1. Loaded with Vitamins: like A, K, D, and E and a host of trace minerals.
2. Good Source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids: the kind most of us need in North America.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Nourishes the Eyes: The carotenoids found in spinach protect against eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
6. 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.
7. 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. To see Diana make her own special brand of green smoothie click here: Diana’s Green Smoothie
8. 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.
Next: Tips and Cautions
Read more: Basics, Diet & Nutrition, Eating for Health, Food, Health, alkaline, greens, oxalic acid, Powerfoods, spinach
Diana Herrington
Diana Herrington turned a debilitating health crisis into a passion for helping others with healthy, sugar-free, gluten-free, eating and cooking. After testing and researching every possible healthy therapy on her delicate system she has developed simple, powerful principles which she shares in her recent book Eating Green and Lean, and as host to Care2 groups: Healthy Living Network and Healthy Cooking. She is the head chef at Real Food for Life, where she shares recipes and tips. Sign up for the Real Food for Life weekly newsletter or catch her on Facebook or Twitter (@DancinginLife).
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
people are talking
Thanks.
thanks
No, thanks. Through exercise I once became anorexic.
Guerss I had better eat up!
what a lovely video,Sanchez must be enjoying chasing rabbits in his dreams !!lovely, thanks for shar…
216 comments
+ add your ownI need to eat more greens!
Organic is fabulous this way one avoids all those pesticides since it is used a lot on the green wonder veggie!
Thanks for the information. It's great to know something so good for us is so delicious.
Thanks.
baby/small spinach leaves should have much less oxalic acid.
thanks
Hooray spinach! Thanks for the article.
thank you, I baby spinach leaves in salads
Yummy spinach, raw, cooked etc.
We like spinach....fresh or cooked..it doesn't matter how its done. It is one of those good for you foods that nobody wants to eat......to bad for them!
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