Spinach Health Benefits

Popoye the Spinach lover

Spinach is a green, leafy vegetable that is affordable for everyone. It has high vitamin, mineral, pigments and phytonutrients. The presence of all of these together make spinach very beneficial for a number of vital processes, hence it is advisable to consume spinach on a regular basis. Spinach is a member of the Aramanthaceae family and its scientific name is Spinacia oleracea. One of the biggest reasons why spinach is so important and valued around the world is that it is very durable. It can even survive through the winter and be just as healthy in the spring.

Spinach is native to the Middle East, and was cultivated in Persia thousands of years ago. From there, it was brought east into China, approximately 1,500 years ago. It made its way into Europe a few hundred years later and quickly became a staple in a number of cultural cuisines. It can be eaten raw as a part of many salads, and it can also be cooked or sautéed down into a reduced form. This can be eaten as a side dish vegetable, or included in a number of recipes for soups, stews, and casseroles. It has been used in various parts of the world as a medicinal plant specifically included in cooking to help increase overall health. Let’s take a closer look at why this leafy vegetable is such an integral part of our overall health by seeing the nutritional benefits of spinach.

The various health benefits of spinach are due to the presence of minerals, vitamins, pigments and phytonutrients, including potassium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, calcium and iron. It is a source of vitamins like folate, Vitamin A, B6, C and traces of rest of the essential vitamins. Other important elements, including riboflavin and thiamine, which are involved in various metabolic reactions in our body, are also found in spinach. Spinach is also rich in pigments like beta carotene, lutein, xanthene, and chlorophyllin. The best part is that spinach has a low fat content. Spinach offers a wide range of benefits to most of our physiological processes, whether consumed in raw or cooked form.

Health Benefits of Spinach

The Spinach Leaves

Spinach has many important roles to play in human body; various health benefits of spinach include the following:

Maintains Blood Pressure: Spinach has a very high content of potassium and a low content of sodium. This composition of minerals is very beneficial for high blood pressure patients as potassium lowers and sodium raises the blood pressure. The folate present in spinach also contributes to the reduction of hypertension and relaxes blood vessels, while maintaining proper blood flow. Hence overall cardiovascular health is improved.

Prevents Strokes and Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis is caused due to the hardening of the arteries. A pigment called lutein that is found in spinach has been shown to reduce the occurrence of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes. This is due to the presence of protein in spinach that tend to reduce the cholesterol and other fat deposits in the blood vessels.

Good Eyesight: Spinach is a rich source of beta carotene, lutein and xanthene, all of which benefit the eye health. Beta carotene is supplied to the eyes by cooked spinach. It can prevent people from suffering from vitamin A deficiency, itching eyes, eye ulcers and dry eyes. This is also due to some of the anti-inflammatory properties of spinach, which can reduce the puffiness or irritation in the eyes.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): AMD or Retinitis pigmentosa is responsible for causing blindness. It is due to the degeneration of lutein and xanthene which form a central part of the retina. According to research conducted by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the consumption of spinach can result in regaining two vital pigments and effectively preventing AMD. Spinach also contains a wealth of antioxidants that reduce the harmful effects of free radicals, which are known to negatively impact vision and cause age-related conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Neurological Benefits: Several constituents of spinach like folate, potassium, and various antioxidants are known to provide the neurological benefits to those who consume spinach regularly. According to Neurological science, folate reduces due the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease, so spinach which is a good source of folate, can be a good idea for those who are at high risk of neural or cognitive decline. Potassium is an integral part of brain health as well, and it has been linked to increased blood flow to the brain, and heightened cognition, concentration, and neural activity.

Strengthens Muscles: A component of spinach, called The factor C0-Q10, which is an antioxidant, plays an important role in strengthening the muscles, especially heart muscles which continuously pump blood to all parts of the body. According to the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, C0-Q10 can be used to prevent and treat many cardiovascular diseases like hyperlipidemia, heart failure, hypertension and coronary heart disease.

Bone Mineralization: Spinach is a good source of Vitamin K, which functions in retaining calcium in the bone matrix, thereby leading to bone mineralization. Apart from this, other minerals like copper, manganese, magnesium, zinc and phosphorous also help in building up of strong bones. This in turn can prevent an individual from developing osteoporosis of the bones. These minerals are also essential for maintaining healthy teeth and nails.

For Healthy Recipes on Spinach visit:

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/1784/fruits-and-vegetables/vegetables/greens/spinach/

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