Good Reasons to Eat More Spinach
Spinach is a top-notch food when it comes to nutritional value. Not only that, there are so many delicious ways to include it in your diet, from serving it as a side, to including it in salads, pasta, pizza, omelettes, and smoothies just to name a few! Below are a few good reasons you might want to consider making spinach a regular part of your diet.
Spinach is an excellent source of fiber
A high fiber diet can help prevent certain diseases. Fiber is especially important for proper digestive health. Also, there is strong evidence that people who get plenty of fiber in their diet are much less likely to have heart disease. Most of us get far less than the recommended amount a fiber day, so eating more foods such as spinach can help us increase our intake.
Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K
It has one of the highest sources of vitamin K you can get from a food. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and also works with other minerals to keep our bones strong and healthy.
Spinach is rich in folic acid, a water-soluble B vitamin
Folic acid is important for good cognitive function and helps slow the effects of aging on the brain. Without folic acid you cannot make enough new cells fast enough to replace the old ones that wear out. Folic acid also helps prevent birth defects and heart disease. High levels of folic acid are linked to lower cancer rates while low levels are linked to depression.
Spinach is a rich source of the powerful antioxidant lutein
There are nearly 30,000 micrograms of lutein per cup of frozen spinach. . Lutein is a carotenoid that helps protect against vision loss, cataracts, and macular degeneration. It has also been shown to help prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. Lutein may also help protect your skin from UV rays, pollutants, and toxins in the environment.
Spinach contains lipoic acid
Lipoic acid, sometimes called thiotic acid, is an important nutrient that helps our bodies convert carbohydrates and fats into energy. It’s also a powerful antioxidant and helps protect our cells from damage. Lipoic acid is also important in supporting the activity of vitamin C and vitamin E.
Spinach is a good source of beta-carotene
Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant that helps maintain healthy skin and slow the aging process. It’s also been shown to reduce the risk of developing cataracts, as well as fight against heart disease and cancer.
Spinach contains glycoglycerolipids
Recent research has shown that glycoglycerolipids from spinach can help protect the lining of the digestive track from damage related to unwanted inflammation.
Spinach is great food for those concerned with weight management
Calorie for calorie, leafy green vegetables like spinach provide more nutrients than any other food.
