Spinach is considered to be one of the most versatile leafy greens. Whether you have chilled spinach salads, make smoothies, stir-fry it, have it steamed and sautéed, or include them in brownies, you always have more than a few ways to enjoy spinach. It is said to have a number of health benefits. The most interesting thing about spinach is that you can pretty easily mix it into your meals. Experts have revealed that you can get a number of perks by consuming this power-packed plant. This auricle would discuss a few of those and throw some light on the ways you can enjoy spinach by including it into your snacks and meals. So, get on with it.
Spinach Is Packed With A Lot Of Nutrients
You can derive 20 calories from three cups of raw spinach. Plus, you get 2 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber, 3 grams of carbs, and no fat. Though there are fewer calories in spinach, it is rich in essential nutrients. Three cups give you more than 300% of the daily requirement of Vitamin K, which is good for your bones.
Aside from that, you also get more than 160% of the daily requirement of vitamin A as well as around 40% of the daily goal of vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for healthy skin and immunity. In addition to these, spinach also offers 45% of your daily requirement of folate. Folate is a B vitamin that helps in the formation of DNA and RBCs or red blood cells. Spinach also offers 10% of the daily need for potassium, 15% of the daily need for iron as well as magnesium, and 6% as far as calcium is concerned.
Spinach Has High Quantities of Antioxidants
Aside from all the essential minerals and vitamins that are associated with spinach, it is also known for its rich content of antioxidants. Antioxidants reduce inflammation and protect your body from diseases. Spinach has kaempferol. It is a flavonoid that is known to diminish the risk of developing cancer and decelerate the growth and spread of cancerous cells. Quercetin, another antioxidant present in spinach, boosts your memory and has positive effects on type 2 diabetes as well as any heart disease.
Spinach Supports Brain Health
Spinach is known for its anti-inflammatory benefits. It protects your brain as you start aging. According to a study, researchers who kept a track of the eating patterns and also the cognitive abilities of around 950 senior adults over a time period of five years observed a substantial decrease in the decline rate of their cognitive abilities among those who had green and leafy veggies for their daily diet. This particular data implies that people who consumed one or two servings of spinach or other leafy greens on a daily basis boast of similar cognitive abilities to that of an individual who is around 11 to 12 years younger and doesn’t consume leafy greens daily.
Spinach Manages Blood Pressure
According to various reports, spinach has been found to be a rich source of nitrates that occur naturally. These compounds open up the blood vessels in order to boost blood flow and relieve the heart from much of the workload. A spinach drink, powered by rocket salad and beetroot juice lowers the blood pressure, as has been found in a number of studies. This drink also has the ability to lower the diastolic blood pressure for around five hours.
Spinach is good for the Eyes
Lutein is an antioxidant that’s present in spinach. It is known to diminish the risk of AMD or age-related macular degeneration. AMD is an eye disease that can lead to blurry vision. It prevents you from performing activities like reading or driving. People who are 50 and older are the most affected. Since there is no treatment or cure for this condition, prevention is the best step you can take. Consuming spinach, which has optimum amounts of lutein, can increase the levels of lutein in the blood. Aside from this, it also accentuates the measures of MPOD or macular pigment optical density.
In addition to everything benefit that has been stated above, spinach has some more benefits that can curb the risk of various common diseases. Therefore, don’t forget to add the leafy greens to your diet plan.