A little goes a long way when it
comes to this powerhouse green
When it comes to spinach, we inevitably
think of Popeye and there’s a good reason he ate so much of the green stuff:
spinach is a veritable powerhouse of nutrients. The good news is, you don’t
need to neck loads of this leafy green to reap its benefits.
Just 125g of fresh spinach will provide you
with more than 20 nutrients, including more than your recommended daily
allowance of vitamins K and A, almost all your daily requirements of folate and
around 40 per cent of your daily magnesium needs, and all for around 30
calories. Bargain’
The
good news is, you don’t need to neck loads of this leafy green to reap its
benefits.
The leaf’s rich vitamin K and calcium
levels are great for strong bones, while its unique combination of vitamins A
and C, fiber, magnesium and folate have been shown to help prevent cancer. The
antioxidants in spinach clinch the deal: its flavonoids help to protect against
age-related memory loss and high blood pressure by keeping dangerous
inflammation at bay, while the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin have been
shown to help support eye health.
Green machine
One of the great benefits of spinach is its
high iron content, particularly if you’re veggie or suffer from heavy periods.
Just one cup of cooked spinach provides around 6.3mg of energy-producing iron.
It’s also a super workout food. Research has shown that spinach (in high doses)
may help reduce oxidative stress caused by regular exercise and protect against
muscle damage. It may also make the body more efficient - spinach contains a
compound called nitrate, which has been shown to boost the mitochondria (the
microscopic part of cells that generates most of your energy), meaning your
body will need less oxygen when exercising.
One
of the great benefits of spinach is its high iron content, particularly if
you’re veggie or suffer from heavy periods.
How to eat it
Make sure you keep your spinach
refrigerated to preserve its high nutrient content. And try to make the most of
it while it’s still fresh - keeping it for up to a week in the fridge could
drain around half of its amazing health benefits! Remember never to store
spinach in a metal container, as the iron may oxidize. And definitely don’t
follow Popeye’s serving suggestion: this veg is best enjoyed raw or lightly
cooked - not canned!
Make
sure you keep your spinach refrigerated to preserve its high nutrient content.
