The fifth wonder-food to be highlighted in the Super Foods for Superior Health series is spinach. Found in local grocery stores, produce stands, and health food stores across Metro Detroit, this is one super food that you won’t have to jump through hoops to get your hands on. Throughout the Super Foods for Superior Health series, you’ll learn about these super foods and how to incorporate them into your diet. And while these super foods should make an appearance during many of your meals, remember that choosing a variety of healthy fruits, vegetables, and grains will ensure your nutrient intake is well rounded. Read Part 1 of the series on pomegranates, Part 2 of the series on sweet potatoes, Part 3 of the series on blueberries, and Part 4 of the series on acai berries.
Spinach: Why it’s a Super Food
Spinach is the dark green, leafy vegetable that is known the country over for its health benefits. Studies have shown that spinach may help prevent and even reverse such diverse ailments as heart disease and acne. Spinach has also been said to regulate blood pressure, fight cancer and inflammation, promote eye, skin, and bone health, and starve off diabetes.
Spinach is able to do all of these wonderful things because of its high antioxidant, fiber and protein content. In fact, spinach provides more protein than any other vegetable with 12% of the recommended daily value of protein in just one cup of these leafy greens. Spinach is extremely high in Vitamins A, C, and K while providing over 25% of the recommended daily value of iron, potassium and magnesium. Packed with flavonoids and carotenoids, spinach is also a good source of fiber.
Spinach: How to incorporate it into your diet
It is relatively easy to incorporate spinach into your diet. Just pick up some fresh or frozen spinach leafs from your local grocery store or produce stand and start adding in a cup or more to a variety of recipes. Spinach provides additional color and flavor when added to pasta of any kind, freshens up sandwiches, and provides a great start to any day when put into scrambled eggs and omelets. Of course, you can always make a simple spinach salad to add to any meal.
Remember to choose the darkest spinach leaves available, and if you are buying fresh, make sure to use them up fast or freeze them. Spinach loses nutrient value quite quickly; unless you freeze it, you have about eight days from the time it was picked before it becomes significantly less effective in terms of health benefits.
Super Foods for Superior Health Part 1: Pomegranate
Super Foods for Superior Health Part 2: Sweet Potatoes
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