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Spinach( Green gold) benefits
Spinach is an annual plant that is native to Asia, but is now widely cultivated in temperate regions for its edible leaves. It must have been cultivated regularly when the Graeco-Roman civilisation was at its zenith.
It was in 1929 that the cartoon Popeye was first screened playing a sailor who consumed tinfuls of spinach and got instant and spectacular muscle boost from it. However, the idea that spinach contains enormous amounts of iron useful for enriching blood and building a healthy and strong body is ill-founded. Funnily enough, it was due to the mistake of a researcher who placed the decimal point in the wrong place while analysing spinach, and therefore concluded inaccurate iron content. That does not matter, however, as spinach has plenty more to offer.
In fact, when compared calorie for calorie to other vegetables, nothing is as nutrient dense as spinach. Spinach nutrition is not just about the vitamins and minerals found within its leafy,
green exterior.
Spinach has a huge nutritional value, especially when fresh, steamed, or quickly boiled. It is loaded with such antioxidants as Vitamins A, C, E, K, B1, and B6, and minerals like potassium, calcium, zinc, etc.
Recently, opioid peptides called rubiscolins have also been found in spinach. It is a source of folic acid (Vitamin B9), and this vitamin was first purified from spinach. To benefit from the
folate in spinach, it is better to steam it than to boil it. Boiling spinach for four minutes can halve the level of folate.But, more than this, major health properties of spinach are attributed to the special substances it contains. For example, research has shown that spinach is packed with over a dozen
phytonutrients. These phytonutrients are potent substances that have properties that can fight cancer. A substance called homocysteine is believed to be an important marker of heart disease and high levels are also associated with elevated risks of stroke.
However, one of the components of spinach nutrition is folate. Folate can help neutralise harmful homocysteine.
The incidence of breast cancer may also be cut with the consumption of spinach by women. For men, prostate cancer risk may be slashed because of a carotenoid substance spinach contains called neoxanthin.Do you suffer from arthritis? You will be glad to know that spinach harbours anti-inflammatory nutrients.
For the millions of people who are concerned about cardiovascular health, the healthy effects of spinach are promising due to its free radical-fighting antioxidants.
Are you worried about macular degeneration and other common eye diseases people get as they age? Spinach has lutein which is a nutrient that has been extensively known to protect against not only macular degeneration but also cataracts.
To get optimal spinach nutrition, you should thoroughly wash it and eat it raw. It works well in salads. Many dishes are prepared on a bed of spinach.
In culinary terms, this is referred to as "a la Florentine." If you cook it, try to cook it lightly to preserve most of its beneficial spinach nutrition.
.............................
Spinach is an annual plant that is native to Asia, but is now widely cultivated in temperate regions for its edible leaves. It must have been cultivated regularly when the Graeco-Roman civilisation was at its zenith.
It was in 1929 that the cartoon Popeye was first screened playing a sailor who consumed tinfuls of spinach and got instant and spectacular muscle boost from it. However, the idea that spinach contains enormous amounts of iron useful for enriching blood and building a healthy and strong body is ill-founded. Funnily enough, it was due to the mistake of a researcher who placed the decimal point in the wrong place while analysing spinach, and therefore concluded inaccurate iron content. That does not matter, however, as spinach has plenty more to offer.
In fact, when compared calorie for calorie to other vegetables, nothing is as nutrient dense as spinach. Spinach nutrition is not just about the vitamins and minerals found within its leafy,
green exterior.
Spinach has a huge nutritional value, especially when fresh, steamed, or quickly boiled. It is loaded with such antioxidants as Vitamins A, C, E, K, B1, and B6, and minerals like potassium, calcium, zinc, etc.
Recently, opioid peptides called rubiscolins have also been found in spinach. It is a source of folic acid (Vitamin B9), and this vitamin was first purified from spinach. To benefit from the
folate in spinach, it is better to steam it than to boil it. Boiling spinach for four minutes can halve the level of folate.But, more than this, major health properties of spinach are attributed to the special substances it contains. For example, research has shown that spinach is packed with over a dozen
phytonutrients. These phytonutrients are potent substances that have properties that can fight cancer. A substance called homocysteine is believed to be an important marker of heart disease and high levels are also associated with elevated risks of stroke.
However, one of the components of spinach nutrition is folate. Folate can help neutralise harmful homocysteine.
The incidence of breast cancer may also be cut with the consumption of spinach by women. For men, prostate cancer risk may be slashed because of a carotenoid substance spinach contains called neoxanthin.Do you suffer from arthritis? You will be glad to know that spinach harbours anti-inflammatory nutrients.
For the millions of people who are concerned about cardiovascular health, the healthy effects of spinach are promising due to its free radical-fighting antioxidants.
Are you worried about macular degeneration and other common eye diseases people get as they age? Spinach has lutein which is a nutrient that has been extensively known to protect against not only macular degeneration but also cataracts.
To get optimal spinach nutrition, you should thoroughly wash it and eat it raw. It works well in salads. Many dishes are prepared on a bed of spinach.
In culinary terms, this is referred to as "a la Florentine." If you cook it, try to cook it lightly to preserve most of its beneficial spinach nutrition.
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