Health Benefits Of Spinach

Dark leafy greens like spinach are important for skin and hair, bone health, and provide protein, iron, vitamins and minerals.

The possible health benefits of consuming spinach include improving blood glucose control in diabetics, lowering the risk of cancer, lowering blood pressure, improving bone health, lowering the risk of developing asthma and more.

Nutritional breakdown of spinach

One cup of raw spinach contains 27 calories, 0.86 grams of protein, 30 milligrams of calcium, 0.81 grams of iron, 24 milligrams of magnesium, 167 milligrams of potassium, 2813 IUs of Vitamin A and 58 micrograms of folate.

Most of the calories in spinach come from protein.

Possible health benefits of spinach

Diabetes management:

 spinach contains an antioxidant known as alpha-lipoic acid, which has been shown to lower glucose levels, increase insulin sensitivity and prevent oxidative stress-induced changes in patients with diabetes. Studies on alpha-lipoic acid have also shown decreases in peripheral neuropathy and/or autonomic neuropathy in diabetics.¹

Of note, most studies have used intra-venous alpha-lipoic acid and it is unsure whether oral supplementation would elicit the same benefits.

Promotes good  Eyesight:
 Spinach is one of the best dietary sources of lutein, which makes it a particularly important food for the promotion of healthy eyesight and the prevention of cataracts and macular degeneration.

A study of 356 individuals having age-related macular degeneration revealed that higher consumption of spinach led to a substantially lower risk of age-related macular degeneration.
Another study has revealed that spinach intake is associated with a lower risk of getting cataracts.

Research has found that higher dietary consumption of vitamin E and lutein is linked to significantly reduced risk of cataract.

Cancer prevention: 

Spinach and other green vegetables contain chlorophyll which has shown to be effective at blocking the carcinogenic effects of heterocyclic amines which are generated when grilling foods at a high temperature.

Research has shown that diets high in dark green vegetables like spinach are linked to a reduced risk of several types of cancer. One study has shown that higher consumption of spinach to be associated with a lower incidence of breast cancer. Another study found that one of the antioxidants in spinach slowed prostate cancer in animal as well as human prostate cancer cells. Scientific study has identified no less than 13 different flavonoid compounds known as methylenedioxyflavonol glucuronides found in spinach which function as anticancer agents.

Asthma prevention: 

The risks for developing asthma are lower in people who consume a high amount of certain nutrients. One of these nutrients is beta-carotene, of which spinach is an excellent source. Apricots, broccoli, cantaloupe, pumpkin and carrots are also rich sources of beta-carotene.³

Lowering blood pressure:

 because of its high potassium content, spinach is recommended to those with high blood pressure to negate the effects of sodium in the body. A low potassium intake may be just as big of a risk factor in developing high blood pressure as a high sodium intake.⁴

Other high potassium foods include potatoes, tomatoes, lima beans and oranges.

Bone health:

 Low intakes of vitamin K have been associated with a higher risk for bone fracture. Adequate vitamin K consumption is important for good health, as it acts as a modifier of bone matrix proteins, improves calcium absorption and may reduce urinary excretion of calcium.⁵

Promotes healthy digestive tract :

 Spinach is high in fiber and water content, both of which help to prevent constipation and promote a healthy digestive tract.

Healthy skin and hair:

 Spinach in high in vitamin A, which is necessary for sebum production to keep hair moisturized. Vitamin A is also necessary for the growth of all bodily tissues, including skin and hair. Spinach and other leafy greens high in vitamin C are imperative for the building and maintenance of collagen, which provides structure to skin and hair.

Iron

Iron-deficiency is a common cause of hair loss, which can be prevented by an adequate intake of iron-rich foods, like spinach. A lack of iron in your diet can effect how efficiently your body uses energy. Spinach is a great non-heme source of iron, along with lentils, tuna and eggs.

Potassium

Spinach is one of the best sources of dietary potassium, weighing in at 839mg per cup (cooked). To compare, one cup of banana has about 539mg of potassium.

Calcium

Spinach contains approximately 250mg of calcium per cup (cooked), however it is less easily absorbed than calcium from sources like dairy products. Spinach has a high oxalate content, which binds to calcium deeming it unavailable for use in our bodies.

When it's all said and done, our bodies can only absorb about 5% of the calcium in spinach (about 12.5mg per cup) whereas the absorption rate from calcium in milk is about 28% (300mg of calcium in one cup of milk at a bioavailability level of 28% would provide 84 mg per cup).

Magnesium

Spinach is also one of the best sources of dietary magnesium, which is necessary for energy metabolism, maintaining muscle and nerve function, heart rhythm, a healthy immune system and maintaining blood pressure. Magnesium also plays a part in hundreds more biochemical reactions that occur in the body.

Those with digestive disorders, alcoholic, older adults and individuals taking medications such as antibiotics and diuretics are more likely to have a magnesium deficiency and should consume more leafy greens.

Others:

Spinach also contains vitamin K, fiber, phosphorus and thiamine.

Incorporating more spinach into your diet

Spinach is a very versatile vegetable and can be eaten raw or cooked. It is available fresh, frozen or canned. Here are some tips to try to incorporate more spinach into your daily routine:

Incorporate spinach into pastas, soups and casseroles.

Sautee spinach in a small amount of extra virgin olive oil and season with freshly ground black pepper and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Add spinach to your wrap, sandwich or flatbread.

Make a dip with spinach, like spinach and artichoke dip or spinach goat cheese dip.

Add a handful of fresh spinach to an omelet or scramble, or throw a handful into a smoothie (see recipe below).

Green pumpkin pie smoothie recipe

Ingredients (makes 2 smoothies):

• 1/3 cup pumpkin
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1/3 cup frozen mango chunks
• 1/2 cup spinach
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons natural maple syrup
• 4 ice cubes

Precautions

If you are taking blood-thinners such as Coumadin (warfarin) it is important that you do not suddenly begin to eat more or less foods containing vitamin K, which plays a large role in blood clotting.

Consuming too much potassium can be harmful for those whose kidneys are not fully functional. If your kidneys are unable to remove excess potassium from the blood, it could be fatal.