Spinach makes you strong, or so we are told by Popeye. Is he right? Well, it is certainly full of great nutrition and it is a very alkaline food. It contains carotenoids, vitamins A, B, C, E and K, folate, calcium, magnesium iron and glycoglycerolipids.
Calcium and magnesium will keep your bones strong and healthy, and vitamin K is a key player in bone health too. Vitamin K also contributes to a healthy nervous system and brain function by providing an essential component that makes up the myelin sheath that covers the nerves.
Spinach contains good fibre which helps to prevent constipation, aids digestion and helps to maintain blood sugar. It is also known to play a big part in helping to prevent colon cancer, and with vitamin A and C, folate, magnesium and other nutrients they help with other cancers such as breast and lung cancer. In a recent study spinach was shown to have significant protection against aggressive prostate cancer.
Glycoglycerolipids help protect the lining of the digestive tract from damage especially damage related to unwanted inflammation. Vitamin A also protects the mucous membranes such as the respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts, and is the key component in the white blood cells that fight infections. It also promotes healthy skin.
Folate with B6 and B12 help to lower the blood levels of homocysteine , a protein that damages artery walls and encourages high cholesterol, so spinach is great for heart health too.
The carotenoids found in spinach are beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin and they play a big part in keeping your eyes healthy and reducing the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts. They are antioxidants as are vitamins C and E, that protect the body from free radicals and combat the onset of osteoporosis, heart disease and high blood pressure.
Spinach contains an unusual amount of anti-inflammatory substances that play an important role in regulating inflammation. It is also an alkaline food which is so important in good health. If your body is kept in an alkaline state, then bacteria, fungus and viruses have a problem getting a hold, they cannot live in an alkaline medium and you stay much healthier.
So, it looks like spinach is a very nutritious food, eat it raw if possible, to keep all the nutrients, or just slightly steamed, and yes, it will keep you strong!