Spinach Benefits
Miraculous spinach is a green leafy vegetable having numerous health benefits and excellent ayurvedic ability. It is one such vegetable that is not only beneficial against cancer but many other things like spinach helps in weight loss, it lowers the blood pressure, prevent birth defects and heart problems by strengthening it and numerous more.
Spinach is Rich in...
Name any important mineral and vitamin, it is there is spinach thus mounting the number of spinach benefits. This green leafy vegetable is rich in Vitamin A, K, C, B2 (Riboflavin), and B6. It is also an excellent source of manganese, folate, calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium. Too much in one vegetable. Isn't it. The percentage daily value of vitamin K in 100 grams of spinach (1 cup) is 1110.6%, vitamin A is 377.3%, manganese is 84.0% whereas folate is 65.7%. Apart from all these it is also rich in tryptophan, dietary fiber, copper, protein, phosphorous, zinc, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B3 (niacin) and selenium.
Spinach Health Benefits
Spinach Benefits in Ayurveda
- There are at least 13 different flavonoid compounds that act as antioxidants and anti-cancer agents present in spinach.
- If you are looking for something that enriches the complexion then look no further and eat spinach. As per ayurveda it is one of the cooling medicine.
- If you are suffering from headache then bandage spinach leaves on your forehead. You will be relieved.
- Consumption of spinach also reduces the high blood pressure and any kind of inflammation in blood vessels. It is because of the presence of folate in it. Folate coverts the harmful chemical homocysteine that causes hearth attacks and stroke to benign molecules.
- Carotenoid present in spinach fights human prostrate cancer. Neoxanthin, the carotenoid in spinach leads to the self-destruction of cancerous cells. Neoxanthin is converted into neochromes in intestines and this put the cancerous cells of prostate into the state of stasis. This prevent their replication.
- Vitamin K promotes the bone health in your body.
- Magnessium lowers the high blood pressure.
- Damaging affect of free radicals is controlled by vitamin C and beta-carotene.
- Get better eye sight with spinach.
How to Consume Spinach for more Health Benefits
Try not to consume raw spinach as it contains oxalic acid that damage blood vessels. Sometimes consuming raw spinach in excess can also lead to
arthritis, rheumatism and gout. In some other cases the problem of gallstone and kidney stones have been noticed with the raw consumption of spinach.
To reduce the oxalic acid boil the spinach. Change the boiling water once or twice and drain the water after boiling. We wont deny that nutritional value do decreases with this process but then also most of these minerals and vitamins are retained with very less quantity of oxalic acid that is harmful to consume. Therefore consuming cooker spinach is healthier than the raw spinach.
Every spinach is not as good as mentioned because of excessive use of sprays and pesticides. According to Environmental Working Group (EWG) spinach is the eighth most likely vegetable to carry pesticides even after washing. Pick the spinach that is completely green with no yellowing or yellow leaves. Do not buy wilted leaves. Do not store the washed spinach as any moisture content will spoil it. Also better to consume it once you made it rather than eating the stored vegetable.