Health Benefits of Spinach Suggested by Grill Heat Aid

Spinach is a leafy green vegetable. It is also a great source of calcium, vitamins, iron, and antioxidants. Due to its iron and calcium content, spinach is a great addition to any meat- or dairy-free diet. One cup of raw spinach is mostly made up of water and contains only 7 calories. Spinach also provides a good amount of iron for energy and healthy blood, and a good level of magnesium for muscle and nerve function. People enjoy spinach raw in salads, sandwiches, and smoothies. Cooked spinach also has significant health benefits and is a great addition to pasta dishes and soups.

It also provides the following nutrients: 

• an adult’s full daily requirements for vitamin K. Vitamin K is essential for a healthy body, and especially so for strong bones. It improves how well the body absorbs calcium.
• high amounts of vitamin A
• vitamin C
• magnesium
• folate
• iron
• calcium
• antioxidants

Health Benefits of Spinach

Improves Eyesight: Spinach is a rich source of beta-carotene, lutein, and xanthene, all of which are beneficial for eyesight. Beta-carotene, in raw spinach, helps boost eye health. It can also prevent vitamin A deficiencies, itching eyes, eye ulcers, and dry eyes. The anti-inflammatory properties of these greens can also reduce the puffiness or irritation in the eyes.  They also reduce the impact of free radicals, which can be a major cause of cataracts and other eye conditions.

Macular Degeneration: AMD or Retinitis pigmentosa is responsible for causing blindness, which is due to the degeneration of lutein and xanthine that are a central part of the retina. It was revealed that patients with AMD, must consume fresh green leafy vegetables, specifically spinach because it contains carotenoids. It also contains a wealth of antioxidants that reduce the harmful effects of free radicals, which are known to negatively impact vision and cause age-related conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration as well.

Provides Neurological Benefits: Several components of this vegetable like potassium, folate, and various antioxidants are known to provide neurological benefits to people who regularly consume it. Folate helps to reduce the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease. So consuming spinach might be a good idea for people who are at risk of neural or cognitive decline. Potassium is an integral part of brain health as well, and it has been linked to increased blood flow to the brain and heightened cognition, concentration, and neural activity.

Relieves Symptoms of Hemophilia: Vitamin K-rich spinach helps in blood clotting by producing prothrombin and it helps relieve symptoms of hemophilia. It is great for controlling excessive bleeding and it also keeps the liver functioning by stimulating the production of glycogen.

Maintains Blood Pressure: Spinach is rich in potassium and contains low sodium content in its raw form prior to preparation. This composition of minerals is very beneficial for people with high blood pressure as potassium helps regulate blood pressure. Folate present in spinach also contributes to the reduction of hypertension and relaxes blood vessels, while maintaining proper blood flow.

Strengthens Muscles: Factor Coenzyme-Q10 (C0-Q10), which is an antioxidant present in spinach, plays an important role in strengthening muscles, especially heart muscles which continuously pump blood to all parts of the body. C0-Q10 can be used to prevent many cardiovascular diseases like hyperlipidemia, heart failure, hypertension, and coronary heart disease.

Helps in Bone Mineralization: Spinach is a good source of vitamin K, which functions in retaining calcium in the bone matrix, thereby leading to bone mineralization. [10] Apart from this, other minerals like manganese, copper, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus also help in building up strong bones.

Helps Aid the Digestive System: Spinach has the ability to protect the mucous membrane of the stomach, thereby decreasing the occurrence of gastric ulcers. [11] Furthermore, the glycoglycerolipids found in spinach can boost the strength of the digestive tract lining, thereby preventing any unwanted inflammation in that part of the body.

Prevents Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis is caused due to the hardening of the arteries. A pigment called lutein that is found in spinach has been shown to reduce the occurrence of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes. This is due to the fact that spinach proteins tend to reduce cholesterol and other fat deposits in the blood vessels.

Helps with Fetal Development: Spinach is rich in folate and is suggested for pregnant women. A growing fetus needs ample amount of folate for proper development of the nervous system. Defects like cleft palate or spina bifida may occur due to a deficiency of folate. The high levels of vitamin A in it are advised to be consumed in recommended daily amounts by the mother.

Reduces Inflammation: There are many anti-inflammatory compounds found in spinach; more than a dozen, in fact. They are classified into the category of methylenedioxy flavonoid glucuronides, and spinach is one of the most powerful vegetables when it comes to reducing inflammation throughout the body. 

Anticancer Effect: Spinach is made up of various important constituents that have been found to be promising in the prevention of various kinds of cancer. These include bladder, prostate, liver and lung cancers. Different constituents in spinach like folate, tocopherol, and chlorophyllin act via different mechanisms to protect patients suffering from cancer.

Protects Skin: Different phytonutrients and pigments have been shown to protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun, including UV rays. These not only protect but also repair the damaged genes to some extent, thereby preventing skin cancer in the long run.

Proteins for Infant Growth: ‘Popeye, the Sailor Man’ is known for his obsession with spinach. The cartoon was deliberately aimed to convince children to eat spinach and get strong. Infants are advised to be fed spinach, which will give them protein, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. These nutrients result in proportionate development in their essential growing stages.