As we start the month of March out tomorrow, we thought it appropriate to talk about one of our favorite greens. Guess what? March 26th is National Spinach Day! We’re excited to take this opportunity to share the many benefits of this green superhero.
- It’s very nutritious. Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, magnesium, folate, manganese, iron, calcium, copper, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin E, potassium, and vitamin C. It is also a good source of dietary fiber, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc, protein and choline. Talk about nutrient-dense!
- It’s versatile. There are many ways to eat spinach. You can have it raw in a salad, blend it into a smoothie, juice it in a juicer, sauté it as a side dish, bake it into a main dish, or add it to a dip. Interestingly, cooking spinach helps to increase its nutritional value. Conversely, frozen spinach tends to be less nutritious.
- Strong bones. The wealth of vitamin K and magnesium in spinach make it a major source for maintaining bone health and density.
- Fights inflammation. Spinach contains special compounds called flavonoids, which act as antioxidants and have been found to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
The list goes on. Spinach also helps support the cardiovascular system, brain health, and helps protect against eye diseases like cataracts. However, it doesn’t stop you from looking silly when it’s stuck in your teeth!
