Spinach For Strength and Energy
Spinach was a superfood even before there was the term Powerfood.
We’re referring of course to Popeye the Sailor Man . One can of the green stuff and he turned into muscle popping tornado of energy.
Even without Popeye’s recommendation, spinach contains more nutrients per calorie than any other food on the earth.
8 Benefits of Spinach:
1. Loaded with vitamins like A, K, D, and E and a host of trace minerals.
2. Good source omega 3 fatty acid – the kind most of us need in North America
3. Anti-Cancer and Anti-inflammatory antioxidants:
Researchers have identified more than a dozen different flavonoid compounds in spinach that function as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents.
In a recent study on the relationship between risk of prostate cancer and vegetable intake (including such healthy vegetables as broccoli, cabbage, and brussel sprouts) only spinach showed evidence of significant protection against the occurrence of aggressive prostate cancer.
4. Alkalizes the body:
All those minerals helps to balance off the highly acid diet which most of us subject our bodies to and which drains our energy, increases obesity and a host of other health problems.
5. Good for the eyes:
The carotenoids found in spinach protects against eye diseases such as cataracts and Macular Degeneration.
6. Strengthens the Bones:
One cup of fresh spinach (or 1/6 cup of cooked spinach) contains TWICE your daily vitamin K needs. This along with the calcium and magnesium in spinach is essential to maintain healthy bones.
7. Perfect for Green Smoothies and Salads:
Organic pre-washed spinach is now readily available in most grocery stores. If you haven’t yet tried a green smoothie yet and think they might taste yucky then try one with the main ingredient as spinach. Spinach is so sweet, we guarantee you will be impressed. To see Diana make her own special brand of green smoothie click here. Diana’s Green Smoothie
8. Spinach is FRESH!
Studies have shown that those plastic tubs of spinach being exposed to even artificial light in the grocery store are actually help keep it from spoiling. This indicates the spinach is still metabolically active and fresh.
Tips and Cautions:
Tip #1: Make sure you only choose organic spinach. Non-organic spinach is on the list of top foods with lots of chemical pesticides. You can assume that canned spinach is NOT organic. I can’t imagine anyone eating canned spinach anyway but since we mentioned Popeye I thought I had better mentions that.
Tip #2: Choose the GREENEST looking spinach you can find. Probably you would have anyway but studies have shown that the greenest spinach has the most vitamin C.
Tip #3: Because spinach contains high levels of so many nutrients it also has significant levels of oxalic acid. This has been associated with kidney problems and interference with absorption of other minerals.
There is much debate whether the oxalates in spinach would have this kind of effect but just be sure, if you have a pre-existing kidney problem, better to consult your doctor before eating too much.
At Real Food For Life, we recommend that a person balance their body enough so that they can use their own bodies as a gauge on how much or little to eat of a particular food.
For example, I usually crave spinach but sometimes I just don’t want it in my body. I suspect that perhaps I have reached my limit for something, (like the oxalates) within the food.
This personalized approach to your nutrition is the easiest and ultimately the most powerful approach to nutritional choices. We explain this more in our “Three Secrets” report.
Recipes with Spinach:
Power Spinach Salad: You just HAVE TO know how to make a good spinach salad. This one is great.
Spinach Salad With Walnuts A very yummy salad.
Miso Soup with Spinach and Mushrooms: This is fast, tasty, and contains at least three powerfoods.
Diana’s Green Smoothie With a Difference: Easy way to get your spinach into your day.
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Hi, there. I LOVE spinach and use it almost daily. I even have it for fast breakfast smoothie. I do not measure , I just put a bunch of spinach in the blender, about 1/4 cup of blueberries ( fresh or frozen), about 3 frozen strawberries ( if they are large), heaping tablespoon of ground flax seed, scoop of protein mix I use and about one cup of almond milk. I blend it until just ground and enjoy. A complete meal in a rush in a glass.
With good Health to all, Henna
Hi Randy/Diana; I very much enjoyed your information on the spinach. I have quit using lettuce for salads especially since Dr. Chen said lettuce was the vegetable with the least nutrition. So now it is only spinach – even on sandwiches. Tastes great and even keeps better than lettuce does. Have a wonderful week! Christine
Hi Christine: i agree with you about lettuce. It tends to be mostly air and water. I don't eliminate it though since every food has it's own unique goodness and benefits. Romaine lettuce is less air and water than iceberg.