Several of you have asked about the large amounts of spinach that we eat and that I buy. I eat spinach salads several times per week, put it on sandwiches, use it on tacos, etc. I just wanted to encourage you to try to supplement spinach for anything that you would normally put lettuce on. Lettuce really has no nutritional value. Now I can eat a huge spinach salad and know that I am getting health benefits for me and my family. Plus, fresh spinach tastes really good!
My 3 year old LOVES to put it on everything too. One of her (me too!) favorite meals is to have a spinach salad topped with shredded chicken, kidney beans, cheese, croutons and a baked potato on the side. Finish it up with some watermelon and it is a perfect summertime lunch or dinner.
Listed below are just a few of the health benefits of eating Spinach:
*Spinach is loaded with calcium, folic acid, vitamin K and iron.
*Spinach is also rich in vitamin C, fiber and carotenoids. Add its lutein and bioflavanoids and spinach is a nutritional powerhouse!
*The calcium content in spinach strengthens bones.
*The A and C vitamins in spinach plus the fiber, folic acid, magnesium and other nutrients help control cancer, especially colon, lung and breast cancers. Folate also lowers the blood levels of something called homocysteine, a protein that damages arteries. So spinach also helps protect against heart disease.
*The flavonoids in spinach help protect against age related memory loss. (who doesn't need help with that!)
*Spinach contains choline and inositol, the substances that help to prevent atherosclerosis or thickening and hardening of arteries.
*Spinach and alfalfa help stabilize blood sugar among diabetics.
*Spinach is an anti-aging vegetable.
*Spinach is a good source of Vitamin K, which aids in the formation of the blood substance required for clotting of blood.
*Spinach is also helpful in the following cases; Anemia, Tumors, Constipation, Insomnia, Obesity, Neuritis (inflammation of nerves), Nerve exhaustion, High blood pressure, Bronchitis, Colon cancer, Prostate cancer, Breast cancer, Osteoporosis, Dyspepsia (chronic indigestion), Also helps ailment of the kidneys, bladder and liver.
*Spinach's secret weapon, lutein, makes it one of the best foods in the world to prevent cataracts, as well as age related macular degeneration, the leading cause of preventable blindness in the elderly. Foods rich in lutein are also thought to help prevent cancer.
*Information was taken from the following sources:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Health_Benefits_of_Spinach
http://www.cookingnook.com/health-benefits-of-spinach.html
Hope this research has at least made you want to try spinach this week. Can't wait to hear how much you like it too!
Blessings~
SHO
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