Fruits and vegetables are important for a healthy body and one very common vegetable that is packed with goodness for the body is the spinach. It is known to be the source of many vitamins including Vitamin C, K, A, B2, B6, and minerals such as magnesium, folate, manganese, iron, potassium, phosphorus, protein, zinc, copper, selenium, niacin and omega-3 fatty acids. Spinach is a deep green leafy vegetable that can be consumed in a number of delicious ways for great health benefits including improved digestion. It is good for all age groups including weaned infants and the folate or folic acid is beneficial in early fetal development for expectant mothers.
Spinach as a Multi-Vitamin
Spinach is readily available and affordable in the market and can be grown with ease in the kitchen garden. It can be eaten raw in a salad, pureed as a sauce, boiled and even lightly cooked on its own or with other vegetables. When pureed and added to dough, it adds a unique flavour to chapatis. Spinach tends to be salty due to the minerals in it so people on a salt-free diet might have to avoid it or consume it in controlled quantities. The creator of the popular cartoon character, Popeye, must have know a thing or two about the benefits of spinach as Popeye ate a lot of spinach and got a boost of instant energy and muscles to fight his enemies.
Compared to red meat, spinach is a healthier source of iron as it packs much less harmful cholesterol making it ideal for menstruating women, growing children and adolescents. Spinach is also a heart-friendly vegetable due to its anti-oxidizing properties from the constituent Vitamin C and A. Spinach should be eaten fresh as soon as it is purchased or picked for the full benefits to be realized.
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