Spinach: The Superfood of Superheroes
By Chris Brown
While Popeye gave spinach its fame in the superhero community, I wouldn't be surprised if all heroes boosted their powers daily with this supercharged, vitamin-packed superfood.
The Superhero Benefits of Spinach
Spinach's nutrient content is nearly unmatched in the edible natural world. This plant is packed with ingredients that aid everything from vision to longevity. Eating a spinach salad leaves anyone feeling ready to save a city. However, it is important to keep its processing to a minimum before eating. Boiling or steaming spinach causes many of the nutrients to leach out from the leaves.
- Super vision - Spinach is rich in plant compounds, lutein and zeaxanthin, that are linked to eye health and boosting vision.
- Healing powers - Spinach grants you with extraordinary healing abilities, thanks to its makeup rich in Vitamins K1 and C. Vitamin K1 is essential for blood clotting that is necessary for speedy healing of the cuts and scrapes that may be received while fighting bad guys. Vitamin C supports your immune system with strong antioxidants, so you don't have to take any days off with a cold or flu. Spinach is similarly packed with the plant compounds kaempferol and quercetin which protect against chronic diseases, infections, and inflammation.
- Invincibility - While spinach may not make you invincible, its high calcium content can strengthen your bones so that you feel that way.
- Magically smooth skin - Not exactly a superpower, but just as impressive, smooth and younger-looking skin can be obtained by spinach. It contains folic acid and iron which help generate hemoglobin and bring oxygen to skin.
- Super heart immortality - Spinach is crammed with nitrates that promote heart health and prevent the number one cause of early mortality in the United States, heart disease.
Spinach Is Not for Everyone
As any superpower has its kryptonite, spinach has its downside and is not for everyone. Spinach contains two compounds, oxalate and purines, which can cause kidney stones or, worse, gout. So those with a history of these conditions may want to avoid this leafy green. For the average person, the risk of kidney stones is minimal with moderate spinach intake and is well outweighed by its benefits. Because spinach grows outside of the ground, it is also prone to having pesticide residue depending upon the growing process. That is why spinach is one food that may be worth the extra money spent by purchasing organic.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lake Worth, Tex.