What are the benefits of spinach?

Spinach, a true green gem among vegetables, is rich in essential vitamins and minerals ready to boost your health.

Known as a superfood, spinach is a true ally and is known for its iron content and numerous health benefits. Whether it’s crispy new shoots in spring or sautéed leaves in winter, discover all the goodness it brings to your plate.

Healthy smoothie for your bones

Although it is not the undisputed champion in iron content, its combination with vitamin C makes it an excellent ally for fatigue, both physical and mental. But that’s not all: its magnesium richness provides a welcome boost to maintain overall tone and protect your bones. Add to this a generous dose of potassium, calcium and vitamin K, and you have a foolproof recipe for fighting osteoporosis and staying in tip-top shape.

Ingredient of choice for good digestion

Spinach, containing only 20 calories per 100 grams, is a real ally for weight loss. Their high water and fiber content gently fills you up, preventing unwanted food cravings. But that’s not all: thanks to betaine, spinach takes care of your liver, thereby helping to maintain a flat stomach by protecting the liver system.

Apart from promoting regular intestinal transit, they are also known for their ability to detoxify the body. Spinach is no slouch when it comes to cardiovascular health: its richness in potassium makes it an important tool in the fight against high blood pressure. In addition, the vitamin K they contain helps prevent arterial calcification, providing additional cardiovascular protection.

Disease-fighting superfood

Thanks to its richness in antioxidants, spinach offers a wide range of benefits. Its low glycemic index of 15 makes it particularly suitable for people with diabetes, and the alpha lipoic acid it contains helps lower blood glucose levels while improving insulin sensitivity. It also reduces the burning and numbness often associated with this condition and promotes the regeneration of damaged nerve fibers.

According to several scientific studies, antioxidants in spinach such as chlorophyll, ferulic acid and neoxanthin also help fight various types of cancer, including digestive, breast, prostate and lung cancers.

Good for the eyes and brain thanks to spinach

Rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, powerful antioxidant pigments, spinach plays a critical role in preventing cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and retinitis pigmentosa. In addition, their abundance in folic acid (vitamin B9) not only stimulates the production of serotonin to fight depression, but also helps slow down the aging process of the brain.

Food with beauty benefits?

While spinach is delicious in cooking, it’s also a real superhero for skin and hair, offering a wide range of benefits: free radical protection with its antioxidant vitamins, UV and blue light protection with lutein, and skin detoxification. strengthen hair thanks to vitamin A and give natural shine thanks to beta-carotene.

How to eat spinach?

During the winter season, from January to June, spinach is perfect for various preparations. During the colder months, spinach leaves are cooked with butter, adding richness to many hot dishes. On the other hand, in spring, young spinach shoots are eaten in a lighter form, raw, in mixed salads, where they combine harmoniously with other fresh vegetables.

To reap the full benefits of spinach, choose fresh, organically grown leaves. If you choose frozen spinach, also choose organic, which is not only better for your health, but also better for the environment.

To fully include spinach in your diet, try to eat it at least twice a week, and consult your doctor if necessary, especially if you are undergoing certain medical treatments. When choosing fresh, choose smooth green leaves, then rinse them thoroughly before cooking to retain nutrients. Cooked or raw spinach has different benefits: Cooking releases more nutrients, while raw spinach retains vitamin C better. If you prefer canned spinach, be sure to choose foods that are not too rich in salt or sugar.

Some precautions for use

Although spinach offers many health benefits, it is important to take some precautions. First, once cooked, it’s important to eat them quickly because, like celery or beets, they can release potentially toxic nitrites if stored at room temperature for too long. However, refrigerated storage significantly reduces this risk.

If you have a history of kidney stones or are taking blood thinners, it is recommended that you avoid spinach to avoid any complications. If you have any concerns, consult your doctor for appropriate advice.