13 Health Benefits of Spinach

Spinach does not only taste good, but also offers many health benefits due to its antioxidant and high nutritional value. These are 13 Health Benefits of Spinach:

1. Anti-Inflammatory. Neoxanthin and violaxanthin are two anti-inflammatory epoxyxanthophylls which are present in unusual amounts in spinach and have vital role in regulation of inflammation.
2. Anti-Cancer. Spinach contains flavonoid compounds that function as anti-cancer agents. The spinach extracts have been shown to slow down cell division in human stomach and skin cancer cells. Other constituents in spinach like folate, tocopherol, chlorophyllin can treat and protect patients suffering from cancer.
3. Food for the eyes. It can prevent vitamin A deficiency disease, itching eyes, eye ulcers and dry eyes. Spinach also rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, that help protect the eyes from cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
4. Maintaining proper blood pressure. Spinach is high in potassium which lowers blood pressure, and has low content of sodium which raises the blood pressure. It is very beneficial for high blood pressure patients.
5. Promoting healthy skin. The high amount of vitamin A in spinach also promotes healthy skin by allowing for proper moisture retention in the epidermis, thus fighting psoriasis, keratinization, acne and even wrinkles.
6. Maintaining your bones. Spinach is a good source of bone-supportive nutrients including calcium and magnesium. It also promotes the synthesis of osteocalcin that is essential for maintaining the strength and density of your bones, which in turn can prevent
7. Strengthening the muscles. The CO-Q10 (Coenzyme Q10), an antioxidant that is found in spinach, can strengthen your muscle especially heart muscle. It can be used to prevent and treat many cardiovascular diseases like hyperlipidemia, heart failure, hypertension and coronary heart diseases.
8. Immunity booster. One cup of spinach contains over 337% of the RDA of vitamin A that is a key component of lymphocytes (or white blood cells) that fight infection.
9. Keeping healthy brain and nervous system. Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K that plays important role in keeping healthy nervous system and brain function, by providing an essential part for the synthesis of sphingolipids, the crucial fat that makes up the Myelin sheath around our nerves.
10. Promoting healthy digestion. Consuming spinach can help your digestion, prevent constipation, and curb overeating.
11. Anti-Ulcerative. Nutrients found in spinach have the ability to protect the mucous membrane of stomach thereby decreasing the occurrence of gastric ulcers.
12. Foetus Development. The growing foetus needs folate (found in spinach) for proper development of new nervous system. While the vitamin A is important in lung development of foetus and during breast feeding.
13. Good for Infant’s Growth. Spinach provides most of the important nutrients (like protein, vitamins, minerals and others) needed for the infant’s growth.