Sunday, March 30, 2014

6 Reasons to Eat More Spinach

Whether you’re following a strict low-carb diet or using medical diet pills to lose weight, we always recommend a diet rich in high-fiber vegetables, especially the green leafy kind. Dark green veggies are essential to bone health, skin and hair, and spinach itself can help lower blood pressure, improve blood glucose control in diabetics, and helps stave off chronic illnesses and diseases, including some forms of cancer.

Read on for six reasons to increase your consumption of spinach.

1. Spinach alkalizes the body. Spinach contains a host of trace minerals that can help balance an acidic diet. A highly acidic diet drains our energy and increases our risk of obesity and other heath issues.

2. Potassium. Spinach is an excellent source of dietary potassium, which is recommended for those suffering from high blood pressure to negate the effects of sodium. When we lack potassium, we tend to experience water retention, making us feel heavier and more lethargic.

3. Fiber. Spinach’s high fiber and water content promotes healthy digestion and helps us feel fuller longer—it can suppress the appetite almost as well as medical diet pills!

4. Eyesight. The carotenoids in spinach, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, promote eye health and protect against eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. In addition, spinach’s high content of vitamin A aids in the preservation of the cornea.

5. Omega 3 fatty acids. Spinach is a good source of omega 3 fatty acids, which helps satiate hunger and elevates our mood. The healthy fats are essential for cardiovascular health, as they lower LDL cholesterol levels, decrease levels of unhealthy fats aka triglycerides in the blood, reduce inflammation and help to lower blood pressure.

6. Bone strength. Spinach is packed with nearly twice our daily requirement of vitamin K, as well as calcium and magnesium, all of which help us build healthy bones.

image: bakingdom.com



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