10 reasons why you need to include spinach in your diet
Spinach is a staple of the weight-lifter’s diet. Researchers discovered that nitrates found in spinach boosts protein production in muscles, making them stronger and more efficient.
Spinach is rich in flavonoids- a phytonutrient with anti-cancer properties. It has been found to be effective in slowing down cell division in human stomach and skin cancer cells.
One cup of spinach is all you need to get a full day’s requirement of vitamin A. Beta-carotene is the form of Vitamin A found in plants like spinach and it fosters cell growth and good vision. The phytochemicals in spinach also help prevent macular degeneration and cataracts.
Spinach is a rich source of Vitamin K which helps in promoting a the production of a protein called Osteocalc in that is responsible for stabilising calcium in the bones.
Spinach is packed with nutrients and low in calories, making it an ideal way to lose weight while staying healthy. What’s even better is spinach tricks your body into feeling full, helping with portion control and reducing your temptation to snack after meals.
Spinach provides you with the required levels of magnesium in your body which helps you to generate energy for your day to day chores. Spinach is also a great source of folate, a nutrient that helps your body turn food into usable energy.
Spinach is effective in clearing up acne, thus maintaining healthy skin by making a face mask. This will remove dirt, oil and inflammation from your skin, thus refreshing and rejuvenating it from within. You can also drink spinach juice for great skin.
Fiber is the go-to nutrient for bathroom troubles. Since spinach has soluble and insoluble fiber, it helps ease you through any blockage. As an added bonus, the magnesium in spinach helps the colon contract so it draws in water to wash waste through your system.
Spinach is loaded with tons of antioxidants that destroy free radicals in your body. These free radicals damage your skin, thereby causing pre-mature ageing. Thus, eating spinach regularly will maintain the youth of your skin and slow down age related degeneration, making your skin look younger and rejuvenated.
Spinach is a super food comprising of vitamins B, C and E, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids all of which are required for healthy hair growth. Iron helps the red blood cells carry oxygen to hair follicles which is essential for healthy hair growth and strong strands.
If you remember Popeye ‘The Sailor Man’, he would gulp down a can of spinach and become 10 times stronger. That is not just in cartoon, but it also holds true in real life. Spinach, also known as ‘palak’, is a leafy vegetable with astonishing amounts of health benefits. It has a slightly bitter taste but is considered as one of the functional foods due to its nutritional, antioxidants and anti-cancer constituents.
Popeye was right, spinach is an elixir of health. Packed with vitamins and minerals, you can make palak ki sabzi, paratha, pasta, soup, smoothie or even a dip. Take a look at some of the health, skin and beauty benefits of eating spinach regularly.
– Sources: Stylecraze, Reader’s Digest, Health Fitness Revolution, Pixabay