Popeye liked spinach for his biceps, but he was in the dark about how good it is for your eyes. Optometrist Dr. Ian Murray is leading a study that is trying to find the link between the retina disease Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) and a chemical found in leafy greens. Spinach is high in the vitamin A-rich pigments lutein and zeaxanthin, which may help prevent night blindness and macular degeneration, a common cause of blindness in the elderly. Of course, the benefits of spinach do not stop there. It’s also high in iron, vitamin C, folate, and is a good source of magnesium and fiber.
People are eating more spinach, too. Consumption is up over 60% in ten years, partly due to the convenient ways you can buy it. Whether it’s pre-washed in bulk or bags, or traditional bunched. Some prefer the flat leaf varieties to the textured savoy and semi-savoy, but they are all tasty – especially when grown in cool weather. If spinach today seems sweeter than it used to, it’s because seed companies bred some of the bitter tasting calcium oxalate out. And one quick note before you toss that spinach into your bowl: spinach and sand seem to have a magnetic attraction, making it advisable to rinse even the pre-washed under lukewarm water.
So, Why Eat Your Spinach?
- Good for eyesight
- Alkalizes the body
- Aids in digestion
- High in Vitamin A
- High in Iron
- High in Vitamin C
- High in Folate
- Good source of Magnesium
- Good source of Fiber
- IT’S DELICIOUS
Originally posted 2017-03-05 13:00:15.
