Not only delicious to eat, the various benefits of spinach for health are also a pity to miss. These benefits come from the various nutrients contained in it. It's no wonder that spinach is often included in the daily healthy diet.
Spinach is one type of green vegetable that is widely grown and developed in Asia, including Indonesia. Not only good for adults, this vegetable is also good for consumption by babies, children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Spinach is known as a low-calorie vegetable and is rich in fiber, this makes spinach one of the vegetable choices for the diet. In addition, spinach also contains a variety of other nutrients, such as:
- Vitamin A, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, and Vitamin E
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Folic acid
- Calcium
- Potassium
In addition, spinach also contains various types of antioxidants, such as lutein and zeaxanthin.
Various Benefits of Spinach
As previously mentioned, spinach offers a variety of health benefits that are not to be missed. These benefits include:
1. Relieves inflammation
The high antioxidant content in spinach plays a role in fighting free radicals that can cause inflammation, such as disease rheumatoid arthritis. In this disease, inflammation is the cause of joint pain.
2. Boost the immune system
Spinach is also known to be high in vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, and magnesium. These various nutrients are known to boost the immune system.
3. Prevent anemia
Spinach is a good source of iron. However, these vegetables also contain oxalates which can inhibit the absorption of iron in the body. To work around this, accompany the consumption of vitamin C to help absorb iron.
4. Maintain eye health
The content of carotenoids found in spinach, such as beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin , is known to maintain eye health and reduce the risk of several diseases, such as night blindness and macular degeneration.
5. Lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease
One of the benefits of consuming spinach is that it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. This is because spinach contains nitrates that can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart problems.
6. Maintain healthy skin
As is well known, spinach is rich in antioxidants, so it is very good for maintaining and protecting skin health from within, especially from exposure to free radicals.
7. Prevent cancer
The content of lutein, carotenoids, and zeaxanthin which is high in spinach, is able to fight and eliminate free radicals from the body. Thus, the risk of getting cancer will decrease.
However, keep in mind that consuming spinach alone is not enough to maintain overall body health. You are encouraged to continue to live a healthy lifestyle, such as exercising regularly, eating nutritious foods, and getting enough rest time.
Tips for Washing and Processing Spinach
So that the benefits of spinach can be obtained optimally, make sure you process this vegetable properly. Here are some tips:
- Choose spinach that still looks fresh.
- Wash spinach thoroughly before processing it to remove dirt and germs adhering to the leaves and stems.
- If you don't want to process the spinach right away, store it in a clean and airtight container, then put it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh.
Please note that fresh spinach that has not been washed can last up to 4 days, if it is put in a plastic bag and stored in the refrigerator. Avoid heating cooked spinach, because it can reduce the nutritional content in it.
In addition to paying attention to how to wash and store spinach, also make sure your kitchen utensils are free from germs and bacteria. Therefore, don't forget to always wash kitchen utensils using soap and water.
To find out more about the benefits of spinach, you can consult a doctor.