Spinach Health Benefits

Submitted by Loring A. Windblad on February 2, 2010

Healing And Medicinal Properties Of Spinach

Spinach is packed with several essential nutrients and curative properties. This green and leafy vegetable contains several phytonutrients, minerals, pigments and vitamins. The many health benefits of spinach are on account of its essential mineral components. These minerals include Manganese, potassium, magnesium, zinc, calcium and iron. Spinach also contains essential vitamins like niacin, folate, vitamin B6, vitamin A and vitamin C.

Spinach Properties And Health Benefits

Spinach is a rich source of riboflavin and thiamine as well as pigments like lutein, beta carotene, chlorophyllin and xanthene. Spinach is thus very good for the maintenance of healthy eyes, cardiovascular system, and nervous system. Beta carotene and lutein in spinach help maintain healthy eyes and prevent the occurrence of eye disorders like itchy eyes, dry eyes or eye ulcers.

Lutein is also a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cataract. Lutein and xanthene also help prevent macular degeneration caused by ageing. Age-related macular degeneration, as the disorder is termed, is one of the leading causes for blindness.

Spinach helps keep this and other eye disorders at bay. It also helps fight diseases of the bone and skin disorders and helps protect the health of infants and newborns.

Spinach helps fight cardiovascular diseases by maintaining the health of the body’s arteries. This is because spinach is rich in inositol and choline and these essential ingredients help fight the blockage of arteries caused by the thickening of artery walls.

Moreover, the flavonoid and carotenoid content of spinach helps fight cancer and functions as an antioxidant. Spinach is also effective in the treatment of diabetes. If taken together with alfalfa, spinach helps lower the blood sugar levels of the body.

In addition, Spinach is used in the treatment of a variety of disorders like constipation, anemia, high blood pressure, obesity, tumors, insomnia, osteoporosis, neuritis, and dyspepsia, among others. Spinach is also effective in the treatment of kidney and liver disorders. Spinach is rich in potassium but contains low levels of sodium. This mineral composition is very effective in the treatment of blood pressure.

The presence of folate in spinach makes it a healthy option for those who suffer from hypertension. Spinach also helps reduce the risk of several kinds of cancer. Its several phytonutrients and pigments for instance, help reduce the risk of skin cancer by protecting it from UV damage. Spinach also helps coat and protect the mucous membrane of the stomach, thereby preventing the formation of ulcers and other digestive disorders.