Spinach

Popeye and I clearly have a lot in common, as we both adore spinach! I love the flavor of spinach, and I try to put it into everything: salads, pesto and sauces, into tacos, dips, pastas, smoothies, eggs, stir-fried, steamed, sautéed, juiced, and much more. Spinach is packed with nutrients and really easy into incorporate into your diet.

  • Spinach is loaded with vitamins, minerals, carotenoids and flavonoids to provide excellent antioxidant benefits to your body and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cancer, obesity, and heart disease.
  • Spinach is a rich source of lutein, a carotenoid that promotes healthy eyesight and prevents macular degeneration and cataracts.
  • Historically, spinach was known to increase vitality, energize, and improve blood quality.
  • The impressive anti-inflammatory benefits in the flavonoids of spinach have prompted researchers to use spinach extracts in several lab studies. These studies have shown that spinach extract can slow down cell division in human stomach cancer cells.
  • Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamin K, necessary for bone health and Vitamin A, which is key for vision and immune system health.
  • Spinach also has folate, a complex B Vitamin, which has been shown to reduce blood pressure and is necessary for prenatal health.

Vegukate Tips:

Try to buy organic, as spinach usually appears towards the top of the EWG’s Dirty Dozen list.

Prewashed and bagged spinach will last in the refrigerator up to a week. Spinach in bulk should be wrapped loosely in a paper towel and stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a week.