Fresh Spinach Day is celebrated annually on July 16. The day reminds us of the health benefits packed into this leafy green vegetable. The leafy green can help protect your cardiovascular system, keep skin, hair, and bones healthy, protect against cancer, and boost brain health.
Spinach grows natively in central and southwestern Asia. Thought to have originated in ancient Persia, Arab traders carried spinach into India and then later introduced into ancient China. There it was known as “Persian vegetable.” The earliest available record of the spinach plant was found in Chinese, saying that the spinach plant was introduced into China via Nepal.
Here are some life-changing health benefits of Spinach:
Stronger bones:
Low intakes of vitamin K have been associated with a higher risk of bone fracture. Spinach is packed with vitamin K, a vitamin that’s involved in bone metabolism—and research has shown that people who are lacking vitamin K have a higher risk of osteoporosis.
Radiant Skin:
Spinach delivers vitamins and antioxidants that are good for your skin. It also may help give you a healthy glow. It is this oil that can build up to cause acne. Vitamin A is also necessary for the growth of all bodily tissues, including skin and hair. Spinach and other leafy greens high in vitamin C are crucial for the building and maintenance of collagen, which provides structure to skin and hair.
Asthma Prevention:
A study of 433 children with asthma between the ages of 6 and 18 years, and 537 children without, showed that the risks for developing asthma are lower in people who have a high intake of certain nutrients. One of these nutrients is beta-carotene. Spinach is an excellent source of beta-carotene.
Stronger sight:
Spinach is packed with two plant compounds—lutein and zeaxanthin. These compounds accumulate in the retina of your eye, and act a bit like sunglasses, filtering blue light. They also help mop up harmful free radicals in your retina.
Lower Blood Pressure:
Due to its high potassium content, spinach is recommended for people with high blood pressure. Potassium can help reduce the effects of sodium in the body. A low potassium intake might be as potent a risk factor for developing high blood pressure as a high sodium intake.
