Spinach is believed to have originated in ancient Persia, the country that is now known as Iran. Spinach was introduced to China sometime in the seventh century when it was presented to China as a gift from the king of Nepal.
In Europe, spinach has a much shorter history than many other popular vegetables. Spinach was first introduced to Europe sometime in the 11th century, when the Moors introduced it into Spain. As a matter of fact for some time the English referred to spinach as the Spanish vegetable.
Spinach grows quite well in most temperate climates, and the Netherlands and United States are among the biggest commercial growers of spinach on the market today.
Major benefits of eating spinach
There are many reasons to enjoy the dark green leafy vegetable known as spinach. For many years spinach has been touted as a health food, and this superfood certainly lives up to its reputation. Spinach is a rich source of many important vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, iron, calcium and beta-carotene.
Spinach is also a rich source of dietary fiber, thought to play an important role in protecting the body from many forms of cancer. As a matter of fact, the compounds contained in spinach are being studied for their possible role in preventing many forms of cancer, including such major killers as lung cancer. One reason may be the high concentration of vitamin K found in spinach. Vitamin K has long been associated with cancer prevention, and spinach is one of the very best sources of this vital nutrient.
This possible role as a cancer preventative is only one of the healthful effects of spinach. In addition, spinach may also play an important role in protecting the heart and cardiovascular system from damage. Spinach should be a part of every diet, but it may be even more important to those at risk for heart disease and stroke.
Spinach has also shown real promise at preventing cataracts. Some studies have suggested that this eye protection is due to the high concentration of beta-carotene found in spinach. Beta-carotene is thought to play an important role in eye health, and this may mean that the consumption of spinach can help protect the eyes from cataracts and other common vision problems.
One other reason for the eye protecting benefits associated with spinach may be its high concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin. These important carotenoids, similar to beta-carotene, are not only strong antioxidant vitamins, but they are thought to help protect against cataracts as well.
Spinach in the diet is also thought to help control high levels of homocysteine in the bloodstream. Recent studies have shown that a diet high in vitamin C, folic acid, beta-carotene and other nutrients found in spinach had lower homocysteine levels in their blood.
Why you should eat spinach for your health
The vitamins contained in spinach are also thought to play a role in preventing macular degeneration and other aging related diseases of the eye. Macular degeneration is the most common eye diseases in the elderly, and spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables are thought to help protect the body from these degenerative conditions.
In addition to its value as a superfood, spinach is low in price, widely available, and useful in a great number of recipes. Spinach is delicious and nutritious, and there is no reason not to include it in a healthy diet.
When choosing spinach it is important to choose spinach with a vibrant color and leaves of the richest and darkest green. It is important to avoid spinach that shows signs of yellowing. The leaves of spinach should appear fresh and tender, and they should not be bruised or wilted. In addition, it is important to avoid spinach that has a slimy coating on it, as this can be a sign of decay.
Fresh spinach should be loosely packaged in a plastic bag, and it should be stored in the crisper in the refrigerator. Spinach kept in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator will keep for up to four days, but it is important to use it as quickly as possible to ensure both freshness and good taste.
Spinach should not be washed prior to storage, since the excess moisture could cause it to spoil prematurely. Cooked spinach does not keep well and should not be stored. While spinach can be frozen after it has been blanched for two minutes, frozen spinach will develop a very soft texture. For this reason frozen spinach should not be allowed to completely thaw before being cooked.
admin | November 11, 2008
