Spinach and Heart Disease
We love spinach in salads, in sandwiches and in burritos. Spinach also makes a great side-dish — either creamed or lightly sautĂ©ed in extra virgin olive oil. Now, there is even more reason to love the famously nutritious leafy green, which is also an important SuperFood.
In addition to its significant contributions to the promotion of eye health and prevention of cancer, spinach and its sidekicks also promote cardiovascular heath.
The vitamin C, beta-carotene and other nutrients in spinach work together to prevent oxidized cholesterol from building up in the blood vessel walls.
We also can’t forget about the fabulous folate in spinach. Folate is an important contributor to heart health as it works, along with Vitamin B6 and betaine, to lower serum levels of the dangerous amino acid homocysteine.We are learning more every day about the dangers of homocysteine and its association with heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and age-related cognitive decline.
Finally, we can’t forget to mention the potassium and magnesium in spinach which also make significant contributions to heart health. Both work to lower blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
In short, for those who regularly eat spinach heart health will improve!
