On this page you will find nutritional information about Bananas, Coconuts, Dates, Pineapples, Nuts, Citrus Fruit, Tomatoes and Spinach. These are some of the most popular foods, easy to get started on and they are all very nutritious…
All about Bananas
Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.
But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fibre, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives..
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips.. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady..
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance.. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, “A banana a day keeps the doctor away!”
All about coconuts
Coconut is a fruit that is consumed in a number of forms – raw (flesh), milk, water and oil. The origin of the fruit is not clear, though the two most possible places of its origin are South Asia and South America. However, today it is cultivated in almost all the tropical countries. Coconut is a simple dry nut, formed of a number of layers. The outermost is the brown husk, formed of fibres called coir, while the second one is endocarp i.e. an inner stone. As you remove the second layer, you get to the testa, which covers the white and fleshy edible part of fruit. Inside it is the coconut water, associated with a number of health benefits. Coconut water is mostly had from the green coconut, which is not fully ripe.
Coconut water
- The cavity is filled with coconut water, which is sterile until opened
- It contains sugar, fibre proteins, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and provides an isotonic electrolyte balance, making it a highly nutritious food source. It is used as a refreshing drink throughout the humid tropics, and is also used in isotonic sports drinks. Mature fruits have significantly less liquid than young immature coconuts, barring spoilage.
Coconut milk
- Coconut milk is made by processing grated coconut with hot water or milk, which extracts the oil and aromatic compounds. It should not be confused with coconut water, and has a fat content around 17% . When refrigerated and left to set, coconut cream will rise to the top and separate from the milk.
Nutritional Value of Coconut
Given below is the amount of nutrients in 100 gm of coconut meat:
* Carbohydrates – 15.23 gm
* Sugars – 6.23 gm
* Dietary Fiber – 9.0 gm
* Saturated Fat – 29.70 gm
* Monounsaturated Fat – 1.43 gm
* Polyunsaturated Fat – 0.37 gm
* Protein – 3.3 gm
* Thiamin (Vitamin B1) – 0.066 mg
* Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – 0.02 mg
* Niacin (Vitamin B3) – 0.54 mg
* Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) – 0.300 mg
* Vitamin B6 – 0.054 mg
* Folate (Vitamin B9) – 26 ?g
* Vitamin C – 3.3 mg
* Calcium – 14 mg
* Iron – 2.43 mg
* Magnesium – 32 mg
* Phosphorus – 113 mg
* Potassium – 356 mg
* Zinc – 1.1 mg
* Energy – 350 kcal (1480 kJ)
Health & Nutrition Benefits of Coconuts/ Coconut Water
* Being rich in dietary fibre, coconut flesh is good for those suffering from constipation.
* Coconut is good for building up the body muscles of thin and emaciated individuals.
* Coconut milk is good for curing sore throat and even helps relieve stomach ulcers.
* Coconut water has been found to be beneficial for people with kidney problems.
* Coconut water is believed to lessen the rashes caused by smallpox, chickenpox and measles.
* Coconut water is said to be good for the skin.
* Coconut water is used to treat intestinal worms and relieves stomach and urinary problems.
* It has been claimed that coconut water is beneficial for the people suffering from diabetes.
* Researches have suggested that coconut helps in reducing the viral load of HIV.
* The organic iodine content of coconut helps in preventing simple goiter (enlarged non-toxic thyroid).
Benefits of Coconut Oil – Apart from being good for the skin and hair of a person, coconut oil has been found to be beneficial in case of the following ailments.
* Stress
* Heart Diseases
* High Cholesterol Levels
* Too Much Weight
* Kidney Problems
* Poor Digestion
* Low Metabolism
* High Blood Pressure
* Low Immunity
* Dental Problems
* Diabetes
* Low Bone Density
* HIV
* Cancer
* Premature Aging
* Pancreatitis
All about Dates
Here is a delicious dessert fruit with much needed minerals and energy that help you stay fit and healthy!
Botanically; they are the fruits that grow on the palm tree belonging to the family of Arecaceae of the genus: Phoenix and scientifically named as Phoenix dactylifera. The date palm is believed to have originated in the lands around the banks of Nile and Euphrates rivers. It is now extensively cultivated for its edible fruit in warm climates across all the continents.
The date fruit is a “drupe” in which an outer fleshy part (exocarp and mesocarp) surrounds a shell (the pit or stone) of hardened endocarp with a seed inside. Each fruit is oval to cylindrical in shape, 3–7 cm long, and 2–3 cm diameter, and when unripe, range from bright red to bright yellow in color, depending on the variety.
The taste is sweet, like a mix of sugar syrup and honey. They contain a single, brown colored, hard seed about 2–2.5 cm long and 6–8 mm thick.
There are many varieties of date-palm cultivated and some important varieties that are popular for their high quality are ‘Amir Hajj’, ‘Saidy’, ‘Khadrawy’ and ‘Medjool’.
Health benefits of dates
Wonderfully delicious, dates are one of the most popular fruits with an impressive list of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals, required for normal growth, development and overall well-being:- Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, Iron, Selenium, Manganese, Copper, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Niacin, Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K
Fresh date is made of soft, easily digestible flesh with simple sugars like fructose and dextrose that when eaten replenishes energy and revitalizes the body instantly.
The fruit is rich in dietary fibre which prevents dietary LDL cholesterol absorption in the gut. It is also a good bulk laxative. The fibre content helps to protect the colon mucous membrane by decreasing exposure time and as well as binding to cancer causing chemicals in the colon.
Dates contain many health benefitting phytonutrients flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants known as tannins. Tannins are known to have anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhagic properties.
They are a good source of Vitamin-A (contains 149 IU per 100 g), which is known to have antioxidant properties and is essential for vision. Vitamin A also required maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin A known to help to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
Also rich in antioxidant flavonoids such as beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants have the ability to help protect cells and other structures in the body from oxygen free radicals and are found to be protective against colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers.
Zeaxanthin, an important dietary carotenoid selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea where it is thought to provide antioxidant and protective light-filtering functions; thus it offers protection against age related macular degeneration in elderly individuals.
Dates are an excellent source of iron, contains 0.90 mg/100 g of fruits (about 11% of RDI). Iron, being a component of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, determines the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.
Also, dates are rich in potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that help controlling heart rate and blood pressure; thus offers protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases.
They are also rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, copper and magnesium. Calcium is an important mineral that is an essential constituent of bone and teeth, and required by the body for muscle contraction, blood clotting and nerve impulse conduction. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells. Magnesium is essential for bone growth.
The date fruit is rich in B-complex group of vitamins as well as vitamin K. It contains very good amounts of pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), niacin, pantothenic acid and riboflavin. These vitamins are acting as cofactors help body metabolize carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Vitamin K is essential for many coagulant factors in the blood as well as in bone metabolism.
Date-orade – make your own isotonic sports drink by blending 15 medjool dates with 1 litre of water. For a variation add a couple of oranges
All about pineapples
Pineapple, Ananas comosus, belongs to the Bromeliaceae family, from which one of its most important health promoting compounds, the enzyme bromelain, was named.
Bromelain is a mix of enzymes which has been shown to lessen inflammation and reduce certain types of swelling. These enzymes block the production of kinins that form during inflammation. In clinical human trials, bromelain has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects, reducing swelling in inflammatory conditions such as acute sinusitis, sore throat, arthritis and gout, and speeding recovery from injuries and surgery.
Inflammatory conditions: As pineapple juice causes an anti-inflammatory effect, drinking this yellow juice can relieve sufferers of much pain in the following inflammatory conditions:
* Carpal tunnel syndrome
* Gout
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* Osteoarthritis
* Injuries
* Surgery
Respiratory conditions: Bromelain helps to break down and dissolve excessive mucus, providing much relief to sufferers of asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis. It would also help tremendously if you reduced your intake of harmful foods, as mucus are formed mostly from consumption of these foods.
Sore Throat: Drinking pineapple juice significantly reduces the soreness and redness in the throat.
To maximize bromelain’s anti-inflammatory effects, pineapple should be eaten alone between meals or its enzymes will be used up digesting food.
Pineapple is an excellent source of the trace mineral manganese, which is an essential cofactor in a number of enzymes important in energy production and antioxidant defenses.
In addition to manganese, pineapple is an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamin B1, copper, dietary fibre and vitamin B6. Among the many benefits of vitamin B1 is its ability to increase blood circulation and provide a greater supply of oxygen to the blood cells. In addition, vitamin B1 is known to help with the proper metabolism of carbohydrates, making it vital to good digestion.
All About Nuts
Nuts are used in many raw food recipes to replace traditional ingredients such as cheese and other dairy products. Dairy contains unhealthy animal fat and other substances you may want to avoid. Nuts provide protein, “healthy” fat, fibre, vitamins and minerals. We used to think that nuts just made us fat. Now we know that they can help fight heart disease, diabetes, cancer and more.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the most used nuts and what they provide:
Walnuts: Now considered a “super food”, walnuts are one of the nutritious nuts. They are high in alpha-linolenic acid and omega 3 fatty acids. Omega-3s help reduce the potential for heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and clinical depression. Studies have shown that eating walnuts can reduce LDL (bad) chlosterol, and also help with diabetes. Good in salads, pates and flat breads.
Almonds: High in protein, zinc and calcium, almonds are also a great source of vitamin E magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron. Another nut that can help reduce bad cholesterol. Many uses including pates, milks, and crusts.
Brazil Nuts: Extremely high in selenium which is a powerful antioxidant. It also improves mood and mental performance. They are also high in minerals such as zinc, copper, iron, and magnesium. Makes a very rich nut milk and are great in spreads.
Cashews: Like the other nuts, cashews are a good source of protein and fibre. They are also a good source of potassium, B vitamin, foliate, magnesium, phosphorous, selenium and copper. Extremely versatile in raw food recipes. Spreads, “cheeses”, cheese cakes, ice creams, dips, etc.
Pecans: Zinc, vitamin E, vitamin A are only a part of what these tasty nuts provide. They also have been proven to increase the results of a diet designed to lower cholesterol. Makes an interesting milk, great in salads and also a good addition to raw desserts.
Hazel Nuts: Once again, a great resource for lowering cholesterol. In addition to protein, fibre and iron, hazel nuts also bring vitamin C, and the B vitamins to the table. Great in raw desserts and breads.
Pine Nuts: Good for your cardiovascular system, and filled with calcium, vitamins D, C and A. Pine nuts can be good for your eyes and immune system. Great as a substitute for Parmesan cheese and adding a salty zip to many dishes.
Macadamia Nuts: One of the few nuts that have palmitoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid. It is said to help reduce stored body fat by increasing metabolism. They are also rich in omega 3’s and vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and iron. Wonderful in desserts, spreads, salads, pates.
All about citrus fruit
Citrus fruit list is a long one encompassing innumerable types of citrus fruits like clementine, leech, lime, grapefruit, mandarin, tangerine, kumquat, minneola, tangelo, lemon, orange and pummelo.
Citrus fruits have long been valued as part of a nutritious and tasty diet. The flavours provided by citrus are among the most preferred in the world, and it is increasingly evident that citrus not only tastes good, but is also good for people. It is well established that citrus and citrus products are a rich source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre (non-starch polysaccharides) that are essential for normal growth and development and overall nutritional well-being. However, it is now beginning to be appreciated that these and other biologically active, non-nutrient compounds found in citrus and other plants (phytochemicals) can also help to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases. Where appropriate, dietary guidelines and recommendations that encourage the consumption of citrus fruit and their products can lead to widespread nutritional benefits across the population.
MORE THAN VITAMIN C: THE NUTRIENT CONTENT AND FUNCTIONS OF CITRUS
Citrus is most commonly thought of as a good source of vitamin C. However, like most other whole foods, citrus fruits also contain an impressive list of other essential nutrients, including both glycaemic and non-glycaemic carbohydrate (sugars and fibre), potassium, folate, calcium, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and a variety of phytochemicals.
In addition, citrus contains no fat or sodium and, being a plant food, no cholesterol. The average energy value of fresh citrus is also low, which can be very important for consumers concerned about putting on excess body weight. For example a medium orange contains 60 to 80 kcal, a grapefruit 90 kcal and a tablespoon (15 ml) of lemon juice only 4 kcal.
Lemons are high in vitamin C and potassium, and also contain limonene, a compound shown to have anticancer properties in laboratory animals. Limonene also appears to raise the levels of beneficial enzymes in the liver. Vitamin C also can lower histamines in the body, histamines are naturally occurring chemicals that can cause red, itchy eyes and runny noses.
Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people who eat more grapefruit, lemons and oranges, and other fruits and vegetables high in potassium, have reduced risk of stroke. And the membranes between citrus segments provide pectin, a soluble dietary fibre that helps control blood cholesterol levels.
All citrus are high in flavonoids (the most common antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables, thought to reduce formation of substances that cause cancer and heart disease.) They also contain terpenes, phenols, and isothiocyanates—plant chemicals that are thought to help to prevent cancer.
Oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps prevent scurvy and also aids in the body’s overall natural healing process.
One medium orange contains 260 milligrams of potassium – 15 percent of what the FDA recommends per day. Potassium plays a key role in many important health functions. Plus it provides energy for the body, which is necessary for the body’s growth and maintenance.
Oranges are a good source of folate. This nutrient helps to prevent neural tube birth defects, and guards against anemia.
Eating a medium-size orange provides 28 percent of the recommended daily value for dietary fibre. Oranges are an excellent source, providing more fiber than any of the top 20 consumed fruits or vegetables.
Grapefruit. Florida Grapefruit is the first fresh produce item to receive the American Heart Association heart-check mark – designating foods low in sodium, cholesterol and fat.
The high level of pectin fibre found in citrus fruits like grapefruit may also help to lower cholesterol.
One half of one medium grapefruit gives you 110 percent of the current recommended daily value of vitamin C you need each day. Vitamin C is an important anti-oxidant, blocking “free radicals” that damage cells. One half of a Florida grapefruit also has more dietary fibre (six grams) than many other popular fruits, including bananas, apples and strawberries. Recent research has suggested it may help to prevent chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.
Half of a grapefruit contains only 60 calories and actually takes the “edge” off your appetite to avoid overeating.
A deficiency of potassium is sometimes caused by dehydration of diuretics such as coffee or tea. To overcome this loss, physicians recommend eating more foods that supply potassium like grapefruit, which has 230 mgs., and equals seven percent of the recommended daily value.
Research suggests that vitamin C may shorten the duration and/or lessen the severity of colds.
Improve Your Smile — Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for healthy skin and gums.
Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is widely used amongst integrative medicine practitioners; both to prevent and treat intestinal dysbiosis (disordering of the healthy bacterial balance in the intestine by bacteria, fungi, and parasites), and is widely used in hospitals as a disinfectant and antiseptic.
All About Tomatoes
Tomato is classified as a vegetable. However, botanically speaking, tomato is a fruit of the tomato vine. Hence, tomato is both a vegetable and a fruit.
Tomato is believed to have originated from South America and was brought by the Spaniards to Europe in the 1500s and later to the Philippines, which spread throughout Asia. Today, tomato can be found world wide and consumed by all peoples in all continents. The five top producers to tomatoes are: the U.S., China, Turkey, Italy and India.
Tomato Nutrition: Based on the volume of consumption per person, tomato is the top source of Vitamin A and C in the western diet. It also contains a significant amounts of dietary fibre, beta-carotene, iron, lycopene, magnesium, niacin, potassium, phosphorus, riboflavin and thiamine.
Tomato is low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Tomato is rich in lycopene, the carotenoid in tomato that is responsible for it’s and deep red color. Lycopene is a strong anti-oxidant that has many health benefits to the body. The foremost benefit of anti-oxidants is that it destroys cancer causing free radicals in the body. Lycopene is ten times more efficient in sniffing out free radicals than Vitamin E. Test shows that the more the consumption of tomatoes, the greater the affectivity. And the lower the risk of cancer – more so for prostate, stomach and lung cancers.
In addition to from helping prevent cancer, anti-oxidants in tomatoes are also good for the heart, help prevent premature aging and reduce the risk of chronic diseases, while foliate in tomatoes reduces women’s risk of delivering a child with spinal cord and brain defects.
All About Spinach
Spinach belongs to the same family as beets and chard. This broad, leafy vegetable is cooling and is jade green in color. It has the slight bitter taste of its sister, beet greens and the slightly salty flavor of chard.
Spinach has always been known for its fine cleansing, building and nourishing properties for the digestive tract, intestines and colon. When properly prepared, spinach is highly beneficial in correcting many common ailments.
There are warnings of spinach having oxalic acid, and that its consumption should be limited. The presence of oxalic acid in food is said to prevent absorption of calcium and iron.
The truth be told here: In its raw form, the oxalic acid is ORGANIC and is abundant in enzymes. Not only is the organic form beneficial, it is also essential for the physiological functions of the body.
Only when spinach is cooked and processed, however, that the oxalic acid turns INORGANIC and become harmful.
What is Oxalic Acid? Oxalic acid is a colorless, organic compound that occurs naturally in plants, animals and in humans. Organic oxalic acid is an important element, even essential, to maintain and to stimulate peristaltic motion in our body.
Oxalic acid readily combines with calcium. If both oxalic acid and calcium are organic at the point of combination, the result is beneficial where the oxalic acid helps the digestive assimilation of the calcium. At the same time, this combination helps stimulate the peristaltic functions in our body.
It is only when the oxalic acid has become inorganic because it was cooked or processed, that it forms an interlocking compound with the calcium that destroys the nourishing value of both. This results in a deficiency of calcium that causes decomposition of the bones.
When the concentration of inorganic oxalic acid is high, it may precipitate out in crystalline form. These tiny crystals can irritate the human tissues, and get lodged in the stomach, kidneys and bladder as “stones”.
Oxalic acid is present in abundance in many plant products, with especially high content in sour grass, rubharb and buckwheat. Other plants containing high levels of oxalates are (in decreasing order): starfruit (also known as carambola), black pepper, parsley, poppy seed, amaranth, spinach, chard, beets, cocoa, most nuts, most berries and beans.
Even tea leaves contain among the highest measured concentration of oxalic acid. However, tea beverages typically contain only very low to moderate amounts of oxalate due to the very small amount of leaves used for brewing.
Just remember, organic oxalic acid is essential for your body and is completely harmless if consumed in organic form. It is the inorganic oxalic acid that causes trouble to your body. This is the reason why when you drink fresh raw spinach juice, your body utilizes 100% of all the minerals that spinach has to offer. But when cooked, the oxalic acid in spinach becomes inorganic and may posed some health problems in the long run.
Nutritional Benefits of Spinach
Spinach is one of the most nutrient-packed vegetables and its raw juice is an excellent source of chlorophyll. It is also a superb source of vitamins A, B complex, C, E, K, carotenes, folate, manganese, calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, some trace elements and many valuable amino acids.
The minerals in spinach mean it is highly alkaline, making it helpful in regulating the body pH. It supplies the same amount of protein as you would get from the same quantity of meat; a cheaper and healthier alternative way of getting protein.
Health Benefits
The best way to enjoy all the health benefits of spinach is in the form of smoothies. Start adding frozen raw spinach to your smoothies to enjoy its numerous miracles:
Acidosis: Its alkaline minerals are essential for cleaning out the tissues and maintaining the alkalinity of the blood, making it effective in combating acidosis.
Anemia: The high grade content of iron in spinach makes it a great blood builder. It regenerates and reactivates the red blood cells and supplies fresh oxygen to the body.
Anti-inflammatory: The high alkalinity properties in spinach makes it the perfect choice of food for people suffering inflammatory ailments, like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Atherosclerosis: The folic acid and the anti-oxidants in spinach helps lower the homocysteine level, reducing the risks of atherosclerosis.
Bleeding gums: Spinach juice when combined with carrot juice, effectively restore this disorder caused by deficiency of vitamin C and too much consumption of refined sugar.
Cancer: The fine chlorophyll and carotene (lutein) found in spinach is beneficial in fighting and preventing cancer. A variety of flavonoid compounds found in this vegetable are powerful anti-oxidants and anti-cancer agents. Studies have shown that properties in spinach slow down cancerous cell division, especially in cancers of the breast, cervix, prostate, stomach, and skin.
Digestive tracts: The high fibre content in spinach makes it a remarkable intestinal tract scrubber. It cleans out the system by removing the accumulated wastes in the digestive tracts by its mildly laxative effect. More importantly, it also repairs, heals and nourishes the tracts and tones up their functions. An excellent help for constipation, colitis, poor digestion or stomach ulcers.
Eye problem: The abundant content of vitamin A and carotenoids help prevent age-related eye problems. When combined with endive and carrot juice, it effectively helps prevent macular degeneration, night blindness, and the development of cataracts.
High blood pressure: A recent study also shows that certain protein compounds in spinach are beneficial in lowering high blood pressure.
Osteoporosis: The high content of vitamin K is essential in anchoring calcium in bones, making it important to bone health.
Pregnancy and lactation: Being a rich supplier of folic acid and iron, spinach juice provides the required nutrients that are necessary for the development of the foetus, preventing threatened abortion and accidental hemorrhage. Consumption of spinach juice also improves the quality and quantity of the lactating mother.
Need we say more why you should add spinach to your diet?
Consumption Tips
Whenever possible, try to eat organic. But if this is not possible, clean spinach thoroughly as it is a vegetable that tends to collect sand, soil and pesticides.
Use raw spinach in place of, or in addition to lettuce in your salad.