Here's how you can reap the health benefits of spinach

Remember how your mom always kept telling you that it was important to eat your greens as you grow up? Well, she's right. Spinach is one such leafy green that is rich in vitamins and nutrients that your body needs. But do you know what the most appropriate way to consume it is? According to recent research from Linkoping University, Sweden, the best way to consume spinach is in the form of a smoothie or juice. Spinach is rich in an antioxidant called lutein and the researchers found that the best way to reap its benefits was to turn spinach into a smoothie or a juice.



Lutein can work wonders in dampening inflammation in immune cells from patients with coronary artery disease. “What is unique about this study is that we have used preparation methods that are often used when cooking food at home, and we have compared several temperatures and heating times. We have also investigated methods of preparation in which the spinach is eaten cold, such as in salads and smoothies,” said a researcher.



It was found that boiling time also mattered. The longer spinach is boiled, the lesser lutein content it retains. “Best is not to heat the spinach at all. And even better is to make a smoothie and add fat from dairy products, such as cream, milk or yoghurt. When the spinach is chopped into small pieces, more lutein is released from the leaves, and the fat increases the solubility of the lutein in the fluid”, concluded a researcher.



Well, whatever form you prefer consuming your spinach in, we suggest you switch to smoothies and juices. Stay tuned for more updates.