Spinach, also known as Persian greens or red root vegetables, is a yellow-green leafy vegetable rich in vitamins and minerals. In addition, spinach also has certain medicinal effects. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that spinach can "promote blood circulation, open the chest, regulate Qi, stop coughing and moisturize dryness", making it a rare vegetable with both medicinal and dietary benefits. The fatty acids and folic acid in spinach provide energy for muscle synthesis, thereby promoting muscle growth and improving performance. Therefore, spinach is considered the "best food for men".
I. Nutritional benefits of spinach
Spinach is extremely rich in nutrients. The ratio of protein to calories is almost the same as that of cream cheese. The calcium content is double that of phosphorus, so eating spinach can compensate for the deficiency of foods with higher phosphorus content than calcium content.
Anemic individuals can also eat more spinach because it is rich in iron, and vitamin C can improve iron absorption and promote the joint action of iron and hematopoietic folic acid, effectively preventing anemia. Eating spinach can also stabilize blood sugar levels for diabetic patients. Eating more spinach can also protect vision and prevent vitamin deficiency diseases such as angular stomatitis and night blindness. Spinach is also rich in folic acid, which can help men increase muscle and reduce fat. The trace element magnesium in spinach can also increase muscle strength.
In addition, eating more spinach can improve the quality of sexual life. The folic acid and iron it contains can promote the synthesis of red blood cells and increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood, thereby accelerating blood circulation. At the same time, it is also effective in reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis. Spinach also contains a large amount of antioxidants, which have anti-aging effects, activate brain function, and enhance youthful vitality. Spinach can also cleanse the heat toxins in the gastrointestinal tract.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that spinach has a sweet and cool nature, can nourish blood, stop bleeding, astringe Yin, and moisturize dryness. It is also effective in preventing and treating constipation. Eating it regularly can make people look radiant. For the elderly, spinach can delay the deterioration of age-related macular degeneration and prevent blindness or vision loss caused by aging. It can be seen that spinach has a high health benefits.
II. Proper selection method
Choosing spinach also requires some knowledge. Because the freshness of green leafy vegetables will greatly affect its taste and nutritional value. When choosing spinach, be sure to choose leaves that are dark green and glossy, with fully extended and abundant leaves. If the leaves turn yellow, black, soft, or wilted, or if the stems are damaged, it means that the spinach is no longer fresh and its nutritional value will be greatly reduced. The freshness and vitality of the vegetable roots is also something to pay attention to. After purchasing spinach, it should be consumed as soon as possible. It can also be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator to ensure its freshness for up to 2 days.
III. Methods of consumption
However, there are a few things to note when consuming spinach. First of all, spinach should be blanched with boiling water before consumption to remove the oxalic acid and astringency. This can also facilitate the absorption of calcium in spinach by the human body. Otherwise, it will affect the taste and reduce the nutritional value. In addition, do not remove the roots when eating spinach. People often only eat the stems and leaves of spinach and mistakenly believe that the roots are not edible, which is incorrect. Spinach roots belong to the category of red food, which has good therapeutic effects and is rich in nutrients. The content of fiber, vitamins, and minerals is high, but it does not contain fat. Eating spinach roots with ginger can control or prevent the occurrence of diabetes.
In addition, spinach contains a large amount of oxalates. Under certain conditions, oxalates can form stones in the urinary tract. Therefore, when eating spinach, one should eat less foods rich in oxalates, such as almonds, nuts, cocoa, rhubarb, and tea, and eat more alkaline foods such as kelp, vegetables, and fruits to promote the dissolution and excretion of oxalates, and prevent the formation of stones.
The best way to eat spinach is to blanch fresh spinach with roots in boiling water for a few minutes, then mix it with sesame oil. This can benefit the stomach and intestines and is suitable for treating hypertension and constipation.
Some people believe that spinach should not be eaten with tofu, but this is incorrect. Spinach and tofu are not only a good combination but also beneficial for bone health. Just pay attention to the method of consumption. The correct method of cooking spinach and tofu together is to blanch the spinach in boiling water for 1 minute to remove the oxalic acid, then stir-fry the tofu and add the blanched spinach. Mixing them together is not a problem.
