Think Green this March 26th for National Spinach Day!

St. Patrick’s Day may be over, but we can still enjoy some festive green for National Spinach Day on March 26th! This day is a great time to focus on all the health benefits spinach has to offer, as well as its versatility for recipes.

Spinach is an excellent source of vitamins A and C and a good source of calcium, iron, folate, magnesium, and fiber.  In addition, eating dark leafy vegetables such as spinach may help protect against certain types of cancers.

Spinach can be found fresh, canned, or frozen.  When choosing fresh spinach make sure the leaves are green and crisp with a fresh aroma for best quality.  Spinach grows in sandy soil, so it’s important to wash it thoroughly before use, by soaking it in a large bowl of water allowing the sand to drop to the bottom.  Repeat this process until the sand is no longer seen on the bottom of the bowl.

4 Fantastic Spinach Benefits

There is a reason your mom always told you to finish the spinach on your plate, it’s a “superfood”! Spinach is packed with many health benefits. See some of the many wonderful nutrients you can get from spinach are:

1. Water-soluble vitamins: spinach is jam-packed with essential B vitamins, as well as vitamin C. This combination means it’s great for providing energy and improving immunity. B vitamins play an important role in allowing your body to convert food into fuel, while vitamin C helps to keep your immune system running properly to ward off illness.

2. Fat-soluble vitamins: spinach is also loaded with vitamins A, E, and K. Vitamin A is important for eye health, as well as healthy bones and skin. Vitamin E works as an antioxidant in your body, helping to counteract the effects of free radicals that can damage your cells. Vitamin K helps to regulate blood clotting and aids in calcium transport throughout the body, which helps to reduce the risk of bone loss and fractures.

3. Minerals: although it has several, the top minerals found in spinach are manganese, iron, and calcium. Manganese is crucial for bone development and wound healing, and acts as an antioxidant. Iron is crucial for oxygen transport throughout the body, as well as the synthesis of various neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. Calcium is well known for its function in bone health, but it also aids in nerve functions.

4. Phytonutrients: in addition to its vitamins and minerals, spinach also contains various phytonutrients, which give it anti-inflammatory benefits. This helps to improve circulation and maintain a healthy digestive tract!

Adding More Spinach to Your Menus

Spinach is a versatile vegetable and can be prepared in many ways. Get a boost of nutrients with these creative ways to include spinach in your menus:

• Change up your salads and swap lettuce for fresh spinach leaves.

• Add spinach to your favorite fruit smoothie!  It’s a great way to add a boost of vitamins and minerals without altering the taste.

• Spinach pesto!  Use spinach leaves in place of basil leaves in your favorite pesto recipe.

• Add spinach to a breakfast omelet along with red and green peppers, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, and cauliflower.

• Enjoy a spinach dip using spinach, cheese, sliced cashews, and pine nuts.

There are many wonderful resources available to assist you in finding the perfect spinach recipe, such as my most recent cookbook, Enjoying Food Peace: Recipes and Intuitive Eating Wisdom to Nourish Your Body and Mind, which you can purchase here if you haven’t already.

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