San Diego Nutrition and Health

Popeye, the movie, was a big hit when I was a kid.  I can still hear Popeye singing, “I yam what I yam, cause me eats me spinach.  I’m Popeye the Sailor Man.”  Now, whether spinach will give you muscles like Popeye’s is yet to be proven by researchers, but the benefits researchers have proven should make spinach a frequent visitor to your meal menu.  Take a look at these benefits.

Spinach contains high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants in the carotenoid family.  These antioxidants are particularly important in the prevention of macular degeneration.  They protect the retina from the sunlight damage. 

Researchers have found 13 different flavonoid compounds in spinach which act as antioxidants and anti-cancer agents.

Neoxanthin, another carotenoid in spinach and other green, leafy vegetables, is fabulous at combating prostate cancer.  It causes prostate cancer cells to self-destruct and when it is in the intestines, it is converted into neochromes, compounds which cause prostate cancer cells to stop replicating.  The neochromes put the cells in a state of stasis. 

So, whether your a Popeye fan or not, he got it right when it comes to the value of eating spinach.