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Volume 3 Issue 237 Published - 14:00 UTC 08:00 EST 29-Nov-2001 Next Update - 14:00 UTC 08:00 EST 30-Nov-2001
| Editor: Susan K. Boyer, RN © RAmEx Ars Medica, Inc. All rights reserved. |
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 The Cancer Fighting, Eyesight Protecting, Dynamite Blasting Vegetable
Spinach may neutralize powerful explosives. Yes, you read that right. Scientists testing natural enzymes and their effect on explosives think Popeye's favorite vegetable can deflate dynamite and make blasting caps behave. While this may be an additional benefit to having a bag of fresh spinach in your refrigerator, consider this: Spinach remains one of the most nutritious vegetables in the produce aisle. Spinach consumption in the United States rose 29 percent in 2000, and for good reason. Low in calories and saturated fat, yet rich in vitamin A, calcium, iron, potassium and folate, spinach has numerous health-giving benefits that are worth remembering. Medical research suggests that spinach can help reduce the risk of certain cancers; prevent heart and other cardiovascular diseases; and substantially limit birth defects of the brain or spinal cord. Here's something else: This simple leafy green vegetable can even keep your eyes healthy. Think about your eyes for a moment. Kind of important, aren't they? Adding spinach to your diet can protect your eyesight and help prevent age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the leading cause of blindness in Americans aged 50 and older. Why? Spinach contains more lutein than most other commonly consumed foods. Lutein is a carotenoid found in fruits and vegetables that acts as an antioxidant to protect against the damaging effects of free radicals. A landmark study by Harvard University found that participants consuming more than 6 mg of lutein daily had a 57 percent lower prevalence of ARMD, compared to those consuming 5 mg per day. What's more, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that women with the highest intake of lutein had a 22 percent reduced risk of cataracts, while men had a 19 percent reduced risk. So you see, it doesn't take much to protect your health and your eyes. While there's no recommended daily intake of lutein from the Food and Drug Administration, the Harvard University study suggested consuming 6 mg of lutein per day, or just a single half-cup serving of spinach. Eating a small side salad of this dark, leafy vegetable or substituting it for lettuce in your next burger could have far-reaching health benefits. Your mom was right, you should eat your spinach -- and not just because she said so. |
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