Count Calories In Raw Spinach

You probably hated it as a child, but spinach is one vegetable that you definitely shouldn’t exclude from your family’s diet. It is one of the most nutritional vegetables you can find, and is high in different vitamins and minerals. One hundred grams of spinach contains about 23 calories, 3 of which are from fat. If you eat one cup of spinach, you get just 7 calories of which 1 calorie is from fat. Similarly, one leaf of spinach has approximately 2 to 3 calories.

Take a look at all the good stuff that spinach contains and you’ll be convinced of its importance.

It is low in saturated fats and has zero cholesterol. It is high in minerals like calcium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and potassium. It is also one of the best sources of iron. Spinach contains high levels of thiamine, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B6. Research has shown that it contains at least 13 different flavonoid compounds.

The benefits of spinach are many. One of the reasons why it is considered good is because it contains high levels of nutrients. This means that it has a lot of nutrients packed in with very few calories (and is therefore great to consume for weight loss!) Spinach is loaded with flavonoids. It has been known to fight cancer, especially ovarian and prostate, and has properties that arrest the growth of cancerous cells.

It guards against free radicals because it is packed with vitamins C and A. Antioxidants in spinach keep cholesterol from oxidizing, and thus keeps your heart healthy. It also lowers blood pressure and keeps your cardiovascular system in good condition. It also fights inflammation, and consequently helps fight asthma and arthritis. In general, it helps the brain function. Spinach also has a carotenoid called lutein, which keeps the eyes healthy by protecting them against diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration.

Spinach can be cooked in a variety of different ways. You can eat it raw as a salad, or lightly sauté it to make it crispy. You can add spinach to Italian dishes like lasagna to make them healthier. Spinach dips can be made by mixing it with curd or yogurt. It goes well with all sorts of snacks. You can boil it to make a thick paste, and this can be used as a base for many other dishes. It can be combined with a variety of other food for delicious results. Most cultures, from Italy to India have unique recipes that include spinach.

Submitted on January 16, 2014