Amazing Skin Benefits of Spinach – Just Naturally Healthy!

Everyone wants healthy glowing skin and to obtain it, our skin needs certain nutrients found in the foods we consume daily. Green leafy vegetables, like spinach, are great for skin because they contain the nutrients needed for healthy skin cells and to fight skin’s aging process.

Spinach contains vitamin A, B, C, E and K, as well as vital minerals; potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids.  Although there is no scientific evidence stating that eating a lot of it guarantees you to have beautiful skin, spinach is loaded with the nutrients needed for healthy skin.

Glowing Skin
 Spinach is an excellent source of iron. Iron is an essential part of hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen throughout our body. Without adequate iron, we cannot transport oxygen as efficiently, which can leave us with pale-looking skin. Your body doesn’t absorb the iron in spinach as well as it absorbs the iron in animal products.

Skin Repair
Vitamin C is another antioxidant in spinach that works to repair skin cells and keep it looking healthy. Vitamin C is needed to make collagen, a protein used to manufacture new skin cells. Without adequate vitamin C, you will experience dry, scaly skin.

Under-Eye Circles
Dark circles under the eyes can be caused by genes, nasal congestion, and lack of sleep, alcohol and aging. Spinach contains Vitamin K that is needed for blood clotting and to strengthen blood vessel walls which helps diminish dark circles. It also helps keep skin clear, reduces skin inflammation, and enhances blood circulation.

Anti-Aging Benefits
Our skin naturally loses its elasticity and thins as we age. Free radicals are molecules produced when we digest food and through environmental toxins, such as air pollution. They destroy your cells and accelerate the aging process of our skin. Spinach contains vitamin A which has antioxidant activity and keeps skin cells healthy and repairs wounds.

You can, however, add lemon or lime juice to your spinach or enjoy it with a glass of orange juice. The vitamin C in these foods promotes iron absorption.

Hydration
Our skin comprises cells that rely on water to stay healthy. Without enough water, our skin will become dry, taut and flaky and is also more likely to wrinkle. One cup of spinach contains 164 grams of water, or 5 ounces.

Nutritional Breakdown of Spinach
One cup of raw spinach contains 27calories, 0.86 grams of protein, 30 milligrams of calcium, 0.81 grams of iron, 24 milligrams ofmagnesium, 167 milligrams of potassium, 2813 IUs of Vitamin A and 58 micrograms offolate.  Most of the calories in spinach come from protein.

Because the body cannot completely break down the nutrients in raw spinach, cooking spinach increases its health benefits. Just half a cup of cooked spinach gives you three times the nutrition as one cup of raw spinach.