The leafy green vegetable that is spinach is one of the most nutritious of all the vegetables. Spinach is a great source of antioxidants such as chlorophyll, beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin that help to delay the aging process and protect us from cancer and heart disease. Other key nutrients found abundantly in spinach include vitamin C and the all important bone building mineral calcium. Juicing spinach is recommend because it helps us to increase the amount of the antioxidants that spinach supplies. The process of juicing 'breaks open and frees' many antioxidants that are trapped deep in the fibers of this vegetable. This creates a juice that is more richly concentrated in antioxidants than the whole food can supply. The dark green color of spinach tells us that this vegetable is a very dense source of chlorophyll. Not just a beneficial antioxidant, chlorophyll is also a plant pigment that 'puts the green' in plants. Chlorophyll has been touted for its powerful anti-cancer benefits because it protects DNA cells from oxidative damage while also helping DNA cells that have been damaged to recover more quickly. Damaged DNA that does not heal has the potential to deliver an incorrect DNA code that can lead to tumors and mutations. Lutein and zeaxanthin are two antioxidants found in great numbers in spinach and especially spinach juice. Lutein and zeaxanthin have received a lot of attention after studies found that they are beneficial for eye health. Researchers discovered that lutein and zeaxanthin are the only two antioxidants that can be found within the lens of the eyes and therefore the only substances that can protect the lens of the eye from oxidative damage induced by UV light. This protection is associated with a reduced risk in the development of eye diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts while also helping the eyes to stay younger for longer. Spinach offers powerful protection against heart disease too because it is rich in heart healthy beta-carotene and vitamin C. Diets rich in beta-carotene are strongly associated with a reduced risk in heart attacks. One study conducted with 1,300 elderly patients found that those who ate beta-carotene rich foods everyday were two thirds less likely to have a heart attack than those who ate less than one bet-carotene rich food each day! The powerful antioxidant properties of vitamin C also protects us from heart disease. In particular vitamin C 'defends' artery walls from oxidative damage that can lead to arteriosclerosis, a condition that narrows and hardens arteries leading to high blood pressure and possible heart attacks and/or stroke. As we can see spinach is an impressive vegetable with many health benefits, these are but a few! A spinach juice a day will go a very long way!
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