Eating spinach may benefit eye healthreduce oxidative stresshelp prevent cancerand reduce blood pressure levels.

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a leafy green vegetable that originated in Persia.

It belongs to the amaranth family and is related to beets and quinoa. What’s moreit’s considered very healthyas it’s loaded with nutrients and antioxidants.

There are many ways to prepare spinach. You can buy it canned or fresh and eat it cooked or raw. It’s delicious either on its own or in other dishes.

This article explains everything you need to know about spinach and its health benefits.

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The nutrition facts for 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of raw spinach are (1):

  • Calories: 23
  • Water: 91%
  • Protein: 2.9 grams
  • Carbs: 3.6 grams
  • Sugar: 0.4 grams
  • Fiber: 2.2 grams
  • Fat: 0.4 grams

Carbs

Most of the carbs in spinach consist of fiberwhich is incredibly healthy.

Spinach also contains small amounts of sugarmostly in the form of glucose and fructose (1).

Fiber

Spinach is high in insoluble fiberwhich may boost your health in several ways (2).

It adds bulk to stool as food passes through your digestive system. This may help prevent constipation.

SUMMARY

Spinach is low in carbs but high in insoluble fiber. This type of fiber may benefit your digestion.

Spinach is an excellent source of many vitamins and mineralsincluding (3):

  • Vitamin A. Spinach is high in carotenoidswhich your body can turn into vitamin A.
  • Vitamin C. This vitamin is a powerful antioxidant that promotes skin health and immune function.
  • Vitamin K1. This vitamin is essential for blood clotting. Notablyone spinach leaf contains over half of your daily needs.
  • Folic acid. Also known as folate or vitamin B9this compound is vital for pregnant women and essential for normal cellular function and tissue growth.
  • Iron. Spinach is an excellent source of this essential mineral. Iron helps create hemoglobinwhich brings oxygen to your body’s tissues.
  • Calcium. This mineral is essential for bone health and a crucial signaling molecule for your nervous systemheartand muscles.

Spinach also contains several other vitamins and mineralsincluding potassiummagnesiumand vitamins B6B9and E.

SUMMARY

Spinach is an extremely nutrient-rich vegetable. It packs high amounts of carotenoidsvitamin Cvitamin Kfolic acidironand calcium.

Spinach contains several important plant compoundsincluding (45678910):

  • Lutein. This compound is linked to improved eye health.
  • Kaempferol. This antioxidant may decrease your risk of cancer and chronic diseases.
  • Nitrates. Spinach contains high amounts of nitrateswhich may promote heart health.
  • Quercetin. This antioxidant may ward off infection and inflammation. Spinach is one of the richest dietary sources of quercetin.
  • Zeaxanthin. Like luteinzeaxanthin can also improve eye health.
SUMMARY

Spinach boasts many plant compounds that can improve healthsuch as luteinkaempferolnitratesquercetinand zeaxanthin.

Spinach is extremely healthy and linked to numerous health benefits.

It has been shown to improve oxidative stresseye healthand blood pressure.

Oxidative stress

Free radicals are byproducts of metabolism. They can cause oxidative stresswhich triggers accelerated aging and increases your risk of cancer and diabetes (11).

Howeverspinach contains antioxidantswhich fight oxidative stress and help reduce the damage it causes.

One study in eight healthy people found that spinach helped prevent oxidative damage. Although this study was quite smallits findings are backed up by other animal and human research (121314).

Eye health

Spinach is rich in zeaxanthin and luteinwhich are the carotenoids responsible for color in some vegetables.

Human eyes also contain high quantities of these pigmentswhich protect your eyes from the damage caused by sunlight (15).

Additionallyseveral studies indicate that zeaxanthin and lutein work to prevent macular degeneration and cataractswhich are major causes of blindness (16171819).

These compounds may even be able to reverse existing damage (2021).

Cancer prevention

Spinach contains two componentsMGDG and SQDGwhich may slow down cancer growth.

In one studythese compounds helped slow tumor growth in a person’s cervix. They also decreased the size of the tumor (2223).

Several human studies link spinach consumption to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Eating this leafy green may also help prevent breast cancer (2425).

Likewiseone animal study notes that spinach might suppress cancer formation (26).

Additionallyspinach packs high amounts of antioxidantswhich may also fight cancer (27).

Blood pressure

Spinach contains high amounts of nitrateswhich have been shown to help moderate blood pressure levels and decrease your risk of heart disease (2829).

One study in 27 people found that eating spinach effectively lowered blood pressure levels. Several other studies observed similar effectsindicating that spinach boosts heart health (73031).

SUMMARY

Spinach has a host of benefits. It may reduce oxidative stresspromote eye healthfight cancerand regulate blood pressure.

Spinach is generally considered very healthy. Howeverit may cause adverse effects in some individuals.

Kidney stones

Kidney stones are caused by acid and mineral salt buildup. The most common variety is calcium stoneswhich consist of calcium oxalate.

Spinach is high in both calcium and oxalatesso people who are at a high risk of developing kidney stones should limit their intake (3233).

Blood clotting

Spinach is high in vitamin K1which serves several functions in your body but is best known for its role in blood clotting.

As suchit could interfere with blood-thinning medication. People who are taking blood thinnerssuch as warfarinshould consult with their healthcare practitioner before eating large amounts of spinach (34).

SUMMARY

People who are prone to kidney stones may want to avoid spinach. This leafy green is also very high in vitamin K1which can be a problem for people on blood thinners.

Spinach is a nutritiousleafy green.

This vegetable has been shown to benefit health in several ways. Spinach may decrease oxidative stressimprove eye healthand help prevent heart disease and cancer.

If you’re interested in its health-boosting potentialspinach is an easy food to add to your diet.