I love love spinach. Spinach salad, spinach in my pasta, or spinach steamed with garlic and lemon… mmm all these flavours come together so well. Besides the great taste, spinach is also a nutritional powerhouse. Here are just a few health benefits it offers to our bodies, minds and lifespan (followed by a tasty recipe for you guys to try at home)
Now go get your spinach on! –

1 – Spinach’s nutrient profile is one of the highest for vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients called carotenoids. Carotenoids help maintain vision, aide in growth and development, and boost the immune system.

2 – Spinach has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents called flavonoids

3 – Spinach is especially high in Vitamin C, Beta-Carotene and Zinc, all anti-oxidants which help decrease the risk of several blood vessel-related problems, including atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.

4 – The vitamin K provided by spinach — almost 200% of the Daily Value in one cup of fresh spinach leaves and over 1000% of the Daily Value in one cup of cooked spinach (which contains about 6 times as much spinach) is important for maintaining bone health. This refers to both helping prevent bone degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis, as well as actually increasing the production of bone cells.

5 – In order to absorb the maximum amount of nutrients in spinach, you should cook it by lightly steaming it (rather than boiling since many of the nutrients will dissolve in the water). Steaming reduces the amount of oxalic acid – a compound that interferes with calcium absorption. In fact, your body can absorb triple the amount of the calcium in spinach when it’s steamed vs eating it raw.

And now the RECIPE –

So the trick I’ve learned is to season the spinach before you steam it! The flavor definitely surpasses seasoning after steaming, and, as an added bonus, the seasoning is more evenly distributed.

spinach

Lemony Steamed Spinach

Ingredients:

  • 2 Pounds baby spinach, cleaned and trimmed
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • The zest of one lemon, grated
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • Dash of coarse salt & freshly ground pepper

Directions:

  1. Fill a medium pot with about 2-3 inches of water.
  2. Place the steamer inside of it. Bring to a boil.
  3. While you’re waiting for the pot to boil, place cleaned and trimmed spinach in a large bowl.
  4. Toss with olive oil, lemon zest, garlic, and salt and pepper.
  5. Place spinach in the steamer and steam for 3-4 minutes, turning once or twice, until tender.
  6. Using tongs, let some of the moisture out of the spinach before transferring to serving plates.
  7. Serve immediately alongside your favorite protein dish. Goes great with fish.!