Spinach - a 'superfood' against cancer.
Among leafy green vegetables, spinach is the most nutrient-rich. Some studies suggest it may help protect you from certain cancers, such as oral, esophageal, and stomach cancer.
You may have heard that lutein, an antioxidant, is good for your eyes. Research hasn't confirmed this, but it may also play a role in protecting against cancer.
According toWebMDVegetables are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that help remove free radicals from your body. They are found in spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables.
Some studies suggest they may protect against oral, esophageal, and stomach cancers. One study of 490,000 people found that those who ate more spinach had a lower risk of esophageal cancer. Several studies also suggest that carotenoids in spinach and other foods reduce the risk of ovarian, endometrial, lung, and colorectal cancers.
Researchers suggest that supplementing with folate and fiber may reduce the risk of certain cancers. You can find them in dark green leafy vegetables. Folate helps your body produce new cells and repair DNA, and is especially important for women of childbearing age because it can prevent neural tube defects in developing fetuses.
You'll get the most lutein from spinach, raw or cooked. Enjoy it in salads, steamed or sautéed with garlic and olive oil, or stir-fried into soup. For variety, substitute kale, collard greens, Swiss chard... but spinach is the "star."
