If you remember Popeye, he loved spinach. He is a rough-and-tumble sailor with a unique dialect and can-do attitude. His iconic squint, pipe and muscular forearms are his trademarks — along with that love for spinach.
Since 1870, spinach has been considered a superfood due to its high iron content. When Popeye showed up in the 1930s, his spinach consumption encouraged children and adults to eat more of it. Though the extremely high iron content was incorrect in the flawed study by German chemists, spinach was still recognized as a healthy vegetable rich in vitamins and minerals.
This is true today, and leafy greens such as spinach and kale are good for people of all ages. Leafy greens can be particularly beneficial for more mature adults due to their specific nutritional needs and the health challenges that often accompany aging. Spinach, kale and other leafy greens are nutrient powerhouses.
They are rich in vitamins A, C, K and folate, as well as minerals such as iron, calcium and magnesium. These nutrients support bodily functions including the immune system, bone health and red blood cell formation. The potassium in spinach helps relax blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.
It also helps your body get rid of excess sodium. Leafy greens contain dietary nitrates, which can help regulate blood pressure by improving the flexibility and function of blood vessels. Leafy greens contain high levels of antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, which help prote.