What Are the Benefits of Spinach Soup?
Spinach soup can supply health benefits due to the vegetable being so nutrient-dense. Spinach has developed a reputation for being one of the healthiest foods around, according to World's Healthiest Foods. Be advised, however, that spinach contains naturally occurring oxylates, which may interfere with calcium absorption. Spinach also can play havoc with kidney and/or gallbladder problems. Check with your doctor prior to consuming if you have health concerns.
Good For Weight Management
Spinach soup can be low in calories and fat content. Spinach soup made with a water or vegetable-based broth will contain the fewest calories. Soup made with low-fat or nonfat milk will supply more calories, but still fewer than cream-based soups. All vegetables provide few calories and only negligible amounts of fat. Spinach itself contains only three calories per 1/2-cup serving, according to the Produce for Better Health Foundation. Spinach's low calorie content makes it ideal for losing or managing weight.
- Spinach soup can be low in calories and fat content.
Increases Energy Level
Calories in Spinach Pasta
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Spinach contains rich amounts of iron, an essential mineral needed to regulate cell growth. Iron is needed by the protein in your red blood cells, hemoglobin, to transport oxygen to tissues throughout your body, according to the National Institutes of Health. Iron deficiency can result in fatigue, decreased immunity and poor work performance. Spinach can supply iron without the calories or fat of iron-rich meat products. The iron in spinach soup is especially needed by children, menstruating and/or lactating women, the elderly and adolescents.
- Spinach contains rich amounts of iron, an essential mineral needed to regulate cell growth.
- Spinach can supply iron without the calories or fat of iron-rich meat products.
Improved Mind Power
Spinach soup can improve your brain functioning level, according to World's Healthiest Foods. Green, leafy vegetables, including spinach, contain rich amounts of beneficial antioxidants such as vitamin E. This antioxidant can help slow the decline of cognitive ability and mental performance. Your learning capacity and motor skills may improve. The mind can stay younger for longer. Spinach soup made with a little olive oil can help increase absorption of vitamin E.
- Spinach soup can improve your brain functioning level, according to World's Healthiest Foods.
Anti-inflammatory
The Difference in Nutrients Between Collard Greens and Spinach
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Spinach soup possesses nutrients that offer anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation throughout your body, according to World's Healthiest Foods. Inflammation plays a role in asthma, migraine headaches, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-inflammatory nutrients include a component of vitamin A known as beta carotene, vitamin K, magnesium, riboflavin and vitamin C.
Improves Bone Health
Fresh spinach supplies more than 200 percent of your daily requirements of vitamin K, according to the World's Healthiest Foods. A 1-cup serving of cooked spinach, the equivalent of six cups fresh, supplies more than 10 times the RDA of this vital nutrient. Vitamin K helps prevent osteoclasts from breaking down bone. Intestinally friendly bacteria convert vitamin K1 into vitamin K2, which activates the important non-collagen bone protein, osteocalcin. This process helps anchor calcium molecules located inside your bones. In addition to vitamin K, spinach contains rich amounts of bone-building calcium and magnesium. A 1/2-cup serving of raw spinach contains 15 mg of calcium and 12 mg of magnesium, according to the Produce for Better Health Foundation.
- Fresh spinach supplies more than 200 percent of your daily requirements of vitamin K, according to the World's Healthiest Foods.
- In addition to vitamin K, spinach contains rich amounts of bone-building calcium and magnesium.
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References
- World's Healthiest Foods: Spinach
- National Institutes of Health: Iron
- Produce for Better Health Foundation: What's In a Half Cup Guide Vegetables.
- Spinach. FoodData Central. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Updated December 6, 2019.
- Vitamin A fact sheet for health professionals. National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements. Updated 2020.
- Nour M, Lutze SA, Grech A, Allman-Farinelli M. The relationship between vegetable intake and weight outcomes: A systematic review of cohort studies. Nutrients. 2018;10(11). doi:10.3390/nu10111626
- Vaňková K, Marková I, Jašprová J, et al. Chlorophyll-mediated changes in the redox status of pancreatic cancer cells are associated with its anticancer effects. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018;2018:4069167. doi:10.1155/2018/4069167
- Park SY, Na SY, Kim JH, Cho S, Lee JH. Iron plays a certain role in patterned hair loss. J Korean Med Sci. 2013;28(6):934-8. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2013.28.6.934
- Iron fact sheet for health professionals. National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements. Updated 2019.
- Vitamin K fact sheet for health professionals. National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements. Updated 2020.
- Food allergy overview. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Updated 2020.
- Park JN, Lee JS, Noh MY, Sung MK. Association between usual vitamin K intake and anticoagulation in patients under warfarin therapy. Clin Nutr Res. 2015;4(4):235-41. doi:10.7762/cnr.2015.4.4.235
- Pendick D. 5 steps for preventing kidney stones. Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School. Updated 2013.
- Spinach. University of Illinois Extension. Watch Your Garden Grow. Updated 2020.
- Colorado spinach. Colorado Farm to Table. Colorado State University Extension. Updated 2017.
- Vegetable blanching directions and times for home freezer storage. The University of Minnesota Extension. Updated 2018.
Writer Bio
Crystal Welch has a 30-year writing history. Her more than 2,000 published works have been included in the health and fitness-related Wellness Directory, Earthdance Press and Higher Source. She is an award-winning writer who teaches whole foods cooking and has written a cookbook series. She operates an HON-code-certified health-related blog with more than 95,000 readers. Welch has a B.B.A. from Eastern Michigan University.