Eat your Spinach Popeye!

Spinach! Popeye’s food of choice and no wonder. This dark-green leaf really packs a nutritional punch, helps fight cancer, builds strong muscles, and much, much more! Fresh spinach is loaded with minerals and iron that helps alkalize the system, cleanses the blood of toxins, and increases energy.

Here’s just a short list of what makes spinach a favorite Super Food:

• Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and strokes 
• Protects against the occurrence of cancer, including colon, lung, skin, oral, stomach, ovarian, prostate, and breast cancer 
• Helps regulate blood pressure 
• Builds muscle and strong bones 
• Helps prevent memory loss and cognitive decline 
• Protects against skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis 
• Acts as a natural diuretic and laxative 
• Performs as an anti-inflammatory 
• Reduces migraines 
• Prevents cataracts and macular degeneration

Nutrients: Highest in Vitamin K & Vitamin A.  Also contains a high amount of Manganese, Magnesium, Iron, Copper and B vitamins.  A good amount of Folate, Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin C and Fiber are also in spinach.

So get eating your spinach, but not just the boring old way Popeye did (and at least 1 cup a day).  Here is a delish recipe and creative way to get that spinach in.

 

Spinach Basil Pesto

This is a delicious and versatile recipe. Serve it on grilled chicken or fish, over noodles, in place of pizza sauce on your homemade pizza, in potato salad or spread on a slice of delicious hearty whole and multi-grain toast. How many other ways can you use this recipe?

Ingredients:

• 2 cup basil (packed)
• 4 cups baby spinach (packed)
• 2-3 garlic cloves
• 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts (omit if you want it nut-free)
• 1/2 cup grated fresh grated parmesean cheese
• 1 cup good virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste

Put spinach, basil, garlic, pine nuts, cheese, and pulse to combine.  With processor on, add olive oil slowly in a stream until mixture begins to emulsify and become liquid.  You may have extra olive oil.