Vegetables, such as spinach, are good for everyone and are very important to diabetics. They contain adequate amount of vital nutrients to nourish your body. Spinach is considered to be one of the healthiest among all vegetables because of its dietary fruitfulness and for its nutrient richness.
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Spinach is a dark green leafy vegetable native to Southeast Asia often produced year-round. Since spinach is popular in many corners of the world, it comes canned, frozen or fresh. If you are less concerned about the nutritional value and more interested in its sweet flavor, its leaves can be eaten raw. When cooked, its flavor becomes sharper and more acidic. Most commonly, spinach is served in salads and as a healthy addition to other dishes like soups, quiches, casseroles, burritos, sandwiches, sauces, and a number of other foods.
Health Benefits
Eating spinach is not only taking in the dark leafy green food, but also taking in high amounts of vitamins and minerals incredible for your health. Evidences show that spinach helps improve the quality of a diabetic person’s life. With all its health benefits, then it must be one of the best choices for diabetic’s diet.
- It is rich in vitamins and minerals that seek to lower one’s glycemic index to keep the blood sugar level within a fairly normal range. The more spinach a diabetic eats the more stable their blood glucose levels will be.
- Spinach is exceptionally low in calories. A cup of spinach is noted as containing only 7 calories so surges of glucose entering the blood system are kept to a minimum.
- One particular vitamin that is notable in spinach is vitamin K which improves insulin sensitivity through suppression of inflammation
- Spinach is high in mineral magnesium that helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels.
- The fiber content of spinach reduces insulin requirements, improve glycemic control, lower fasting serum cholesterol and triglyceride values, and promote weight loss
- Spinach contains beta-carotene and luteins are very good for the eyesight that is one of the senses affected by diabetes.
- Calcium, found in spinach, is good for the bones and for weight management. For many Type II diabetics, weight loss is an important factor in controlling their condition.
- Spinach is rich in folate, which is good for managing gum diseases – a common symptom in diabetics.
- It provides vitamin E is an antioxidant to prevent diabetes because it interfere with glucose oxidation
- Spinach offers Zinc that not only boosts your immune system but also helps forms insulin in the pancreas’s beta cells.
- Omega-3 fatty acids present in spinach are good for managing levels of body cholesterol. It decreases insulin resistance in people with diabetes.
Because spinach has lesser amount of calories and carbohydrates, you can take in large quantities without fear of doing harm to one’s body.
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Nutritional Facts
Spinach 1.00 cup cooked (180.00 grams)
Nutrient %Daily Value | |
vitamin K | 1110.6% |
vitamin A | 377.3% |
manganese | 84% |
folate | 65.7% |
magnesium | 39.1% |
iron | 35.7% |
vitamin | C29.4% |
vitamin | B224.7% |
calcium | 24.4% |
potassium | 23.9% |
vitamin | B622% |
tryptophan | 21.8% |
vitamin | E18.7% |
fiber | 17.2% |
copper | 15.5% |
vitamin | B111.3% |
protein | 10.7% |
phosphorus | 10% |
zinc | 9.1% |
choline | 8.3% |
omega-3 fats | 7% |
vitamin B | 34.4% |
selenium | 3.8% |
Calories | (41)2% |
Raw Spinach Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy |
97 kJ (23 kcal) |
Carbohydrates |
3.6 g |
– Sugars |
0.4 g |
– Dietary fiber |
2.2 g |
Fat |
0.4 g |
Protein |
2.9 g |
Water |
91.4 g |
Vitamin A equiv. | 469 μg (59%) |
Vitamin A | 9377 IU |
– beta-carotene | 5626 μg (52%) |
– lutein and zeaxanthin | 12198 μg |
Thiamine (vit. B1) | 0.078 mg (7%) |
Riboflavin (vit. B2) | 0.189 mg (16%) |
Niacin (vit. B3) | 0.724 mg (5%) |
Vitamin B6 | 0.195 mg (15%) |
Folate (vit. B9) | 194 μg (49%) |
Vitamin C | 28 mg (34%) |
Vitamin E | 2 mg (13%) |
Vitamin | 483 μg (460%) |
Calcium | 99 mg (10%) |
Iron | 2.7 mg (21%) |
Magnesium | 79 mg (22%) |
Manganese | 0.897 mg (43%) |
Phosphorus | 49 mg (7%) |
Potassium | 558 mg (12%) |
Sodium | 79 mg (5%) |
Zinc | 0.53 mg (6%) |
Source: USDA Nutrient Database |