Spinach Words

Nutrition facts and recipes from one of nature's best superfoods.

Another WebTrev.Com Health Services specialist sub-site. © Copyright 2005 - 2008 , Trevor Johnson.

Spinach for Brain Health

Spinach plays a remarkable role in maintaining human brain health.

Strokes are probably the most feared and most common form of brain damage, with the possible exception of dementia in a person's later years. Scientific studies have shown a clear link between high folate diets and the reduced risk of strokes. ^{(May 2002, Journal of the American Heart Association)}

It is often said that "what is good for the heart is good for the brain". Accordingly, it should not surprise that folate, of which spinach is one of nature's best sources, lowers homocysteine levels (an amino acid and inflammation marker) that are linked to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is a major cause of not only heart disease, but also strokes in the brain. Folate significantly reduces this risk of stroke. ^{(May 2002, Journal of the American Heart Association)}

Another study by the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and the UCLA School of Medicine has shown that lutein, again found in abundance in spinach, reduces atherosclerosis and equates the lack of lutein with a thickening of artery walls. This study clearly shows that lutein helps to prevent cardiovascular disease and strokes in the brain. ^{(June 19 2001, Circulation Journal)}

Antioxidants have been shown in animal studies to also not only prevent strokes, but to hasten the recovery from strokes. The antioxidant studies identify further brain benefit, crediting high antioxidant diets with a wide range of neurological benefits. Improved memory and learning as well as reversing normal age-related declines in memory and learning were identified. The sources of antioxidants used in the study and producing these results were spinach, blueberries and spirulina. ^{(Experimental Neurology, May 2005)}

Additionally, high potassium diets have been proven to reduce the risk of stroke. It has long been known that potassium helps to lower blood pressure, though this study showed that the reduction in risk of stroke from increasing potassium was too dramatic to be merely as a result of the lower blood pressure it may bring. It showed that one gram of potassium per day in someone who still has high blood pressure reduces the risk of stroke by 60%. ^{(Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, Sept 1998)}

Spinach is a potent source of dietary potassium and is also low in sodium.

In regards to brain health of seniors, Alzheimer's disease has been linked in research to a deficiency of either Vitamin B12 or folate. ^{(May 8 2001, Neurology)} Although spinach is not a good source of Vitamin B12, it is one of nature's strongest sources of folate and thus has a role as a preventative against Alzheimer's Disease.

Additional evidence of spinach as a preventative against age-related brain function, cognitive and neurological decline was published in a research paper aptly entitled: "Long-Term Dietary Strawberry, Spinach, or Vitamin E Supplementation Retards the Onset of Age-Related Neuronal Signal-Transduction and Cognitive Behavioral Deficits" ^{(The Journal of Neuroscience, October 1, 1998, 18(19):8047-8055)}

Spinach is a very potent source of folate, potassium, lutein and antioxidants to maintain and enhance your overall good brain health.