It’s true Popeye will always have enviable eyesight because he eats spinach. In fact, spinach has multiple virtues:
a) fight constipation;
b) thanks to vitamin K I fight the risk of hypertension and incurring cardio-vascular diseases;
c) thanks to nitrate, they increase the strength of the muscles.
They are also very important for ocular health thanks to three substances they are rich in: lutein, vitamin E and zeaxanthin.
That’s why the legendary spinach consumer, Popeye will never suffer from cataracts but maybe he will have some calculations!
Lutein
Lutein is a carotenoid that has the ability to penetrate the blood and be deposited in the eyes, particularly in the retina, benefiting eye health.
Our body cannot produce lutein but we can take it, for example, with spinach.
Lutein helps prevent the onset of an eye disease in particular: degenerative maculopathy.
How does it work in the prevention of maculopathy?
Lutein acts as a “sunglasses”: it forms filters, macular pigments, which block harmful solar radiation. The so-called blue light (i.e. this type of harmful radiation) is one of the causes of degenerative maculopathy, which in the most severe forms leads to blindness.
Not only that, lutein works with the antioxidant vitamin E to reduce the onset of cataracts.
The scientific study
A study published in 2015 by the University Medical College of Qingdao in China confirmed the protective role of Vitamin E in eye diseases.
In particular, those who have a higher percentage of vitamin E in their blood are at least 25% less likely to suffer from cataracts. This disease involves the gradual clouding of the lens.
Popeye will never suffer from cataracts but maybe he will have some calculations!
But be careful how we take spinach!
When boiled, they lose most of their nutritional properties such as lutein. Raw, they can hardly get it absorbed by our body. Better, therefore, the intermediate way, or stews.
However, spinach also has its drawbacks, of course if eaten in quantity or by those who have already suffered from stones.
Spinach, unfortunately, are among the foods that, being rich in calcium oxalates, can lead to the formation of stones.
(We remind you to carefully read the warnings regarding this article, which can be consulted who”)