Do you Know How to Protect your Liver?

Very often we hear about vegetables that are affected by the environment and how can they damage our health. Here is one vegetable that even if we don't like it we should try it because it can protect our liver. It's the spinach.

Chlorophyll and chlorophyllin, two substances found in spinach and other leafy greens, may help reduce the body's absorption of aflatoxin, a common but potentially harmful type of environmental toxin.

"Aflatoxin is a problematic substance produced by the molds that grow on certain food crops, like corn, cottonseed, peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat. And since aflatoxin is known to cause liver damage, the FDA sets limits on how much can be in our food sources. But you may be able to add an extra measure of protection by eating leafy greens. When volunteers in a study were exposed to very small, safe doses of aflatoxin, less showed up in their systems if they were also given a little bit of chlorophyll or chlorophyllin".

"Chloro Chemistry
Researchers believe chlorophyll and chlorophyllin may form some sort of beneficial bond with aflatoxin that reduces intestinal absorption. In addition to spinach, other good sources of chlorophyll include broccoli, parsley, green beans, kale, arugula, and leeks. And here are some delicious ways to enjoy some of these veggies:

• Add spinach to a delicious pasta dinner: Spinach Gnocchi.
• Whip up an elegant, delicious, chlorophyll-rich appetizer: Broccoli and Goat Cheese Souffle.
• Try a healthier twist on this classic comfort food: Fresh Green Bean Casserole."

Try making mash potatoes and then once the spinach is slightly boiled add cheez whiz and put that on top of your mash potatoes. It's good. I have done it myself.

Here is a list of calories in spinach depending whether boiled, steamed....

• Approx 6 - 7 calories in each ounce or 28g of boiled or steamed spinach
• Approx 21 calories in ½ a cup of boiled or steamed spinach
• Approx 41 calories in 1 cup (6.3 oz or 178g) of boiled or steamed spinach
• Approx 23 calories in 3½ ounces or 100g of boiledor steamed spinach
• OR RAW
  
• Approx 65 calories in one 10 oz bunch of raw spinach
• Approx 78 calories in one 12 oz bunch of raw spinach
• Approx 7 calories in each ounce or 28g of raw spinach.

Happy Cooking!
Stay tunned more coming up.