Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
According to research from the American Diabetes Association, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases when magnesium is chronically deficient. Luckily, spinach and arugula are spring greens that can bolster magnesium intake.
The study claims that magnesium works as “an essential cofactor for enzymes involved in glucose metabolism. Diets that offer daily magnesium through foods like leafy green veggies, whole grains, and nuts help prevent diabetes by improving glucose sensitivity.
Improved Muscle Performance
If you’re looking for more ways to pump up your muscle performance, this 2011 Swedish study may provide some encouraging answers. The study measured the performance (oxygen consumption) of a group of participants riding exercise bikes after taking a small dose of inorganic nitrate.
Study findings showed improved performance and mitochondria cell efficiency (meaning muscles used less oxygen) in those who took the inorganic nitrate supplements. Researchers note that muscle-powering inorganic nitrate can be found safely in leafy green vegetables, like spinach.
Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
When was the last time you enjoyed a crisp watercress salad? Perhaps among the lesser-known spring greens, this stream-fed, peppery green is rich in phen-ethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a natural-occurring isothiocyanate credited with cancer-prevention benefits.
Researchers from University of Southampton’s School of Medicine, in the U.K., found that the PEITC plant compound in watercress was able to suppress breast cancer cell development by disrupting tumor cell growth.
