(HealthDayNews) -- It's no accident that Popeye built his strength on a diet rich in spinach.
According to Johns Hopkins Hospital, the health benefits of the green leafy vegetable make it a powerhouse food choice. Spinach is low in calories -- only 41 per cup -- and is loaded with vitamins, especially Vitamin B, iron, and folate, as well as the photochemical lutein and zeaxanthin.
Research has linked folate with a reduction in blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that's been associated with cardiovascular disease. Zeaxanthin has been linked with a lower risk of macular degeneration, a condition that can lead to blindness.
