Popeye was right – spinach is a powerful food! In fact, spinach and other green vegetables are next on the list of Abs Diet Powerfoods, a collection of foods that help fight fat, build muscle, and keep you healthy for life. What’s so great about spinach, you ask?

Packed with Vitamins A, C, and K, folate, beta-carotene, calcium, magnesium, and fiber, spinach neutralizes free radicals and helps fight cancer, heart disease, stroke, obesity, and osteoporosis. It’s hard to overstate the nutritional benefits of spinach; for a full chart, check The World’s Healthiest Foods site.

One cup of raw spinach offers about one-third the nutrition as half a cup of cooked spinach. However, unlike Popeye, you don’t have to eat mushy spinach out of a can! To prevent overcooking, just quickly steam or sautée it in olive oil. This makes a good bed for chicken or tofu. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and a crumble of low-fat feta to the spinach and you have quick, healthy side dish. Or throw a handful of raw spinach into your morning juice or smoothie. For more healthy ideas, take a look at the spinach recipes on Eating Well and Whole Living.

• For more information on the Abs Diet, visit Women’s Health.

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