Insider tips In smoothies, spinach develops its full effect!

How can nutrients in spinach be optimally protected during preparation??

Can the positive effects of vegetables be enhanced when used in a smoothie? Swedish researchers have now discovered that spinach develops its nutrients even better when the vegetables are processed into a smoothie.

The researchers from Linköping University found in their current research that processing spinach into a smoothie allows the highest intake of the nutrient lutein. The experts published the results of their study in the English language journal "Food Chemistry".

What is lutein??

When spinach is processed into a smoothie, the intake of the nutrient lutein maximizes. Lutein is a so-called antioxidant, which is associated with reducing inflammation, aging the brain, increasing intelligence, and maintaining vision. Lutein needs to be sourced from food, especially green leafy vegetables, but is broken down when heated. The Linköping University team has therefore set itself the goal of determining the best method for preserving lutein. For their experiments, the experts selected spinach. Spinach contains a relatively high amount of lutein and is generally available everywhere.

Which preparation method is optimal for lutein?

The researchers purchased baby spinach from a local supermarket and subjected the spinach to the usual cooking techniques: cooking, frying, steaming, microwave heating, and cold methods of preparation, such as salads or smoothies. The unique feature of this study is that it uses cooking methods that are often used in the preparation of food at home. In addition, different temperatures and times of warming were compared, says study author Lena Jonasson of Linköping University.

Why does a smoothie maximize lutein intake??

As expected, heat proved problematic for lutein. The longer the spinach was cooked, the less nutrients remained. When the spinach was roasted, this destroyed much of the lutein in just two minutes. Spinach should not be heated at best, so most of the lutein is preserved, the researchers report. This also explains why a smoothie is the best method of preparation. If the spinach is cut into small pieces, the lutein in the spinach will also be better released. Fat from added milk or yoghurt additionally increase the solubility of this lutein, the researchers add. (As)