Celebrate Spinach Day With These 5 Delicious Recipes for Your Joints!

Spinach is one of those vegetables that gets a bad rap with kids and even some adults. There's just something about this dark leafy vegetable that is classically villainized. But spinach is among the most nutrient-dense foods in the world. Additionally, spinach is one of the best vegetables to eat for joint health.

If you're thinking of adding spinach to your diet this Spinach Day, look no further. We made a list of easy-to-make spinach recipes that you and your family or friends will love. But before we get started, why is spinach good for our joints?

Dark leafy greens like spinach are packed with nutrients. Some of the nutrients it contains may help with a healthy inflammatory response caused by various joint health problems. Spinach contains high amounts of antioxidants and other plant phenols that can help reduce symptoms associated with joint problems.

Moreover, spinach contains sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is one of the best natural compounds you can have when you want a healthy inflammatory response. Studies have shown its efficacy against joint problems and other related health effects.

The Best Spinach Recipes for Spinach Day

1. Power Smoothie

Spinach doesn't have to be chewed for it to be healthy. If you're not feeling its taste, you can always combine this already nutritious food with other nutritious foods as part of a smoothie.

Time: 5 mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• 1 cup orange juice (good quality)
• 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• One banana
• 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
• 3 cups baby spinach leaves
• 1 cup ice

Instructions

2. Spinach & Ginger Smoothie

Like spinach and turmeric, ginger is also a potent compound that can help with joint problems and provide antioxidant benefits. Combining spinach and ginger is a powerful duo for maximum joint health.

Time: 5 mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• One small banana, peeled and broken into chunks
• 1 cup (30 g) baby spinach
• 1/2 cup (75 g) blackberries
• 6 ounces low-fat vanilla yogurt (3/4 cup, or 180 g)
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) orange juice (preferably freshly squeezed)
• Three peeled, thin slices of fresh ginger root
• Four ice cubes

Instructions

3. Spinach Pesto Pasta with Shrimp

Pesto is one of the easiest recipes to use when you want to eat some healthy vegetables. Adding spinach to pesto enhances its nutrient content while also masking the bitterness associated with leafy vegetables like spinach.

Time: 50 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

PESTO:

• 2 cups packed fresh baby spinach
• 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 cup seeded chopped plum tomato
• Six tablespoons chopped toasted walnuts
• Two teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/3 cup)
• One garlic clove, chopped
• Two tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

PASTA:

• 8 ounces uncooked whole-wheat penne pasta
• 1 pound fresh asparagus, cut into 2-in. pieces
• One tablespoon olive oil
• One tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 pound large fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup halved multicolored grape tomatoes
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

4. Spinach, Hummus, and Bell Pepper Wraps

Wraps are equal parts healthy and easy. All you need is some chopped ingredients and flatbread, and you get yourself a perfect snack or a meal!

Time: 10 mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• 2 (1.9-oz.) whole-grain flatbreads (such as Flatout Light)
• 1/2 cup roasted garlic hummus
• One small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 cup firmly packed baby spinach
• 1 ounce crumbled tomato-and-basil feta cheese (about 1/4 cup)

Instructions

5. Creamed Curried Spinach

One of the curry's main ingredients is turmeric, a spice known for its curcumin content. Curcumin is one of the best compounds when it comes to promoting a healthy inflammatory response. Combine curcumin with spinach in one recipe, and you get one of the best dishes for optimum joint health.

Time: 20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• Five thinly sliced garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced shallots
• 3/4 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 pound fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Takeaway…

Spinach is one of the most nutritious vegetables globally and worth eating or drinking beyond Spinach Day. Considering the number of healthy vegetables we have, spinach is notable. Whether you eat or drink your spinach, your body will love you for it, especially your joints.