Cartoons and pumping or eating iron

Anyone else watch Popeye as a kid? His daring feats, made possible by strength-enhancing spinach (in a can, mind you) thrilled my young mind.

However, you're not going to get anything close to Popeye's results from a canned vegetable. The nutrients just aren't the same or as potent after being processed.

What you really want are some of these guys. Fresh spinach is rich with the vitamins and antioxidants that you need.

Did you know that spinach can help cure acne? Neither did I!

It also strengthens your bones and prevent cataracs. This little superfood can do a host of other things for your health as well.

I wish spinach would give me superhuman strength like Popeye, but alas, I don't live in a cartoon world. However, spinach is high in iron which is known to improve blood flow and muscle strength on a small scale.

So hey, it could make you strong after all.

Food Spotlight: Sweet Potatoes

Not the pie, baked to sugary perfection and topped with marshmallows around the Holidays.  As good as those taste, they won't do much for your health. Sweet potatoes, in and of themselves, taste fantastic and add some incredible nutrients to your body.

In a time pinch, I bake my sweet potato in the microwave for a few minutes (depending on how big it is), top it with ground cinnamon (also great for your regulating your blood sugar), and enjoy it by itself or on the side of a protein source.

Sweet potatoes are high in fiber, filling you up and giving you sustained energy through the day.  They contain magnesium to relax you, and potassium to reduce swelling.  You can get iron and many essential vitamins like B6, C and D.  On top of that, they might even prevent cancers from taking up residence in your body.  The health benefits are seemingly endless!

By no means a boring vegetable, the sweet potato can be consumed in many forms, including chips (a personal favorite).  They can be purchased at some stores, or made at home.

Food Spotlight: Kale

If you have never eaten kale before, you are missing out on a world of nutrition!

Kale is a superfood that will pump your body full vitamins, detoxify it, boost your entire circulatory system, and so much more!  Beware that some types of kale taste sweeter than others.  Whenever it's available in supermarkets, I get lacinato (or dino) kale.

My favorite juice recipe for kale is simple:

6-8 large kale leaves
1 cucumber
4 stalks of celery
2 granny smith apples
1/2 lemon
1 ginger knob (about the size of a quarter)
Serves two!

It can also be made into some fantastic tasting (and fantastic for you) salads.  Some of those recipes can be found here.  It will be like sending a cleaning crew through your body for somewhere between $2-$4.  That can't be beat.