Spinach is among the vegetables with the highest nutrient content. Scientists have found that it contains thylakoids - a compound commonly found in green leaves. It has the property of slowing down digestion .
When cooked properly, spinach can suppress appetite, as it leaves a feeling of satiety and thus prevents overeating .
Thylakoids contained in the chloroplasts of green leaves can "unlock" signals of satiety in the body. However, consuming fresh spinach does not necessarily release thylakoids. First, the vegetables must be crushed, filtered, which should release the compound from the cells, turning them into a natural extract. Maybe it's time for a spinach "smoothie"?
In his study, Professor Charlotte Ellison-Albertson of Lund University in Sweden found that when injecting spinach extract dissolved in water in the morning, people felt less hungry for the rest of the day. Participants who received such an injection had more stable blood sugar levels.
In another Swedish study, conducted by Dr. Ricard Conke of the Department of Experimental Medicine at Lund University, eleven healthy participants received high-fat foods. Some sandwiches contain thylakoids and others do not.
The results show that participants who ate thylakoid sandwiches had lower levels of the hormone ghrelin, known as the "hunger hormone."
There is also an increase in the levels of leptin , which is responsible for the feeling of satiety, and those of insulin decrease. In this sense, spinach is a great food for people who are trying to lose weight .