It seems Popeye was on to a winner with his diet of spinach, as this super vegetable is a powerhouse of nutrients.

Just 125g of fresh spinach will provide you with more than 20 nutrients, including more than your recommended daily allowance of vitamins K and A, almost all your daily requirements of folate and around 40% of your daily magnesium needs. Even better you get all this for around just 30 calories.

There are many benefits of these rich green leaves, but the most interesting from my point of view, is the fact that spinach is a super workout food.

Research has shown that spinach may help reduce oxidative stress caused by regular exercise and protect against muscle damage.

It may also make the body more efficient, as it contains a compound called nitrate, which has been shown to boost the mitochondria (the microscopic part of cells that generates most of your energy), meaning your body will need less oxygen when exercising.

So let’s take a leaf out of Popeye’s book and top up on spinach. However, rather than canned, why not try using it in a salad, lightly cooked or even in a juice!