More About Swiss Chard From Our Newsletter

Swiss chard is a very good non-dairy source of calcium and an excellent source of vitamin K1, which plays an important role in maintaining bone health since it helps lower bone-damaging inflammation, and also because some K1 is converted in the intestines into K2, which activates osteocalcin, the major non-collagen protein in bone. Swiss chard's rich supply of magnesium is also necessary for healthy bones. About two-thirds of the magnesium in the human body is found in our bones. Some helps give bones their physical structure, while the rest is found on the surface of the bone where it is stored for the body to draw upon as needed. Swiss chard is also an excellent source of pro-vitamin A, beta-carotene, and thus helps promote healthy vision. In a study of more than 50,000 women, those who consumed the highest dietary amount of pro-vitamin A had a 39% reduced risk of developing cataracts. Chard is also rich in the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, two powerful antioxidants that concentrate in the lens and retina to protect them from oxidative damage. Dietary intake of these carotenoids has also been found to reduce risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Read more Swiss chard.

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