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Is Spinach Good for You?

Erich von Wolf spent part of his career measuring the iron content of various foods: rice, milk, cherries, asparagus, and so on. And spinach. But although he measured accurately, von Wolf might have been a bit tired when he wrote up his results. Instead of 3.5 milligrams of iron per 100 milligrams of food mass, he entered 35 milligrams. Oops. Three things happened, and one thing didn’t happen. First, spinach immediately got a reputation as a superfood, as if there was no doubt that eating the equivalent of an entire paper clip’s worth of iron was a good thing. Second, that reputation led the creators of the Popeye cartoon to feature spinach as the thing that gave the gravel-voiced sailor his…

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 Yum or Yuck? How Spinach Has Divided Us

Spinach is not a vegetable that most of us would expect to have a celebratory day. After all, generations of kids have turned up their noses at it. In a famous New Yorker cartoonfamous New Yorker cartoonfamous New Yorker cartoon of 1928, a mother tells her curly-haired tot, “It’s broccoli, dear,” to which the kid replies, “I say it’s spinach and I say the hell with it.” You go, kid. Historically, spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is Persian. It probably originated in Iran, where it was known as isfanakh, which means “green hand,” and was prized as a kitchen herb.

Articles of Interest

Popeye vindicated – why spinach is good for you

There’s a growing body of recent research demonstrating that the inorganic nitrate found in certain vegetables might have important biological functions. Previously nitrate in food was seen as a potential hazard because a small percentage of it could be converted to nitrite in our bodies. Nitrites can react with other dietary constituents to form nitrosamines, which are suspected stomach carcinogens. But researchers have now demonstrated that nitrate can be converted back to nitric oxide, a compound important for dilating blood vessels and preventing hypoxia (inadequate blood supply). During exercise, nitric oxide reduces oxygen consumption allowing muscles to exercise more efficiently.

A Very, Very Good Reason To Eat Your Spinach

So you know how Popeye busts open a can of spinach, gulps it down, and automatically gets biceps the size of Buicks? Total ploy to get kids to eat their spinach, right? Well, according to this new study, it's more than just clever marketing...

Among leafy green powerhouses, spinach packs a wallop

Stories about spinach often reference Popeye, the sailor who gobbled it by the can to gain immense strength. But if you need to bring a cartoon character into a conversation about healthy eating, consider the Hulk. In addition to their shared hue, spinach packs a nutritional punch that looms large even among its peers. "I think spinach is quite unique," said Dr. Joseph Roberts, an assistant professor of nutrition at Arizona State University in Phoenix.

For More Magnesium, Experts Recommend This Leafy Green

More and more, we’re hearing about the importance of magnesium. Among other things, the essential mineral is beneficial for reducing inflammation, improving sleep, and even repairing DNA. “Magnesium participates in many of the physiological functions of the body,” confirms nutritionist Itziar Digon.

Make like Popeye: The powerful benefits of spinach

It turns out Popeye the Sailor may have been on to something. You may not be immediately transformed into a tornado of strength or be magically able to handle whatever comes your way after chowing down a can of spinach, but following the unlikely cartoon hero’s lead and incorporating spinach into your diet can offer numerous health benefits.

Nutritional Powerhouses: Spinach and Artichoke

When it comes to nutritional powerhouses, few vegetables can rival the dynamic duo of spinach and artichoke. Packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, these greens not only add flavor to your meals but also offer a myriad of health benefits.

Spinach: Nutrition in a Bag

However you buy spinach, it’s one of the most nutritious vegetables you can eat and considerably more delicate than other leafy greens. Because of this, it’s easy to overcook, which makes it drab and unappealing. Spinach is filled with flavonoids, which may have antioxidant properties, and its plentiful vitamin K (1,000 percent of the daily recommended value in 1 cup of cooked spinach) contributes to bone health. The list of nutrients that come in large quantities in a serving of spinach is a long one...

Spinach: The Superfood That Could Help Detect Bombs

Now more than Popeye’s favorite food, carbon nanotubes are turning the leafy green into a bomb detector.

Resources

10 Impressive Spinach Benefits That Make It a Superfood, According to RDs

As far as leafy greens go, you really can’t go wrong with spinach. For starters, spinach boasts a mild, earthy flavor, which is ideal if you don’t enjoy the bitterness of kale. It’s also incredibly easy to add both fresh and frozen spinach to recipes, whether you’re blending up a nutrient-packed smoothie or simmering a hearty stew. Spinach also has tons of advantageous health benefits, from helping to manage blood pressure to even enhancing your skin.