| Spinach | ||||||||||||||
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 Spinach in flower
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| Spinacia oleracea L. |
| Spinach, raw Nutritional value per 100 g (3. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for 5 oz) |
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| Energy 20 kcal 100 kJ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. Reference Daily Intake (or Recommended Daily Intake ( RDI) is the daily dietary intake level of a nutrient which was considered (at the time they were defined to be sufficient Source: USDA Nutrient database |
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Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group The Flowering plant family Amaranthaceae, the Amaranth family contains about 160 genera and 2400 species It is native to central and southwestern Asia. It is an annual plant (rarely biennial), which grows to a height of up to 30 cm. Botanically an annual plant is a Plant that usually germinates, Flowers and dies in one Year. A biennial plant is a flowering Plant that takes two years to complete its lifecycle. Spinach may survive over winter in temperate regions. The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to triangular-based, very variable in size from about 2-30 cm long and 1-15 cm broad, with larger leaves at the base of the plant and small leaves higher on the flowering stem. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. The flowers are inconspicuous, yellow-green, 3-4 mm diameter, maturing into a small hard dry lumpy fruit cluster 5-10 mm across containing several seeds. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored
Contents |
History
Primitive forms of spinach are found in Nepal and that is probably where the plant was first domesticated. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Other than the Indian subcontinent, it was unknown in the ancient world. This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. After the early Muslim conquests the plant spread to other areas. The initial Arab Muslim conquests (632–732 (فتح Fatah, literally opening, also referred to as the Islamic conquests or Arab In 647, it was taken to China, possibly by Persians. Muslim Arabs diffused the plant westward up to Islamic Spain. Al-Andalus (الأندلس was the Arabic name given to those parts of the Iberian Peninsula governed by Muslims or By the eleventh century it was a common plant in the Muslim world. The term Muslim world (or Islamic world) has several meanings [1]
Spinach is thought to have originated in ancient Persia (Iran). Spinach made its way to China in the 7th century when the king of Nepal sent it as a gift to this country. Spinach has a much more recent history in Europe than many other vegetables. It was only brought to that continent in the 11th century, when the Moors introduced it into Spain. In fact, for a while, spinach was known as "the Spanish vegetable" in England. Spinach was the favorite vegetable of Catherine de Medici, a historical figure in the 16th century. When she left her home of Florence, Italy, to marry the king of France, she brought along her own cooks, who could prepare spinach the ways that she especially liked. Since this time, dishes prepared on a bed of spinach are referred to as "a la Florentine. " [2]
Culinary Information
Nutrition
In popular folklore, spinach is a rich source of iron. History The concept of folklore developed as part of the 19th century ideology of Romantic nationalism, leading to the reshaping of oral traditions to serve modern ideological Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 In reality, a 60 gram serving of boiled spinach contains around 1. 9 mg of iron (slightly more when eaten raw). Many green vegetables contain less than 1 mg of iron for an equivalent serving. Leaf vegetables, also called potherbs, greens, or leafy greens, are plant leaves eaten as a Vegetable, sometimes accompanied Hence spinach does contain a relatively high level of iron for a vegetable, but its consumption does not have special health connotations.
The myth about spinach and its high iron content may have first been propagated by Dr. The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" E. von Wolf in 1870, because a misplaced decimal point in his publication led to an iron-content figure that was ten times too high. Year 1870 ( MDCCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In 1937, German chemists reinvestigated this "miracle vegetable" and corrected the mistake. Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. A chemist is a Scientist trained in the Science of Chemistry. A miracle is an event believed to be caused by interposition of Divine intervention by a Supernatural being in the Universe by which the ordinary operation It was described by T.J. Hamblin in British Medical Journal, December 1981. Terry J Hamblin (born 1943 has been Professor of Immunohaematology at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom since 1987 Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981
Ultimately, the bioavailability of iron is dependent on its absorption. This is influenced by a number of factors. Iron enters the body in two forms: nonheme iron and heme iron. All of the iron in grains and vegetables, and about three fifths of the iron in animal food sources (meats), is nonheme iron. The much smaller remaining portion from meats is heme iron (Williams, 1993).
The larger portion of dietary iron (nonheme) is absorbed slowly in its many food sources, including spinach. This absorption may vary widely depending on the presence of binders such as fiber or enhancers, such as vitamin C. Therefore, the body's absorption of non-heme iron can be improved by consuming foods that are rich in vitamin C. However, spinach contains high levels of oxalate. An oxalate (also ethanedioate) is a salt or Ester of Oxalic acid. Oxalates bind to iron to form ferrous oxalate and remove iron from the body. Therefore, a diet high in oxalate (or phosphate or phytate) leads to a decrease in iron absorption.
Spinach also has a high calcium content. Calcium (ˈkælsiəm is the Chemical element with the symbol Ca and Atomic number 20 However, the oxalate content in spinach binds with calcium decreasing its absorption. By way of comparison, the body can absorb about half of the calcium present in broccoli, yet only around 5% of the calcium in spinach. Broccoli is a plant of the Cabbage family Brassicaceae (formerly Cruciferae Oxalate is one of a number of factors that can contribute to gout and kidney stones. Gout (also called metabolic arthritis) is a disease created by a buildup of Uric acid. Kidney stones, also called renal calculi, are solid concretions (crystal aggregations of dissolved minerals in Urine; calculi typically form Equally or more notable factors contributing to calcium stones are: genetic tendency, high intake of animal protein, excess calcium intake, excess vitamin D, prolonged immobility, hyperparathyroidism, renal tubular acidosis, and excess dietary fiber (Williams, 1993).
Spinach still has a large nutritional value, especially when fresh, steamed, or quickly boiled. It is a rich source of vitamin A (and lutein), vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, and several vital antioxidants. Vitamin A refers to a family of similarly shaped molecules the Retinoids. As a pigment This Xanthophyll, like its sister compound Zeaxanthin, has primarily been used as a natural colorant due to its Orange-red Color Vitamin C or L-ascorbate is an Essential nutrient for a large number of higher primate species a small number of other Mammalian Tocopherol, a class of chemical compounds of which many have Vitamin E activity describes a series of Organic compounds consisting of various methylated phenols Vitamin K (K from "Koagulations-Vitamin" in German Danish Swedish and Norwegian denotes a group of Lipophilic, Hydrophobic Vitamins that Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24 An antioxidant is a Molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules Recently, opioid peptides called rubiscolins have also been found in spinach. Opioid Peptides are short sequences of Amino acids which mimic the effect of Opiates in the Brain. The rubiscolins are a group of Opioid peptides which are formed during digestion of the ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase ( Rubisco) protein from Spinach It is a source of folic acid (Vitamin B9), and this vitamin was first purified from spinach. Folic acid (also known as Vitamin M and Folacin) and Folate (the Anionic form are forms of the water-soluble Vitamin B9 To benefit from the folate in spinach, it is better to steam it than to boil it. Steaming is a method of Cooking using Steam. Steaming is considered a relatively healthier cooking technique and capable to cook almost all kinds of food Boiling spinach for four minutes can halve the level of folate.
When cooked, the volume of spinach is decreased by three quarters.
Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B2, calcium, potassium, and vitamin B6. It is a very good source of dietary fiber, copper, protein, phosphorous, zinc and vitamin E. In addition, it is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, niacin and selenium. [3]
Types of spinach
A distinction can be made between older varieties of spinach and more modern varieties. Older varieties tend to bolt too early in warm conditions. Newer varieties tend to grow more rapidly but have less of an inclination to run up to seed. The older varieties have narrower leaves and tend to have a stronger and more bitter taste. Most newer varieties have broader leaves and round seeds.
There are 3 basic types of Spinach:
- Savoy has dark green, crinkly and curly leaves. It is the type sold in fresh bunches in most supermarkets. One heirloom variety of savoy is Bloomsdale, which is somewhat resistant to bolting.
- Flat/smooth leaf spinach has broad smooth leaves that are easier to clean than savoy. This type is often grown for canned and frozen spinach, as well as soups, baby foods, and processed foods.
- Semi-savoy is a hybrid variety with slightly crinkled leaves. It has the same texture as savoy, but it is not as difficult to clean. It is grown for both fresh market and processing. Five Star is a widely grown variety and has good resistance to running up to seed.
In Australia, a significant percentage of people erroneously identify chard (locally known as silverbeet) as spinach, despite the fact that both spinach and chard are labeled appropriately in stores. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Chard ( Beta vulgaris var cicla) also known as Swiss Chard, Silverbeet, Perpetual Spinach, Crab Beet and Mangold [4]
Production, marketing and storage
Spinach is sold loose, bunched, in prepackaged bags, canned, or frozen. Fresh spinach loses much of its nutritional value with storage of more than a few days. While refrigeration slows this effect to about eight days, spinach will lose most of its folate and carotenoid content, so for longer storage it is frozen, cooked and frozen, or canned. Storage in the freezer can be for up to eight months.
Reheating spinach leftovers may cause the formation of poisonous compounds by certain bacteria that thrive on prepared nitrate-rich foods, such as spinach and many other green vegetables. In the context of Biology, poisons are substances that can cause damage, Illness, or Death to Organisms usually by The Bacteria ( singular: bacterium) are a large group of unicellular Microorganisms Typically a few Micrometres in length bacteria have In Inorganic chemistry, a nitrate is a salt of Nitric acid with an Ion composed of one Nitrogen and three Oxygen atoms These bacteria can convert the nitrates into nitrites, which may be especially harmful to infants younger than six months. The nitrite Ion is NO2− The anion is bent being Isoelectronic with O3. The nitrate-converting enzymes produced by the bacteria can convert even more at elevated temperatures during the second heating. Enzymes are Biomolecules that catalyze ( ie increase the rates of Chemical reactions Almost all enzymes are Proteins For older children and adults, small concentrations of nitrites are harmless, although formation of nitrosamine compounds from the nitrites could be of concern for adults as well. Nitrosamines are Chemical compounds of the Chemical structure R1N(-R2-N=O some of which are carcinogenic. [5]
The Environmental Working Group reports that spinach is one of the dozen most heavily pesticide-contaminated produce products. The Environmental Working Group (EWG is an Environmental organization which specializes in environmental research and advocacy in the areas of toxic chemicals A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances used to kill a pest. [2] The most common pesticides found on spinach are Permethrin, Dimethoate, and DDT. Permethrin is a common synthetic chemical widely used as an Insecticide and Acaricide and as an Insect repellent. Dimethoate is a widely used Organophosphate Insecticide used to kill Insects on contact DDT (from its trivial name D ichloro- D iphenyl- T richloroethane is one of the best known synthetic Pesticides It is a chemical with a long
Spinach in popular culture
Popeye the Sailor Man has a strong affinity for spinach, becoming much stronger after consuming it. Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional hero famous for appearing in comic strips and animated films as well as numerous TV shows This is partially due to the iron content being mistakenly reported ten times the actual value, a value that was unchecked during the 1930s.
Spinach, along with brussels sprouts and other green vegetables, is often considered in children's shows to be undesirable. This article is about the plant For the pencil game see Sprouts (game. [6]
United States
Driven by fresh-market use, the consumption of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) has been on the rise in the United States. Per capita use of fresh-market spinach averaged 1 kilogram during 2004-06, the highest since the mid-1940s. The fresh market now accounts for about three-fourths of all U. S. spinach consumed. Much of the growth over the past decade has been due to sales of triple-washed cello-packed spinach and, more recently, baby spinach. These packaged products have been one of the fastest-growing segments of the packaged salad industry.
The United States is the world’s second-largest producer of spinach, with 3 percent of world output, following China (PRC), which accounts for 85 percent of output. Tostitos is a brand of Tortilla chips and (more recently dips produced by Frito-Lay and introduced in 1979, with national distribution A brand is a collection of Images and ideas representing an economic producer more specifically it refers to the descriptive verbal attributes and concrete symbols such as a A dip or dipping sauce is a common Condiment for many types of food China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National A cool-season crop that grows quickly and can withstand hard frosts, spinach is a native of Asia (likely origin in the Persian region) and has been cultivated in China since at least the 7th century. Spinach use was recorded in Europe as early as the mid-13th century, with seed accompanying colonists to the New World.
California (73 percent of 2004-06 U. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. S. output), Arizona (12 percent), and New Jersey (3 percent) are the top producing States, with 12 other States reporting production of at least 100 acres (2002 Census). The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. Over the 2004-06 period, U. S. growers produced an average of 867 million pounds of spinach for all uses, with about three-fourths sold into the fresh-market (includes fresh-cut/processed). According to the 2002 Census of Agriculture, spinach was grown on 1,109 U. S. farms -- down 17 percent from 1997, but about the same number as in 1987.
The farm value of the U. S. spinach crop (fresh and processing) averaged $175 million during 2004-06, with fresh market spinach accounting for 94 percent. The value of fresh market spinach has more than doubled over the past decade as stronger demand has boosted production, while inflation-adjusted prices largely remained constant. California accounts for about three-fourths of the value of both the fresh and processing spinach crops.
Like other cool-season leafy crops, most (about 96 percent) of the fresh spinach consumed in the United States is produced domestically. Although rising, imports (largely from Mexico) totaled about 23 million pounds in 2004-06, compared with 3 million pounds in 1994-06. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. During the last 10 years, exports (largely to Canada) have jumped 70 percent to 47 million pounds (2004-06), with much of the growth occurring earlier this decade. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page USDA 2007 Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
Per capita spinach consumption is greatest in the Northeast and Western US. About 80 percent of fresh-market spinach is purchased at retail and consumed at home, while 91 percent of processed spinach is consumed at home. Per capita spinach use is strongest among Asians, highest among women 40 and older, and weakest among teenage girls. USDA 2004
2006 United States E. coli outbreak
In September 2006, there was an outbreak of disease caused by the E. coli strain O157:H7 in 21 U. The 2006 North American E coli outbreak was an outbreak in two principal phases of foodborne ''E Escherichia coli O157H7 is an Enterohemorrhagic strain of the bacterium Escherichia coli and a cause of Foodborne illness S. states. On 2006-09-14, the E. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. coli was linked to bags of fresh spinach, after which the FDA issued a warning not to eat uncooked fresh spinach or products containing it. As of 2006-09-24, over a hundred cases have been reported, including five deaths. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 622 - Prophet Muhammad completes his hegira from Mecca to Medina.
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration issued a press release updating the available information. According to the FDA release as on 2006-10-4, 192 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) including 30 cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome; there was one death and 98 hospitalizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (or CDC) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services based in unincorporated In Medicine, hemolytic-uremic syndrome (or haemolytic-uraemic syndrome, abbreviated HUS is a disease characterized by Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia The infection affected 26 states. By early 2007, there were 206 illnesses and three deaths attributed to E. coli-tainted spinach.
Based on epidemiological and laboratory evidence, FDA determined that the implicated spinach originated from an organic spinach field grown by Mission Organics and processed by Natural Selection Foods LLC of San Juan Bautista, California. Epidemiology is the study of factors affecting the Health and Illness of populations and serves as the foundation and Logic of interventions made in the San Juan Bautista ( Spanish: Saint John the Baptist) is a city in San Benito County, California, United States. The FDA speculated that the spinach had been tainted by irrigation water contaminated with wild pig feces because feral pigs were seen in the vicinity of the implicated ranch.
2007 United States Salmonella outbreak
On August 30, 2007, 8,000 cartons of spinach (from Metz Fresh, a King City-based grower and shipper, Salinas Valley, California) were recalled after salmonella was discovered upon routine test. King City is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. The Salinas Valley in the Central Coast region of California, USA that lies along the Salinas River between the Gabilan Range and California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Salmonella is a Genus of rod-shaped Gram-negative enterobacteria that causes Typhoid fever, Paratyphoid fever Consumer advocates and some lawmakers complained it exposed big gaps in food safety, even if 90% of suspect vegetable didn’t reach the shelves. [7]
Other species called spinach
The name spinach has been applied to a number of leaf vegetables, both related and unrelated to spinach:
- Related species
- Chard (Beta vulgaris, Amaranthaceae), also known as spinach beet, silverbeet or perpetual spinach. Chard ( Beta vulgaris var cicla) also known as Swiss Chard, Silverbeet, Perpetual Spinach, Crab Beet and Mangold The Flowering plant family Amaranthaceae, the Amaranth family contains about 160 genera and 2400 species
- Orache (Atriplex species, Amaranthaceae), also called "French spinach" or "mountain spinach". Atriplex ( Á-tri-plex) is a plant Genus of 100-200 Species, known by the common names of saltbush and orache
- Good King Henry (Chenopodium bonus-henricus, Amaranthaceae) and other Chenopodium species, also called "Lincolnshire spinach". Good King Henry ( Chenopodium bonus-henricus) also called poor-man's asparagus, Lincolnshire Spinach, markery is a species of Goosefoot "Goosefoot" redirects here The unrelated Smearwort ( Aristolochia rotunda) is sometimes called "Mercury Goosefoot"
In Indonesia, the word bayam is applied both to certain species of amaranth commonly eaten as a leafy vegetable, and to spinach, which is rarely seen, only in certain supermarkets but well known from Popeye cartoons. Amaranthus, collectively known as amaranth or pigweed, is a cosmopolitan genus of herbs
- Unrelated species
- New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia, Aizoaceae). Tetragonia is a genus of 50-60 species of Flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to temperate and subtropical regions mostly of the Southern Hemisphere The Family Aizoaceae or Ficoidaceae (fig-marigold family or ice plant family is a taxon of Dicotyledonous Flowering plants containing 135 genera and
- Water spinach (Convolvulaceae). Ipomoea aquatica is a semi- aquatic Tropical plant grown as a Leaf vegetable. The Convolvulaceae, known commonly as the Bindweed or Morning glory family, is a group of about 60 genera and more than 1650 species of mostly
- Malabar spinach (Basellaceae). Basella alba is a perennial Vine found in the tropics where it is widely used as a Leaf vegetable. Basellaceae is a family of Flowering plants, in the order Caryophyllales in the clade Core eudicots, according to the Angiosperm Phylogeny
- The greens of various nightshade, legume and cucurbit species are also known as spinach, wild spinach, African spinach, "Thermadorian spinach" or morogo (in Southern Africa). The Solanaceae is a family of Flowering plants that contains a number of important agricultural plants as well as many toxic plants Fabaceae or Leguminosae is a large and economically important family of Flowering plants which is commonly known as the legume family, pea Cucurbitaceae is a Plant family commonly known as Melons, gourds or cucurbits and includes crops like Cucumbers Southern Africa is the Southernmost Region of the African Continent, variably defined by Geography or Geopolitics.
References and external links
- ^ Watson, Andrew. Agricultural innovation in the early Islamic world. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge University Press (known colloquially as CUP is a Publisher given a Royal Charter by Henry VIII in 1534 p. 62
- ^ World's Healthiest Foods whfoods. com
- ^ World's Healthiest foods whfoods. com
- ^ Stanton, Rosemary. Complete Book of Food and Nutrition.
- ^ Vitamins, minerals & phytonutrients FAQ. Retrieved on 2007-06-14. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the
- ^ BBC - h2g2 - Spinach - The Truth
- ^ MSNBC, Spinach recall divides growers, lawmakers
- FAO spinach data sheet
- Fresh-Market Spinach: Background Information and Statistics USDA 2007
- Factors Affecting Spinach Consumption in the United States USDA 2004
- US import/export data
- D. Maue, S. Walia, S. Shore, M. Parkash, S. K. Walia, S. K. Walia (2005). "Prevalence of Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Ready-to-Eat Bagged Salads". American Society for Microbiology meeting. June 5-9: Atlanta. Abstract
- Overview of Spinach from Innvista
- Rogers, Jo. What Food is That?: and how healthy is it?. The Rocks, Sydney, NSW: Lansdowne Publishing Pty Ltd, 1990. ISBN 1-86302-823-4.
- Cardwell, Glenn. Spinach is a Good Source of What?. The Skeptic. Volume 25, No 2, Winter 2005. Pp 31-33. ISSN 0726-9897
- Blazey, Clive. The Australian Vegetable Garden: What's new is old. Sydney, NSW: New Holland Publishers, 1999. ISBN 1-86436-538-2
- Stanton, Rosemary. Complete Book of Food and Nutrition. Australia, Simon & Schuster, Revised Edition, 1995. ISBN 0-7318-0538-0
- Williams, S. R. (1993) Nutrition and Diet Therapy 7th ed. Mosby: St. Loius, MO
- The nutritional benefits of spinach were discussed in detail in the Skeptic magazine, (Winter 2005).
- Powell, D. and Chapman "Fresh and Risky" Food Safety Network, September 15, 2006
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