30 amazing facts about spinach

30 amazing facts about spinach

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Thanks to Popeye the Sailor Man, we know spinach is a great source of nutrients that keep us healthy!

But there are many other health benefits you might not be aware of.

Not to mention, we'll show you the best possible way to consume spinach so you get the most out of all the vitamins in this superfood!

We know cucumbers are almost entirely water - but did you know spinach is mostly water too?

If you compare 100 grams of spinach to 100 grams of ground hamburger, you'll see more iron in spinach than a hamburger.

The country with the highest spinach production in the world is China, which grows about 26 million tons of spinach a year - about 92% of the world's production!

Particularly in the United States, California is the leading supplier of spinach, accounting for nearly 75% of the country's output.

Spinach originated in ancient Persia and was not introduced in China until the 7th century. Today, it is still commonly known in China as "Persian Green".

Is spinach your favorite vegetable?

Spinach farmers in the 1930s noted the famous Popeye Sailor man for a 33% increase in his spinach consumption, which was essential during the Great Depression.

In the middle ages, artists often extracted green pigment from spinach for use as ink or paint.

Despite being full of nutrients, spinach is high in oxalate, which basically prevents the body from absorbing iron.

To avoid the negative effects of oxalates, boiling raw spinach removes most of the oxalic acid!

Unlike most vegetables, cooked spinach enhances the health benefits.

If you want to take it one step further, liquefying fresh spinach is the best way to consume spinach - doing so releases the beta-carotene stored in the leaves that helps your body absorb nutrients easily.

There's a pretty small window where you can eat fresh spinach.

The first company ever advertised frozen spinach as "Birds Eye" in Life magazine in 1949.

Spinach is packed with antioxidants that help fight oxidative stress.

Other health benefits include keeping eyes healthy, preventing cancer, and lowering blood pressure levels.

Half a cup of spinach makes up 1 out of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables that you should eat each day.

Although they look nothing alike, spinach is a relative of the beet!

The thylakoid of the spinach cells is what gives spinach the green color.

Another reason spinach is so good to eat while you're tracking your weight - there are only 23 calories in 100 grams of spinach!

There is a surprising downside to spinach.

Another negative aspect of spinach is that the oxalates present in spinach can cause kidney stones in people who are sensitive or intolerant to oxalates.

Back to the positives!

Some of these vitamins and minerals are also beneficial for your skin, helping to relieve skin itchiness with its healing properties.

During World War I, wine was fortified with spinach juice and given to bleeding French soldiers.

There are only 3 different types of spinach - spinach, spinach, and semi-moon spinach.

Due to the high iron content in spinach, it is very beneficial for your hair.

Believe it or not, spinach has more potassium than a banana.

The health benefits of spinach seem to never end!

The Vitamin C and collagen content in spinach is very good for the health of the nails, helping the nails to grow strong and avoid unpleasant marks.

Now that you know all of the great health benefits of spinach, do you think you'll be trying to add more of these green vegetables to your diet?

It might even be a better idea to plant some in the garden for immediate benefit to your body, from your garden to your dinner plate!