Mysterious spinach - vitamin greens with benefits for the daily diet. Spinach - useful properties and contraindications, how to eat

Spinach is an amazing herbaceous plant that belongs to vegetable crops.

At the same time, spinach has wonderful medicinal properties, and lovers of dishes from green leaves always feel great.

Even in ancient Persia, they knew about a wide range of beneficial properties of spinach for the body. Medieval Europe also appreciated spinach, and in France it grows wherever possible.

The vegetable grows quickly under the rays of the sun in loose soil, and even at home on the windowsill in a flower pot you can sow its seeds and eat young green leaves in three weeks.

What is useful for men and women?

It is difficult to name vegetables comparable to the huge amount of nutrients contained in spinach. Its tender leaves are rich in:

• protein
• carbohydrates;
• beta-carotene;
• saturated and unsaturated fatty and organic acids;
• vitamins A, B, C, K, E, PP, H;
• fiber;
• starch;
• sugars;
• choline;
• a large set of microelements necessary for a person.

Amazing Fact: during heat treatment, the vitamins in the leaves are practically not destroyed. This is a very rare property among vegetables. Of course, a leaf of raw spinach is much healthier, but fans of green spring borscht with spinach will rejoice at this good news.

Spinach promotes recovery from diseases caused by the use of animal food and intoxication of the body. Removing toxins and harmful substances, spinach simultaneously saturates the tissues with the necessary substances contained in it.

Fiber improves the stability of the digestive system, which contributes to natural weight loss. Iron deficiency anemia also does not threaten fans of green leaves, which deliver oxygen to cells, improving the metabolism in the body.

Spinach has a very valuable quality - it is able to block the growth of tumors by suppressing their circulatory system. But the cardiovascular system of the body is strengthened when it is eaten.

Doctors often prescribe spinach dishes to cancer patients during the recovery period after radiation therapy. The powerful complex of antioxidants contained in spinach contributes to a quick recovery and return to normal life.

Spinach inhibits the development and stops bleeding gums. It is an excellent assistant in the activity of the heart muscle, normalizes blood pressure, restores the body when exhausted and is indispensable for enterocolitis.

Spinach leaves will be of great benefit in the diet of men: they contribute to increased potency due to the content of proteins and tocopherol. Women will appreciate the healing properties of green leaves with a broken cycle, infertility and frequent miscarriages.

Frequent consumption of easily available spinach dishes will stop retinal detachment, fully replacing expensive artificial vitamins with lutein. Green leaves contain more beta-carotene and beneficial substances for vision than the essential carrot.

People who are under constant stress and suffer from insomnia, spinach is also necessary in the diet, as it takes part in the production of hormones. The iodine contained in the leaves is necessary for strengthening the nervous system and the full functioning of the pancreas.

It is difficult to list all the medicinal properties of spinach that are used in traditional medicine. It brings significant relief to people suffering from epilepsy and will reduce the manifestations of the disease.

With a dry cough (in the article you will find recipes for folk expectorants) and during asthma attacks, fresh spinach leaf juice will greatly alleviate the condition. During the winter epidemics, spinach fans are not afraid of the flu. Spinach juice successfully treats inflamed tonsils.

Due to the large amount of vitamin K, the manifestations of osteoporosis decrease and the calcium content in bone tissues increases. For children, a mixture of almond oil with spinach leaf juice is very useful to prevent the development of rickets and accelerate bone growth.

A compress of crushed leaves will relieve abscesses, eczema and tumors from insect bites due to the content of zinc and iodine. For those living and working in nuclear production and in regions contaminated with radiation, spinach is vital. It softens the effect of radiation and saves the lives of those affected by radiation sickness.

Any French woman knows that rubbing her face with a fresh spinach leaf is necessary to smooth out wrinkles and for a healthy complexion, without traces of inflammation and acne.

This is facilitated by the high content of vitamins A and E in the leaves. Spinach masks renew the skin and make it velvety. The high content of beta-carotene in spinach helps the body's cells stay young longer.

Nutritional value and calories

Over the centuries of eating spinach, people have come up with many culinary recipes with it. It is added to ordinary salads, omelettes, stuffing for pies and fish and meat dishes, cottage cheese and soups, spices are made and canned.

The gastronomic benefits of the green leaves of the plant are very high. Due to its high protein content, spinach is very nutritious, while 100 grams of leaves contain only 23 kilocalories. You will not have to starve during a diet and fasting if you add green leaf dishes to your diet.

One hundred grams of spinach contains:

• 92% water;
• 2.8% proteins - almost like in legumes;
• 1.9% carbohydrates;
• 0.1% starch;
• 1.4% dietary fiber;
• 0.3% fat;
• 0.1% organic acids;
• 0.1% unsaturated acids;
• 1.8% disaccharides and monosaccharides;
• 1.7% ash;
• 0.1% saturated fatty acids.

Thanks to this rich composition, spinach helps to speed up metabolism and provides additional energy to the body.

Is there any harm and contraindications?

Greens lovers should be aware of the possible dangers of spinach in order to fully use its beneficial qualities.

If a person already has some diseases, spinach can be harmful.

Overgrown leaves contain an excess of oxalic acid, which in case of kidney disease will create an additional acidic environment in the body. For diseases of the bladder, stomach ulcers, rheumatism, gout and arthritis, the use of a green vegetable is also undesirable.

But the young leaves of the plant contain almost no oxalic acid in the composition and will not harm when consumed in a small amount.

Methods of application in traditional medicine and for weight loss

In Russia, spinach has always been used as an effective remedy.

An aqueous infusion of leaves is taken for constipation, diseases of the throat and lungs, atherosclerosis, for neurotic disorders and to relieve epilepsy attacks.

Spinach reduces the risk of developing cancer and will replace the use of folic acid tablets.

Recipes for treatment:

• With spasms of the stomach and large intestine, painful colic and 4 times a day you need to drink an infusion of spinach. Boil one tablespoon of chopped stems and leaves for 10 minutes in 100 ml of water and leave for 40 minutes.
• From atherosclerosis infusion of leaves is drunk up to 4 months, combined with taking hawthorn tincture and making a 10-day break infusion of spinach leaves.
• For insect bites put gruel from the leaves on the inflamed area for two hours.
• For eczema boil the leaves in olive oil and apply on the affected areas for several hours.
• At 4 days to take chopped spinach with a little cinnamon.
• For nervous overload take twice a week 50-60 ml of a mixture of spinach juice and carrot juice.
• For diseases of the stomach and intestines, to cleanse the body of toxins take half a glass of juice of young leaves three times a day.
• Anemia, thyroid disease and before breakfast and dinner, drink half a glass of a mixture of beet, carrot and spinach juices.
• With convulsions boil and finely cut the leaves, add a little vegetable oil and take twice a day for a tablespoon.
• In diet food the leaves are boiled, cooled and the broth is filtered and taken before meals, 50 ml each.

Spinach diet promotes weight loss and helps to cleanse the body. Such a diet improves the condition of blood vessels and the heart, preventing diseases of the digestive system.

The neutral taste of spinach allows it to be used in many dishes. Dough, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes and desserts take on an emerald hue when crushed leaves are added. Cottage cheese with spinach for breakfast will saturate and energize for the whole day.

Spinach is one of the richest green vegetables. Its useful properties have long been highly appreciated in the West, but for some reason they are not treated with due attention in our country. Even a small amount of this product in the daily diet will significantly improve the quality of life.

We also suggest watching an interesting video on the topic of the article:

Spinach is an annual plant. According to the botanical classification, it belongs to the genus "spinach" of the family "amaranth". Its use as a food product originated in Persia. However, the beneficial properties of spinach, combined with its ease of cultivation, have led to an increase in the popularity of the plant in other countries.

Russia learned about spinach in the middle of the eighteenth century. However, for about a hundred years it was considered a "master's" vegetable and was inaccessible to ordinary people. In Soviet times, the vegetable was not in demand. The inhabitants of our country began to actively include it in the diet already in the 90s of the 20th century, when information about the useful components found in spinach began to appear in specialized magazines.

Fresh herbs contain 90% water. Therefore, the concentration of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in it is negligible. For 100 grams of product there are 2.9 grams of protein, 0.4 grams of vegetable fat, 3.6 grams of carbohydrates. At the same time, the vegetable is an excellent source of vitamins. It contains vitamins A, B, C, E, K, D, so necessary for normal life, folacin, beta-carotene. To close the daily requirement of these components, an adult needs about 200-250 grams of spinach. The amount of vitamin "K" in the plant (per 100 grams) exceeds the daily norm by more than 4 times.

In addition to vitamins, spinach contains a fairly large amount of calcium and magnesium: 99 mg and 79 mg, respectively. The use of a vegetable allows you to compensate for the lack of these substances. However, contrary to popular belief, the plant does not contain a large amount of iron. According to various sources, its dose in 100 grams of the product does not exceed 2.7-3.5 mg.

Note: according to earlier studies, 100 grams of spinach contains 35 mg of iron. These data were refuted by German scientists in 1937, and an official refutation appeared in 1981.

Cultivation and distribution

At home, spinach is planted before the main crops, after fertilizing the ground with humus. For planting, the space between other plants is often used. It does not require a special area. The optimal growing conditions for spinach are direct sunlight and an ambient temperature between 10˚ and 18˚. At the same time, the leaves become juicy and appetizing.

The seeds of the plant are soaked in water for a day before planting, after which they are dried a little so that they do not stick together. It is necessary to plant a vegetable at the rate of 30 grams of seeds per 1 m₂. The distance between rows should be 5-6 centimeters.

During the growing process, spinach needs to be looked after. Watering is done 2-3 times a week, depending on weather conditions. The volume of water is 3 liters per 1 meter of a row with plants. In addition, after the appearance of the second leaf, the greens must be thinned out so that the distance is 10-15 cm. The soil around the vegetable should be loosened regularly.

Young spinach has the greatest value, the length of the leaves of which does not exceed 5 cm. The plant is used for making salads or eating it raw. Industrially grown spinach is distributed through stores in bundles or in airtight packaging. China is the leader in growing vegetables. The US is in second place. In Russia, spinach is not so in demand. However, thanks to the desire of people for a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition, our country is rapidly catching up with world leaders in terms of the volume of vegetables grown.

Storage

Long-term storage of fresh spinach is almost impossible. The plant wilts within 7-8 days even when stored in the refrigerator. At room temperature, the plant deteriorates and loses most of its vitamins even faster.

You can save the beneficial properties of the plant by freezing it. To do this, the vegetable is rolled into small balls or pressed, and then placed in the freezer. Frozen spinach retains its properties for 8 months. After defrosting, it can be used to make sauces, fry, stew, include in other dishes, salads.

In addition to freezing, spinach can be stored salted, canned, or dried. A salted and canned vegetable retains up to 60% of its beneficial properties for a year and a half, dried - up to 3 years.

Nutritional value and calories

As mentioned above, the content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in spinach is small. Therefore, it is inappropriate to talk about its high nutritional value. 100 grams of the product allows you to get 23 kcal (96 kJ). The value of spinach as a food product lies in the high content of vitamins and some mineral components.

Useful properties of spinach

The benefits of spinach for the body are due to the high content of vitamin substances and mineral salts.

A leafy vegetable affects a person as follows:

• contributes to the normalization of electrolyte balance;
• saturates with vitamins;
• serves as a means of preventing rickets and some other diseases;
• great for diet food;
• actively fights free radicals, prevents early aging;
• improves skin condition;
• stimulates the activity of the pancreas;
• strengthens blood vessels;
• regulates the activity of the intestine;
• vitamins of group "B", which are part of the vegetable, improve the functioning of the nervous system.

There is an opinion that spinach leaves produce an antitumor effect. There is no scientific justification for this, however, in folk medicine, a vegetable is often included in the composition of products intended to combat cancer.

It is worth noting that spinach is not suitable for saturating the body with iron ions, as it contains structures that interfere with the absorption of the nutrient. If it is necessary to use the plant as a source of iron, it should be cut as young as possible. In such spinach, the number of inhibitors of its absorption is minimal.

The use of spinach in medicine

Spinach is used in both official and folk medicine. Doctors recommend regularly consuming greens for patients undergoing chemotherapy. At the same time, the recovery time is reduced, impaired body functions are restored faster, due to the large amount of vitamins, the plant strengthens the immune system, which helps to overcome even the most serious diseases.

Spinach is also used in dentistry. The inclusion of the discussed vegetable in the daily diet allows you to quickly strengthen the gums, relieve bleeding, and stimulate regenerative processes after surgical interventions.

Due to the large number of mineral elements contained in it, the plant is used in cardiology. With the help of spinach, you can compensate for the lack of potassium, magnesium and other substances necessary for the functioning of the heart. Eating a vegetable has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland. The presence of a large amount of iodine in it contributes to the normalization of the body, prevents hypothyroidism.

In folk medicine, the vegetable is part of the remedies for the treatment of back pain, tuberculosis, and inflammatory diseases. Spinach decoction is recommended by herbalists for gargling. In addition, plant-based formulations will be useful for people who regularly experience heavy physical exertion.

Is it possible during pregnancy and lactation?

Spinach is recommended to be consumed throughout the entire period of pregnancy and breastfeeding. The benefits for women and babies just starting to develop are especially noticeable in the first trimester of pregnancy. The vegetable saturates the body of a pregnant woman with vitamins A and E, which not only contributes to the normal development of the fetus, but also reduces the severity of toxicosis in the expectant mother.

Note: spinach is a great food for weight loss after pregnancy! A large amount of vitamins, combined with a low content of fats and carbohydrates, makes it an indispensable assistant in returning to its former physical form.

During lactation, the product helps to saturate breast milk with vitamins, minerals, and beta-carotene necessary for the baby. At the same time, there is an improvement in the functioning of the immune system and the intestines of the mother.

Spinach for children: good or bad?

Of course, spinach is extremely beneficial for children. As mentioned above, the product contains a huge amount of substances necessary for the growth and development of the baby. Mineral salts take part in the formation of the skeletal system, vitamins activate and make possible all vital processes in the body.

The only caveat is that it is better to eat a young vegetable. In this case, the child will receive the maximum amount of vitamins. Old plants contain a large amount of oxalic acid, which is harmful to the kidneys, and substances that prevent the absorption of iron ions.

Spinach in cosmetology

In cosmetology, spinach is used as the basis for face masks. The most commonly used recipes are:

• To remove "crow's feet" - the juice of 3 leaves of a vegetable, 10 ml of liquid vitamin "A" and 5 ml of face cream are mixed together and applied around the eyes. The application is kept for half an hour, after which it is washed off with water. The procedure should be carried out daily.
• Rejuvenating mask - spinach leaves are boiled in milk so that they become soft. The resulting material is distributed on a soft tissue and applied to the face and neck in the form of a compress.
• Whitening composition - 3-5 ml of spinach and sorrel juice are added to a glass of kefir. The composition is applied to the skin and kept for 20-30 minutes. After that, you should wash with cool water.

Harm and contraindications

In general, spinach has no contraindications for consumption and does not have a harmful effect on the human body. The exception is people with kidney failure. The fact is that the vegetable contains an excessive amount of oxalic acid, which can aggravate the pathology and become a provoking factor for urolithiasis.

Raw spinach contains the acid in organic form. It passes into an inorganic, more harmful form for "renal" patients during the heat treatment of the product. Therefore, people who have problems with the urinary system are advised to stop eating spinach completely or eat it exclusively raw and in minimal quantities.

The health benefits and harms of spinach have been studied quite well to date. Therefore, you can use a herbal product without fear. The inclusion of spinach in the list of food products will reduce the risk of infectious diseases, oncology, improve overall well-being, and avoid vision problems. At the same time, there is no need to eat a vegetable in kilograms, as was customary among the royal people of the 18-19th century. To obtain the desired effect, 1-2 leaves are enough, eaten daily at lunch.

Spinach is a plant with dark green leaves that contains a lot of nutrients and few calories.

Spinach can be eaten raw or cooked. It can be added as an ingredient to many dishes, as well as cooked on its own or served raw, canned and frozen.

The composition and calorie content of spinach

Spinach contains proteins, minerals, carbohydrates and vitamins:

According to the USDA, a 100-gram serving of spinach contains 28.1 micrograms of vitamin C, which is 34% of the daily value. It is a powerful antioxidant that is important for the functioning of all organs.

Spinach also contains:

• calcium - 30 mg;
• magnesium - 24 mg;
• potassium - 167 mg.

Calorie content of spinach - 7 kcal per 100 gr.

The benefits of spinach include controlling blood glucose in diabetics, reducing the risk of cancer, and strengthening bones. It is a source of minerals and vitamins that are essential for humans.

For the bones

Due to the high content of vitamin K, spinach increases bone mineral density, prevents the development of osteoporosis and tooth decay.

For the heart and blood vessels

Spinach reduces the risk of heart disease and reduces blood clotting.

The product should be consumed by people with high blood pressure as it contains a lot of magnesium.

For nerves

Tryptophan in spinach is involved in the synthesis of serotonin, which is responsible for supplying the brain with blood, accelerating the transmission of nerve impulses, reducing the risk of depression and insomnia.

Vitamin K prevents the manifestations of Alzheimer's disease - in older people, eating spinach improved cognitive abilities and reduced memory problems.

For eyes

Lutein affects the level of accumulation of carotenoids in the retina, and this improves vision. Lutein is also a remedy for protection against macular degeneration and cataracts.

For asthmatics

Spinach is a source of beta-carotene, so it prevents the development of asthma. A study of 433 children with asthma aged 6 to 18 showed that the risk of developing asthma was lower in people with a high intake of beta-carotene.

For the intestines

Spinach contains a lot of fiber, so it prevents digestive problems: indigestion and constipation. We wrote more about it earlier.

The benefits of spinach for weight loss are obvious, because its calorie content is minimal.

For reproductive function

In women, the incidence of breast cancer may be reduced by eating spinach.

For men, the risk of prostate cancer is reduced due to the carotenoid substance neoxanthine found in spinach.

For skin and hair

For immunity

Studies have shown that spinach is high in phytonutrients, cancer-fighting compounds.

For athletes

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute say the nitrate found in spinach increases muscle strength.

Spinach is, as a rule, an annual plant with a height of 25 to 55 cm. Persia is considered its homeland. Such a plant chooses countries with a temperate climate in Central Asia, the Caucasus and the southern regions of Europe. Spinach leaves contain a huge amount of various useful substances. This unusual plant has found its wide application not only in cooking and medicine, but also in cosmetology and perfumery.

Regular use of the leaves of this wonderful plant prevents the development of such a serious disease as hypertension. The herb perfectly strengthens blood vessels, quickly relieves inflammation and swelling due to its powerful diuretic effect. Spinach is indicated for the full restoration of the thyroid gland and the central nervous system. It is able to cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, replenish the supply of essential minerals and vitamins, normalize the digestion process, and also boasts of strengthening the immune system.

Spinach helps prevent the development of beriberi, restore metabolism. In addition, it perfectly rejuvenates the body, significantly slowing down the aging of cells. In addition, spinach will easily relieve inflammation from the gums and tonsils, and is also recommended in the treatment of coughs. It is indicated in the fight against overwork and insomnia, has a positive effect on visual acuity, prevents the development of serious eye pathologies, and easily relieves severe attacks of bronchial asthma. Along with this, the plant effectively treats burns and eczema, prevents the development of all kinds of malignant neoplasms, and also participates in the production of hormones.

Use of spinach

This natural antioxidant has a positive effect on sexual desire for both men and women. Also, spinach is a dietary product due to the huge amount of nutrients and low calorie content. Such a plant can not only save you from extra pounds, but also significantly improve your well-being.

spinach juice

spinach during pregnancy

Spinach Recipes

For abscesses, burns and eczema, it is indicated to apply softened spinach leaves to the affected areas of the skin, which are previously boiled in olive oil.

For various neoplasms and tuberculosis, we take 10 grams of crushed leaves, which we fill with a full glass of boiled water. This mixture is left to infuse for 2 hours. Then we filter this healing infusion. It can be taken orally 3 times a day for 50-60 ml.

After serious illnesses and complex operations, you can easily restore the body's strength with the help of a unique remedy based on 1 glass of dry red wine and 50 ml of freshly squeezed spinach juice. Such an unusual spicy wine is advised to drink one glass for 7 days.

spinach calories

How to grow spinach

spinach extract

dried spinach

Spinach varieties

Strawberry spinach. He deserves attention with his unusual appearance. Such vegetable greens with red peculiar berries resembling raspberries boast a large amount of vitamins and trace elements indispensable for the human body. This annual early maturing plant is a cold-resistant and unpretentious culture. It grows well in a wide variety of soils, both in shade and full sun. The plant is not afraid of heat and drought, and is also practically not susceptible to various diseases and is immune to common garden pests. The homeland of this variety is considered the Mediterranean coast of Asia. Both leaves and fruits of strawberry spinach are edible.

Spinach Uteusha. Such an early plant appeared as a result of a unique selection of two varieties - Tien Shan sorrel and English spinach - thanks to Professor Yuri Uteush. This variety with delicate leaves is very good for the first spring salads. It contains a set of essential vitamins and essential minerals. Young shoots contain a lot of carotene and iron. The use of such a delicious variety helps to improve the condition of the intestinal microflora due to the cessation of putrefactive processes. In addition, Uteusz spinach has an antitumor effect.

Leaf spinach. Such a very useful vegetable with fleshy leaves has inconspicuous small flowers. Leaf spinach is rich in vitamins and microelements, and also boasts a significant content of biologically active substances that are so necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. The leaves of the plant contain a lot of proteins, carbohydrates and various salts. This variety has a diuretic, laxative, anti-inflammatory and firming effect. It is an excellent remedy for beriberi, is indicated in the treatment of lungs and blood diseases, is effective in gastritis and enterocolitis, and also perfectly protects against various neoplasms. A positive effect has been noted from taking the plant in diabetes mellitus and hypertension, with rickets and constipation, and leaf spinach is often prescribed for tuberculosis.

Contraindications to the use of spinach

Many people remember and know such a plant as spinach, from the old cartoon about the brave sailor Popeye. The cartoon character consumed this same spinach in jars, which made him strong and brave, helped him fight villains and win the love of a beauty. Of course, a salad or spinach casserole will not make you a superhero, but this plant will bring considerable benefits to the body. Include spinach regularly in your diet - the beneficial properties of this vegetable are especially valuable in early spring, during beriberi, and throughout the rest of the year.

spinach varieties

Spinach is a leafy annual plant of the haze family, the closest relative of the well-known weed -. This vegetable has many faces: when you try to recognize spinach in a photo, you can find the most diverse: leaves are from 2 to 30 cm long, 1 to 15 wide. Spinach also has several varieties, of which the most popular are only 3:

1. Savoy spinach, with very dark, curly and shriveled leaves. This variety keeps best of all, and it is this spinach that is most often sold in supermarkets.
2. Smooth, or flat, spinach. This variety with wide and smooth leaves is usually used for processing: canned, frozen, added to soups and baby food.
3. Spinach semi-savoy, a hybrid variety that is eaten fresh and processed.

Spinach: a little history

It often seems that spinach is a vegetable exclusively Western and became popular not so long ago, but this plant has a long history.

The first record of spinach is found in the first millennium of our era, in ... Chinese! It is believed that spinach appeared in ancient Persia, then merchants brought the plant to India, from where it came to China. After some time, spinach went on a trip to Sicily, conquered the Arab Mediterranean, and in XII came to Europe. First to Spain, a few decades later - to Germany, in the XIV century - to England and France. The European population quickly appreciated the benefits of spinach - it was this plant that grew first in the beginning of spring, becoming a valuable source of vitamins, saving from scurvy and improving bowel function.

And then spinach was also recognized at court - Catherine de Medici, having received the title of Queen of France, ordered to serve spinach on the royal table every day. The useful properties of spinach were also appreciated by another royal person - the Russian Empress Anna Ioannovna - it was during her reign that green spinach appeared on the table of Russian tsars.

Today, spinach enjoys well-deserved love on all continents and countries, but in Russia it is still on the sidelines, giving way to the usual, and different types of lettuce. Meanwhile, among leafy vegetables, spinach is a unique phenomenon.

Spinach: useful properties

The main advantage of spinach is a rare complex of vitamins: A, C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, E, K. And also - phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iodine, copper ... And in terms of the content of vegetable protein, spinach - just a record holder, second only to legumes.

Thanks to such a diverse composition, this leafy vegetable:

• and slows down the aging process;
• strengthens eyesight and blood vessels;
• acts as an excellent means of preventing hypertension;
• improves the functioning of the digestive tract, removes toxins and toxins.

Also feel free to include spinach in any diet - its calorie content is only 23 kcal per 100 grams of leaves. Therefore, any salads, vegetable soups with spinach, casseroles, etc. are indispensable for those who plan to lose weight or just take care of themselves.

Spinach and youth vitamin E slow down the aging process in the body, are indispensable for pregnant women - they prevent miscarriages and abnormal development of the fetus.

Vitamin A makes green spinach an important part of baby food: the vegetable prevents the formation of rickets, it is extremely useful for children with developmental problems. With exhaustion and recovery from illness, spinach is indicated at any age.

Spinach is rich in iodine - one of the most important trace elements for every person: iodine in the leaves of this vegetable nourishes the brain and improves thyroid function, and helps the absorption of other nutrients. With stress and nervous work, also do not forget about a plate of green spinach salad - it calms the nerves, copes well with depression, removes toxins from the body, and improves digestion.

And most importantly, spinach retains all these beneficial properties in any form - fresh, after freezing, during preservation, and even after heat treatment (provided that you cook the leaves for no more than a couple of minutes).

Spinach in cooking

These properties of spinach were appreciated by French chefs at the royal court - spinach juice was used to color ice cream, creams, sauces and butter. In Italy, spinach is traditionally used to color pasta and lasagna green; in England, scrambled eggs are used.

If you constantly grow or buy spinach, recipes with it do not need to be limited to salads and vegetable soups. Juicy grass can be added to cutlets and mixed with soft cheese for sandwiches, used as a full-fledged filling for pies and various casseroles.

If you're making soup with spinach, don't overcook the vegetable to preserve all the vitamins. In addition, during heat treatment, oxalic acid is released from the leaves, which in large quantities can harm. A little milk added to the broth will help neutralize its effect, and if possible, just cut fresh spinach into a bowl with already boiled soup.

Spinach: myths and contraindications

For all its benefits, spinach is one of the few vegetables whose properties were once overestimated. Due to a small misprint in the dictionary, this leafy vegetable has long been considered the leader in iron content, but now this misconception has already been dispelled.

Spinach contains iron, but there is a peculiarity - it is absorbed only with the additional use of foods with an increased amount of vitamin C. In addition, the high content of calcium and zinc in the leaves also prevent the full absorption of iron. Therefore, spinach should not be considered one of the best remedies for anemia and for. It is better to pay attention to other valuable qualities of spinach - and the plant has a lot of them.

If spinach regularly appears on your table, the benefits and harms of this vegetable must be taken into account.

The benefits of spinach for the body have been proven and undeniable, but there is only one drawback - the high content of oxalic acid in green leaves. If you have urolithiasis at any stage, kidney and liver diseases, periods of exacerbation of arthritis and rheumatism, it is better to exclude spinach from the diet or at least limit it.

Leaf vegetable spinach is a great dish during periods of beriberi in spring and summer green salads and soups. Be sure to include this royal plant with a rich history in your menu, while not forgetting its features, and then spinach will bring you the greatest benefit.