Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) originally came from Persia (now Iran) where it was known as aspanakh. The king of Nepal gave the green, leafy vegetable to China as a gift in the 7th century. It was brought to Europe in the 11th century by the Moors, who introduced it to Spain. In England, the name of the vegetable was “the Spanish vegetable. In the 16th century, Catherine de Medici, a member of the Medici family of the Italian Renaissance, became enamoured with the vegetable. When she left her home in Florence, Italy, to marry King Henry II of France, she brought along her own cooks, who could prepare spinach in the many different ways that she liked. The dishes were referred to as la Florentine because they were prepared on a bed of spinach. By the early 19th century, leafy greens were being cultivated in North America. In recent times, it has been popularized by the cartoon character, Popeye, who attributes his amazing strength to a daily diet of the green, leafy vegetable. When Popeye first appeared on January 17, 1929, spinach became the third most popular children’s food after turkey and ice cream. More than 94 percent of Americans associate Popeye with the vegetable.

The leaves are arranged in a way that a seed stalk emerge from. The leaves are somewhat triangular and may be flat or puckered. The flowers produce small dry fruits. Cool weather and deep, rich, well-limed soil are needed to give quick growth and maximum leaf area for spinach. Every two weeks from early spring to late summer, seed can be sown in rows of 30 cm (12 inches) apart, with the plantlets being thinned in the row. If the weather is not too bad, the last sowings produce young plants that grow a crop in the autumn and stand over the winter, providing leaves in early spring or even through the winter if the weather is not too bad.

Spinach may help maintain good vision. The dark green colour of the leaves indicates that they have high levels of chlorophyll and health-promoting carotenoids, including beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. As well as being anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous, these are important for healthy eye sight and help to prevent macular degeneration cataracts. The quality of the blood can be improved with the help of Spinach, because it is a plant that can restore energy, increase vitality and improve the health of the body. Spinach is rich in iron. This mineral plays a central role in the function of red blood cells, which help transport oxygen around the body, and supports energy production.

The nitrates in leafy greens may help improve blood flow and pressure by relaxing the blood vessels and promoting dilation. It is possible to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke with a reduction in blood pressure. According to studies, nitrate-rich foods, such as spinach, may help with heart attack survival. Spinach may support healthy bones. It is an excellent source of vitamins K and magnesium, as well as being a source of calcium and phosphorus. Maintaining bone health is dependent on the vitamins and minerals that are present.