Spinach

July 4th, 2008

Botanical Name: Spinacia oleracea (LINN.)
Family: Amaranthaceae, formerly Chenopodiaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Genus: Spinacia
Species: S. oleracea
Part Used: Leaves.
Habitat: A native of Asia, probably of Persian origin, being introduced into Europe about the fifteenth century.

Description:The Spinach is a green leafy vegetable. It is an annual plant, long cultivated for the sake of its succulent leaves.

Overview. The spinach used for fresh market, processing and greenhouse, are all of the same species, therefore have the same plant characteristics. Spinach is a cool season annual herb. It can survive severe frosts in the winter.
Root System. Spinach has a taproot that is deep and has branching roots in the top 6-10 inches of soil. These roots can extend to several feet, but the feeder roots remain in the top 2-4 inches of the soil. The system is generally thick and shallow.

Stem and Leaves. Spinach is a fleshy leaf annual that grows in a rosette. The leaves are glabrous (non-hairy), broad and tender. The leaves may be savoy (puckered or crinkled), semi-savoy, or smooth. The leaves are lobed at the base and sometimes lobed on the sides. The stem is edible as well, but tougher than the leaves. The stem is the development of the reproductive stage. The branching seed stalk and pointed leaves develop on the central stem.

Flowers and Fruit. The plant can bear either male or female flowers on the same plant. Sex expression varies, the plants are primarily dioecious. The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish-white, and are borne in clusters on a spike. The female flowers develop into seed like fruit. Male plants usually bolt faster than female. The flowers are wind pollinated. Spinach becomes reproductive in response to the day length and temperature conditions. As day length reaches 15 hours, the development of the seed stalk takes place and is accelerated in 40-50°F temperatures. The seed stalk is hollow and can reach 4-5 feet high.

Seed. There are about 90 seeds per gram, 2,500 seeds per ounce, and about 40,000 seeds per pound. It takes about 8 days for seed to germinate. Seeds should be planted between ½ to 1 inch deep. One acre requires between 10-15 pounds of seed for direct seeding. The plant turns yellow as the seeds are reaching maturity. The seed are round or prickly depending on the cultivar selected.

Cultivation: Spinach should be grown on good ground, well worked and well manured, and for the summer crops abundant water will be necessary.

To afford a succession of Summer Spinach, the seeds should be sown about the middle of February and again in March. After this period, small quantities should be sown once a fortnight, as Summer Spinach lasts a very short time. The seeds are generally sown in shallow drills, between the lines of peas. If occupying the whole of a plot, the rows should be 1 foot apart.

The Round-seeded is the best kind for summer use.

The Prickly-seeded and the Flanders kinds are the best for winter and should be thinned out early in the autumn to about 2 inches apart, and later on to 6 inches. The Lettuceleaved is a good succulent winter variety but not quite so hardy.

The first sowing of Winter Spinach should be made early in August and again towards the end of that month, in some sheltered but not shaded situation, in rows 18 inches apart, the plants as they advance being thinned and the ground hoed. By the beginning of winter, the outer leaves will have become fit for use, and if the weather is mild successive gatherings may be obtained up to the beginning of May.

Constituents: Spinach is relatively rich in nitrogenous substances, in hydrocarbons, and in iron sesqui-oxide, which last amounts to 3.3 per cent of the total ash. It is thus more nourishing than other green vegetables. It is a valuable part of the diet in anaemia, not only on account of its iron, but also for its chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is known to have a chemical formula remarkably similar to that of haemoglobin, and it is stated that the ingestion of chlorophyll will raise the haemoglobin of the blood without increasing the formed elements. The plant contains from 10 to 20 parts per 1,000 by weight of chlorophyll. During the war, wine fortified with Spinach juice 1 in 50) was given to French soldiers weakened by haemorrhage.

According to Chick and Roscoe (Biochem. Journal, 1926, XX, 137), fresh leaves of Spinach are a rich source of vitamin A, a small daily ration (0.1 gram and upward) encouraging growth and lessening or preventing xerophthalmia in young rats on diets devoid of fat-soluble vitamins. Spinach grown in the open in winter, spring or autumn possesses no antirachitic properties that can be demonstrated by the methods employed. Spinach leaves when irradiated with ultraviolet rays from a Hg vapour quartz lamp become powerfully antirachitic.

Boas (Biochem. Journal, 1926, XX, 153) found that the fresh leaves of winter-grown Spinach added to an experimental diet caused an even greater improvement in the wellbeing of rats and in the rate of growth than was caused by the addition of cod-liver oil. The weight of the skeleton was not, however, proportionally increased. The conclusion was drawn by Boas that winter Spinach contains an amount of vitamin D which isnegligible compared with its content of vitamin A.

The leaves contain a large proportion of saltpetre. The water drained from Spinach, after cooking, is capable of making as good match-paper as that made by a solution of nitre.
Nutrients

* Potassium
* Calcium
* Iron
* Magnesium
* Beta-carotene
* Folic acid
* Vitamin B6
* Vitamin C

Medicinal Value and Uses:
Spinach has great nutrients which are beneficial to health, it contains anti-Cancer and antioxidant flavoniod and caroteniod compounds which can help to protect against Cancer, especially Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, prostrate Cancer, stomach Cancer and skin Cancer. Spinach also contains nutrients such as vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin A, magnesium, lutein and iron which can help to protect and reduce the symptoms of osteoporosis, heart disease, Arthritis, Atherosclerosis, Asthma, stroke, age-related Macular Degeneration, cataract and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Spinach is also good for energy and making you more intelligent.

Benefits

* Anti-Cancer
* Good for bone health
* Boost immune system
* Helps to regulate blood pressure
* Anti-inflammatory

Drawbacks:

1.Spinach contains purines, if you are suffering from Gout or kidney problems, it would be wise to avoid spinach.

2.Spinach contains goitrogens, if you are suffering from thyroid problems, it would be wise to avoid spinach.

3.Spinach contains oxalates, if you are suffering from gallbladder problems, it would be wise to avoid spinach.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider

Resources:
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/s/spinac80.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinach
http://newbeingnutrition.com/wordpress/2007/03/09/health-benefits-of-spinach/
http://www.uga.edu/vegetable/spinach.html