Spinach:Spinacia oleracea Phytochemicals and Constituents.
Article Content:
- .Basic Botanical Info of Spinach.
- .Translations for: Spinach.
- .Spinach Physical Characteristics and Botanical Description.
- .Historical Uses of Spinach.
- .Spinach Nutrition and Edible Use.
- .Medicinal Uses Disclaimer of Spinach.
- .Spinacia oleracea Phytochemicals and Constituents.
- .How to Handle Spinach.
- .Research Update:Spinacia oleracea or Spinach.
Medicinal Uses Disclaimer of Spinach.
Carminative; Febrifuge; Hypoglycaemic; Laxative.
The plant is carminative and laxative. In experiments it has been shown to have hypoglycaemic properties. It has been used in the treatment of urinary calculi[240].
The leaves have been used in the treatment of febrile conditions, inflammation of the lungs and the bowels.
The seeds are laxative and cooling. They have been used in the treatment of difficult breathing, inflammation of the liver and jaundice.
Other Uses,Dye. A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves.
Medicinal virtues: It is more used as food than for medicine and is much eaten as boiled salad. It cools and moistens and promotes the urine flow.
Modern uses: Still mainly used for food. The leaves are rich in minerals, particularly iron and calcium, and are recommended for anaemic persons. It also supplies vitamin A, C and K and folic acid. It is best grown organically, as chemical fertilisers tend to lower the vitamin content. A food for convalescence and for growing children.
Spinach Health benefits:
Spinach, especially raw, is a very good source of folic acid (vitamin B9). Pregnant women need vitamin B9 since not enough of it can cause the birth of a baby with spina bifida.
Spinach leaves are rich in vitamin C and E, which are antioxidant. These are supposed to lower risks of heart disease, stroke and cancer.
The high amount of vitamin A in spinach may protect against eye degeneration.
The potassium helps prevent and regulate high blood pressure.
Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that came originally from southwestern Asia and is now grown in most parts of the world. Its leaves, which are broad and smooth and about ten inches long, make one of the most popular, though maligned by children everywhere, of cooked leafy vegetables. Spinach is also used raw in salads. Though Spinach is most often used as a food, it has medicinal value as well. It is well known that Spinach is packed with vitamins and minerals. Spinach is most often associated with iron content, but in reality it has about the same amount of iron as most leafy green vegetables. What sets Spinach apart is its abundance of Calcium. It is also a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and folic acid. Spinach is also a good source of Chlorophyll, which is known to aid in digestion. Spinach is also rich in the carotenoids Beta-Carotene and Lutein. It is a good source of the bioflavonoid Quercetin as well, giving Spinach anti-oxidant properties in addition to its many other benefits. Much research has been done on the amazing properties of Spinach. It shows great promise as a cancer reducer, having been shown to slow the growth of stomach cancer and skin cancer cells, and it contains several constituents that have been shown to reduce the likelihood of colon cancer. Spinach is also used to prevent the bone loss associated with osteoporosis and for its anti-inflammatory properties in easing the pain of arthritis. Spinach is good for the heart and circulatory system and has energy-boosting properties. Spinach has also been shown to improve brain function and may reduce age-related cognitive problems. Spinach is truly one of nature's most perfect foods.
Reference:
1.Spinach:Spinacia oleracea Phytochemicals and Constituents.




