It belongs to the family Amaranthaceae, which also includes other crops such as beet, quinoa and amaranth (1). Spinach is rich in mineral elements and vitamins, including high levels of vitamin A, C and E.
What foods are in the spinach family?
- Spinach: A member of the Amaranthaceae family, spinach counts chard, beets, and quinoa among its not-so-distant relations.
- Kale is a member of the Brassica family of cruciferous vegetables, which includes cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and collard greens, among others.
What is related to spinach?
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a leafy green vegetable that originated in Persia. It belongs to the amaranth family and is related to beets and quinoa.
What vegetable is similar to spinach?
Arugula, kale, butterhead lettuce, and Swiss chard are just some examples of nutritious and delicious greens you can use as spinach substitutes.
Which food group does spinach belong to?
vegetable food group
The vegetable food group includes dark green vegetables, red and orange vegetables, starchy vegetables, and legumes (beans and peas). Dark green vegetables include broccoli, collard greens, spinach, and kale.
What’s healthier spinach or broccoli?
It can be said that between the two vegetables, spinach is said to be healthier than broccoli as it has high water content, a lesser amount of sugars and is richer in protein, magnesium, Vitamin E, manganese and potassium as compared to broccoli.
Is spinach and broccoli in the same family?
These are the vegetables, also called brassica vegetables, whose four-petal flowers form the shape of a cross – cruciferous means “cross-bearing.” Cruciferous vegetables include Swiss chard, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, watercress, radish, rapini, arugula, spinach, turnip, kale, and bok choy.
What can replace spinach in a smoothie?
Spinach is one of the best options, since it has a mild taste. Kale, chard, and collard greens can also be used in smoothies, but they should be paired with sweet fruits and other flavor boosters that disguise their bitter taste. Both raw and frozen leafy greens can be added to smoothies.
Are lettuce and spinach in the same family?
Spinach is not just another form of lettuce or even a closely related species to lettuce, it is actually from a completely different family. Spinach is from the Amaranth family, which contains plants such as beetroot, chard, and mangel-wurzel.
Is kale related to spinach?
Spinach and kale are both powerhouses of nutrition, associated with many impressive health benefits. Though they hail from entirely different plant families, they’re often used interchangeably in recipes ranging from salads to soups to smoothies and beyond.
What nutrients are spinach high in?
Spinach is rich in many nutrients, including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, iron, folate, and potassium. Spinach is chock full of fiber. Eating too much fiber can cause gas, cramping, and abdominal pain. Spinach is rich in oxalate, a naturally occurring substance found in almost all plants.
Can I substitute cabbage for spinach?
You can substitute cabbage for spinach under most circumstances. Raw cabbage can be substituted on a 1:1 basis. Cooked spinach wilts considerably more than cooked cabbage so consider substituting less cabbage when cooking in a recipe.
How many types of spinach are there?
The first thing to know is that spinach is divided into three main varieties: savoy, semi-savoy and flat-leafed.
What is the healthiest vegetable?
1. Spinach. This leafy green tops the chart as one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables. That’s because 1 cup (30 grams) of raw spinach provides 16% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin A plus 120% of the DV for vitamin K — all for just 7 calories ( 1 ).
Does eating too much spinach cause gas?
Digestive issues: Eating too much spinach may lead to an excessive buildup of gas, bloating, and cramps because our body needs some time to digest the excessive load of spinach and cannot metabolize it all at once.
Is spinach healthier raw or cooked?
Spinach. The leafy green is packed with nutrients, but you’ll absorb more calcium and iron if you eat it cooked. The reason: Spinach is loaded with oxalic acid, which blocks the absorption of iron and calcium but breaks down under high temperatures.
What vegetable has more iron than spinach?
Lentils. As far as vegetarian sources of iron go, members of the pulse family rank near the top. Cooked lentils have more than three mg per half cup, and are a great source of protein, too.
Where is vitamin B12 found?
Vitamin B12 is naturally present in foods of animal origin, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products [5]. In addition, fortified breakfast cereals and fortified nutritional yeasts are readily available sources of vitamin B12 that have high bioavailability [12,13].
What’s the healthiest greens for salad?
Some of the most nutritious greens include spinach, kale, romaine, watercress, and arugula (see “Salad greens by the numbers”). They are rich in a combination of vitamins A, C, and K; several B vitamins (including folate); and potassium.
Are beets related to spinach?
Beets are part of the Chenopodiaceae family, also known as the Goosefoot family. Other members of this botanical family include spinach, Swiss chard and quinoa. Plants within this group are typically rich in calcium.
Is cauliflower a green vegetable?
Cauliflower has white, yellow, and purple varieties. There is no green but it is a very nutritious food with plenty of health benefits. It makes a great side dish on its own, can be combined with other vegetables, and makes a great rice substitute. Cauliflower can also be used to make a healthy, low-carb pizza crust.