Spinach
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea, Amaranthaceae) is a vegetable grown for its edible leaves. It was first cultivated in Persia and the word itself derives from Persian اسفناج Esfenaj.
In popular folklore, spinach is supposed to be rich in iron; in reality it has about the same iron content as any other green vegetable. However, spinach is a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin E and several vital antioxidants.
The misconception appears to originate in a misplaced decimal point in an early publication on the composition of foods.
Spinach's iron content had been determined in 1870 by Dr. E. von Wolf. In 1937, German chemists reinvestigated this "miracle vegetable". It was described by T.J. Hamblin in British Medical Journal, December 1981.
Trivia
- Spinach is what gives the cartoon character Popeye his superhuman strength.
Other species called "spinach"
- New Zealand spinach is a member of the Aizoaceae.
