Nutritional ,health And Medicinal Values Of Spinach Original.docx

Nutritional, Health and Medicinal values of Spinach Malla Sai Rohith* and Rishu sharma School of Agriculture, Lovely professional university, Punjab, India.

Email: [email protected] good for the heart and circulatory system

ABSTRACT Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is most important green leafy vegetable. The leaf of this annual plant is used as major ingredient in Indian cuisine, due to nutritional and therapeutic values. Spinach bundled up

and

has

energy

boosting

properties.

Spinach is truly one of nature's most important perfect food and it contains many anticancer agents. It also contains antiinflammatory agent and omega3fattyacids.

with vitamins such as vitaminA, vitaminB,

Keywords: Vitamins, Minerals, Night

vitaminC, vitaminE and minerals like

blindness, Anti oxidative agents

magnesium, manganese, iron, calcium and

Introduction

folic acid. Spinach is great source of chlorophyll, which speeds up digestion.

Spinach (Spinacia oleraecea) has been

Leaves

widely

are

carotenoids,

the

richest

betacarotene

source and

of

lutein.

growing

Availability of

throughout

India.

spinach is round over

Herbals and natural products of traditional

the year. The spinach is a leafy vegetable

medicine have been used for centuries in

with broad, crisp and with green leaves.

every culture through out the world. “Let

Spinach is a quick maturing, cool season

food be as medicine and let medicine be as

annual crop and it is cultivated for its green

food” was advised by the father of

leaves. The leaves are alternate, succulent,

medicine. Spinach is also used to prevent

fleshy and very smooth. Spinach can be

the bone loss connected with osteoporosis

eaten raw or cooked or mixed with other

and

foods (Tahseen Fatima Miano, 2016.).

anti-inflammatory

properties

in

controlling the pain of arthritis. It is a good

Spinach

source of the bio-flavonoid quercetin with

any other leafy vegetables.” Spinach can be

many other flavonoids which exhibits

used as a food as well as medicinal purpose

antioxidant, nflammatory,

contains iron, but no more than

anti-proliferative,

anti-

also. Spinach is valuable source for various

anti-histaminic,

CNS

carotenoids

and

lipophilic

active

gamma

compounds. (Tewani et.al, 2016). Dietary

radiation, hepatoprotective properties in

intake of spinach extract has showed

addition to many other benefits. Spinach is

beneficial effects on various types of cancer

depressant,

protection

against

such as colon, breast and lung. Spinach

as night vision immunity power, and also

contains protective carotenoid compounds

prevents from respiratory and urinary tract

that have involved with decreasing the risk

problems , vitamin B(uses for proper

of many diseases.

working

Antioxidative

agents

in

spinach:

Flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins (C, E) and phenolic compounds has antioxidative action when spinach is consumed these components together controls the effect of free radical to reduce their harmful effect.

and

functioning

of

heart,nervous,digestive systems, helps to control cholesterol ) , vitamin C ( uses for healthy skin and resistant power to infections) , vitamin E ( this is an antioxidant and plays key role in preventing cancer and heart diseases) , vitamin k ( this vitamin mainly presents in green leafy

(Tahseen Fatima Miano, 2016.)

vegetables prevents from blood clotting) Carotenoids: Most of the carotenoids can

and minerals like magnesium (good for

be described by General formula C4oH56On

muscle and nerve function and also used for

where n is 0-6. Only some carotenoids can

release of energy from food ), manganese(

be detected in human blood, including α-

formation of healthy bones ), iron ( it helps

carotene, β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin,

to red blood cells to carry oxygen around

lycopene (Deven Metha, 2014.). Beta-

the body and also prevents from anaemia),

carotene is antioxidant and a part of

and calcium (

carotenoid vitamin family. Carotenoids are

healthy bones and teeth and also helps in

found mainly in brightly coloured green,

muscle contraction) (Deven Metha, 2014).

used for building strong

red, and orange vegetables, and red or orange fruits. The brighter colour of a fruit or vegetable, the more beta-carotene it can

Fiber: spinach is mainly high in insoluble fiber. This helps prevents in constipation.

have. Vitamin A is important for vision,

HEALTH AND MEDICINAL benefits

immune function, and skin and bone health.

OF SPINACH

But some studies show beta-carotene may reduce the risk of heart disease. Spinach is good source of beta-carotene. Diet and Health (2014)

Anaemia: Spinach vegetable is valuable source for iron. After it absorbs, the formation of haemoglobin and red blood cells take place then it is highly beneficial

Vitamins and Minerals of spinach

building up the blood and in the prevention

Spinach contains

and treatment of anaemia. The juice made

vitamin A

vitamins such

as

( good for eye sight as well

freshly in the juicer or blender from any

Available greens, such as spinach etc. It can

Forced to use the cholesterol to produce

be mixed with carrot and red beet juice.

more bile acids (Tewani et.al, 2016).

Drink at least 2 glasses each day. (Airola P.1990) Urinary Disorders: The leaves of the spinach are more effective Diuretic food. Night Blindness: The spinach is rich in

They increase the secretion and discharge

vitamin A. It contains more vitamin A than

of the urine. Fresh spinach juice is taken

other green vegetables. This vitamin

with the tender coconut water once or twice

promotes growth and health, specially the

a day and it acts as a very effective but it is

health of (rods and cons)

eyes (Tewani

safe diuretic due to the combination action

et.al 2016). Lack of this vitamin may cause

of both nitrates and potassium. It can be

night blindness. Spinach is an effective

safely given in cystitis, nephritis and scanty

food and good remedy for the prevention

urination is due to the dehydration (Bakhru,

and treatment of night blindness. (Bakhru,

2001).

2001). Protection against Gamma Radiation: Heart Healthiness: Vegetables are good

The protective effect of 1100 mg/kg/day of

sources for fiber, which lowers cholesterol

50%methanolic

level of body, consequently decreases the

oleracea L. (MESO) against radiation-

risk of cardiovascular diseases (Hanif et.

induced oxidative Stress were evaluated in

al., 2006).Unwanted cholesterol passes

terms of lipid peroxidation (LPO) product

through out to intestine along with the bile

and tissue levels of glutathione. (Deven

and should be normally thrown out along

Metha, 2014.)

extract

of

Spinacia

with stools. But some of it may get dissolved in bile acids and get into blood. the

Effect on intestine: Decreases food

cholesterol, whatever it be and prevents it

movement time, increases smoothens and

from dissolved in the bile acids. The liver is

fasts the passage of stool. The fibre present

Dietary

fibre

soaks

and

binds

in the food stimulates peristaltic activity,

Quickens the movement of food through the alimentary canal, digestive process, will reduce the time taken for digestion and

4.

Mike Sutton, 2010, SPINACH, IRON and POPEYE, IJC.

5.

RameshTewani, J. K. Sharma, S.V. Rao, December, 2016 Spinach (Palak) Natural Laxative IJART,1, 140,143,1444,145.

increases the bulk of stools and make elimination quick, easy and complete. (Tewani et.al, 2016).

Conclusion:

With

recognized

nutritional quality and potential medicinal benefits, spinach leaves can be explored for

6. Diet and Health (2014). Spinach, Centre for Nutrition, University of the District of Columbia, 1:14

improving nutrition and health. Easy availability and affordability of spinach leaves again makes its valuable in every aspect of research, acceptability and consumption. References

1. Tahseen

F.M, 2016 NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF SPINACIA OLERAECEA SPINACH-AN OVERVIEW, IJLSR (2016), 2:172, 173.

2. SUBRATA DE AND K.M. PARIKH, 1985, MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE OF SOME COMMON INDIAN VEGETABLES, I, IV: 232-237.

3. Deven Mehta and Sateesh Belemkar, Jan, 2014.PHARMACOLOGICALACTIVITY OF SPINACIA OLERACEA LINN.-A COMPLETE OVERVIEW. 2:32, 33, 37. .

7.

Bakhru H.K, (2001).Food that Heal the Natural Way to Good Health, 17th printing, Orient Paperbacks New Delhi, 145-147.