National Spinach Day is observed annually on March 26th. Not only are there so many delicious ways that you can enjoy spinach, but it is also incredibly good for you
An annual plant, spinach is native to central and southwestern Asia. Thought to have originated in ancient Persia, Arab traders carried spinach into India, and then it was introduced into ancient China where it was known as “Persian vegetable The earliest available record of the spinach plant was found in Chinese, saying that the spinach plant was introduced into China via Nepal.
During her reign as queen of France, Catherine de Medici was well known to have enjoyed spinach so much that it was served at every meal. To this day, dishes made with spinach are known as “Florentine” reflecting Catherine’s birth in Florence.
- Spinach is:
- Eaten raw or cooked and is available fresh, frozen or canned.
- One of the best sources of iron.
- An excellent source of calcium, folic acid, fiber, protein, calcium and vitamins A, C and K.
- Is loaded with cancer-fighting antioxidants
- Believed to help improve cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health.
Types of spinach:
Savoy: dark green color with curly leaves; usually sold in fresh bunches.
Flat or Smooth Leaf: broad, smooth leaves; mostly grown for canned and frozen spinach as well as soups, baby food and processed foods.
Semi-savoy: a hybrid variety with crinkly leaves: is sold fresh and processed.
- Following China, the United States is the world’s second largest producer of spinach.
- California, Arizona and New Jersey are the top spinach producing states in the United States.
HOW TO OBSERVE
You might want to have a fresh spinach salad or a spinach pizza or maybe a warm, delicious spinach dip. If one of those is not your choice, perhaps it would be a dish of creamed spinach or spinach lasagna. There are many ways to add spinach to your daily diet and partake in its health benefits