Spinach is a superfood on all accounts! Spinach is packed with vitamins K, A, and C, as well as being a great source of important nutrients like manganese, magnesium, and iron.
On top of being full of these nutrients, spinach can also help to restore energy levels, improve the quality of the body's blood, and it helps with transporting oxygen through the body. Read on for more information about spinach.
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Is spinach acidic?
Spinach is considered to be mildly acidic. It has a similar pH level to other foods like asparagus, beans, turnips, and beets. Raw spinach is also more acidic than cooked spinach.
What is the pH of spinach?
pH is measured on "The pH Scale," which has been used for over a century and uses a 15 point scale, ranging from 0 to 14. Items with a pH score at or close to 0 are highly acidic. Items with a pH score at or close to 14 are considered alkaline, or basic. Items with a pH score of 7 are considered neutral.
The pH of spinach is about 5 to 5.5, meaning it is mildly acidic but it is also close to the neutral level.
Is cooked spinach acidic?
While raw spinach has a pH of about 5 to 5.5, cooked spinach has a pH of about 6.6 to 7.2, so as spinach is cooked, it becomes more neutral. Other foods that are close to a neutral level include:
Is spinach bad for acid reflux?
Spinach is not bad for acid reflux. In fact, it may actually help with acid reflux. Spinach and other collards are good for your stomach and entire digestive system.
Spinach is also low in fat and sugar which also helps to lessen stomach acid. Other great green veggies to snack on if you have acid reflux include asparagus, kale, and Brussel sprouts.
What will happen if I eat spinach everyday?
Even though spinach is really healthy for you and offers lots of health benefits, it is not something that should be consumed in large amounts. Spinach, when enjoyed in moderation, is part of a healthy, balanced diet. But if you eat large amounts of spinach, you are also eating a lot of oxalic acids.
Oxalic acid is the compound that gives spinach its earthy and slightly bitter taste. Too much oxalic acid can lead to kidney stones, stomachaches, vomiting, low blood pressure, body tremors, or a weak pulse. So if you love spinach, remember to just eat it in moderation.
Don't know what to drink? We made a list of more than 20 most and least acidic juices and 20+ alcoholic drinks ranked by acidity levels.
Is spinach healthier raw or cooked?
Raw and cooked spinach are both healthy and offer different benefits. Raw spinach contains more vitamin C, potassium, folate, and niacin, but cooked spinach increases the amounts of vitamins A and E, as well as the amount of zinc, fiber, calcium, and iron in it.
What vegetables are low in acidity?
Overall, vegetables are a great food to snack on that is low in acidity. Some of the best veggies to eat if you are looking for low acid foods include spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, asparagus, potatoes, kale, lettuce, carrots, sweet potatoes, celery, Brussel sprouts, and cucumbers. Here are the pH levels of these vegetables.
- Spinach - 5
- Broccoli - 6.5
- Cauliflower - 5.6
- Green Beans -5.5
- Asparagus - 6
- Potatoes - 6
- Kale - 7
- Lettuce - 6
- Carrots - 6
- Sweet Potatoes - 5.5
- Celery - 6
- Brussel Sprouts - 6.5
- Cucumbers - 5
What vegetables are high in acidity?
Overall, vegetables are not considered acidic and are considered to be good to eat for people who have acid reflux. Of course, exceptions do occur. For example, sauerkraut, which is made out of cabbage, has a pH of about 3.5.
Sources:
Breyer, M. (n.d.). 6 Vegetables That Are Healthier Cooked Than Raw. Retrieved December 18, 2020, from https://www.treehugger.com/vegetables-are-healthier-cooked-raw-4858803
Downey, A. (2017, January 20). From spinach to tuna, the nine healthy foods that are TOXIC if you overindulge - but how much is too much? Retrieved December 18, 2020, from https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/2664333/from-spinach-to-tuna-the-9-healthy-foods-that-are-toxic-if-you-overindulge-but-how-much-is-too-much/
Emling, S. (2017, July 28). Foods That Can Help with Acid Reflux Symptoms. Retrieved December 18, 2020, from https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2017/foods-help-acid-reflux-fd.html
Food and Foodstuff - pH Values. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18, 2020, from https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/food-ph-d_403.html
Kubala, J. (2020, September 03). 6 Acidic Foods - Should You Avoid Them? Retrieved December 18, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/health/acid-foods-to-avoid
Nutritionist, J. (n.d.). The health benefits of spinach. Retrieved December 18, 2020, from https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/ingredient-focus-spinach
