The Advantages and Disadvantages of Spinach

Spinach is one of vegetables can be found easily in traditional and modern market. It came from Tropical America. Its Latin name is Amaranthus hybridus. There are three varieties of spinach that are green spinach, red spinach with stems and red leaves, and white spinach. It’s good for our health because it contains substances the body needs such as:
- Vitamin K, calcium and magnesium are useful substances for preventing osteoporosis
- Beta-carotene is an important antioxidant can reduce the number of free radicals
- Folate can prevent heart attack and stroke
- Lutein is good for eye health
- Carotenoid can prevent prostate cancer
- Flavonoid can prevent cervical cancer
- Iron is useful to increase energy
- Etc
Besides it has substances that are useful, it also contains substances are dangerous for the body i.e. nitrit. Nitrit is a compound has special characteristic such as colorless, odorless, and toxic for the body. Nitrit impedes transportation of oxygen into haemoglobin. We know that one of haemoglobin function is binding oxygen and distributing it to all of bodies, so if nitrit reacts with haemoglobin, it will cause lack of oxygen for the body. Another effect is the cause of cancer if nitrit reacts with secondary amino. But it can be prevented such as don’t consume spinach after 5 hours and don’t save it too long although at refrigerator.