Weight-Loss Raw spinach vs Cooked Spinach

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cherrygarcia

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I love cooked spinach and have never had any problems with it, but today had raw spinach for the first time (in a smoothie) and thereafter experienced stomach discomfort from it.

I wanted to ask if there are people out there who have different reactions to raw spinach vs cooked spinach? Or is it just me?
 
Found on google
Spinach contains oxalic acid. While this cleans our intestinal tract, oxalic acid binds with calcium and diminishes the absorption of calcium in our bodies. Cooking turns the oxalic acid into crystals that could damage kidneys and limit the absorption of iron but cooking also breaks down cell walls and allow us to absorb more nutrients. The answer? Eat spinach in moderation, and eat it raw as well as cooked.
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hey wishes,
thanks for the google quote. I also tried googling benefits/drawbacks/effects of spinach and was pretty surprised by what i found. there seems to be lots of conflicting information out there, on the one hand it's said to be a superfood of which the more the better but on the other hand there's talk of it reducing calcium absorption in our bodies etc so should be avoided.

i'm very surprised by it all. i think for now i'll just be taking it in moderation untill i've read up more on it.
 
The whole "should be avoided" thing ... needs to be taken with a grain of salt. If you read the studies you'll see that it inhibits calcium absorption in HUGE amounts. Eating a healthy balance of veggies - including spinach, both cooked and raw - is a good thing. Obviously you're not going ot eat a pound of spinach a day. :)

There's nothing wrong with eating reasonable amounts of spinach - and a lot to be gained from it. You balance that out with eating things that contribute to calcium absorption as well.
 
I really like spinach, but like it much better cooked then raw. I found a nice balance is to wilt it in a pan with a bit of olive oil & garlic or some turkey bacon, maybe balsamic vinegar drizzled on right before you eat, yum.
So, no lost nutrients in cooking water and tastier then steamed.
 
KaraCooks said:
The whole "should be avoided" thing ... needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
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I know what you mean kara...i think my concern just came from the probs i had after eating it raw...i never have probs eating it cooked... so today i tried it in my smoothie again but dipped it in boiling water for just 30seconds then removed the leaves and added it to my smoothie and had no stomach discomfort whatsoever YAY! so i think i'll be doing it that way

@kayshiz...your way of cooking it sounds yummy! i'll have to try that sometime
 
Keep in mind that spinach is fairly fiberous and some people have negative results when eating very fiberous veggies. "Tummy troubles" are not unusual. If blanching it first to break down the fibers helps - go for it! :)
 
It's not surprising to get a different reaction cooked vs raw though. Cooking alters the chemical composition and breaks down cell walls and... well, makes all sorts of changes. Which is why I don't just eat sweet potatoes raw like apples ;)
 
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