Spinach or Palak Saag is the most famous leafy vegetable in India, which is rich in essential nutrition, vitamins and minerals. This is a popular leaf vegetable mostly available in winter season in India, but nowadays you can find spinach in all seasons because of latest farming technology like hydroponic farming, poly house farming and etc.
Spinach comes under Amaranthaceae family, caryophyllales order and subfamily chenopodioideae. This is also famous for its taste and its health benefits. As spinach has packed with full of vital nutrition so it is very help full in different diseases like cancer, daiabaties, asthma and many more.
In this post we will discuss lots of things about spinach like – spinach in tamil name, its variety, availability in the local area, health benefits, nutrition content, its cost and many more.
English name | Spinach |
Tamil name | Palakirai, Pasalai Keerai |
Scientific name | Spinacia oleracea |
Kingdom | Plantae |
Species | S. oleracea |
Family | Amaranthaceae |
Order | Caryophyllales |
Genus | Spinacia |
Spinach Name in Tamil name
Palakirai is the tamil name of Spinach or Palak Saag, As this is a popular leafy vegitable so spinach is available in tamilnadu and as well as other states of india. Spinich is a super food so always its trend is high and everyone knows about spinach.
There is different variety of spinach available like – baby spinach, water spinach, Malabar spinach and many more. You will also get the above variety of spinach in tamil nadu.
Spinach grows in short period of time and also this is very healthy, so now a day’s lots of people are growing spinach organically or using organic farming technique in kitchen garden, rooftop, backyard and poly houses.
If you have good quality fertile and well drained soil with good quality organic fertilizer then this will perfect to grow spinach. If you want to know what organic farming is and how to start organic farming then you can check the below articles.
Product of Spinach
Click here to see products of spinach on Amazon.
Nutritional value of Spinach
Nutrition value per 100 g of Raw Spinach
Nutrients | Amount |
---|---|
Energy | 97 kj (23 kcal) |
Protein | 2.9g |
Carbohydrates | 3.6g |
Sugar | 0.4g |
Dietary fiber | 2.2g |
Fat | 0.4g |
Vitamin A equiv. | 469 µg |
Beta-carotene | 5626 µg |
Lutein zeaxanthin | 12198 µg |
Vitamin A | 9377 IU |
Thiamine (B1) | 0.078 mg |
Riboflavin (B2) | 0.189 mg |
Niacin (B3) | 0.724 mg |
Vitamin B6 | 0.195 mg |
Folate (B9) | 194 µg |
Vitamin C | 28 mg |
Vitamin E | 2 mg |
Vitamin K | 483 µg |
Calcium | 99 mg |
Iron | 2.71 mg |
Magnesium | 79 mg |
Manganese | 0.897 mg |
Phosphorus | 49 mg |
Potassium | 558 mg |
Sodium | 79 mg |
Zinc | 0.53 mg |
Water | 91.4 g |
Note: Here “µg” means – Micrograms and “mg” means – Milligrams
Health Benefits of Spinach
1. Good for Hair and Skin
As we know spinach is containing high amount of Vitamin A so it regulate the oil production in the hair and skin and moisturize the hair and skin.
Vitamin A is essential for the growth of new hair, skin and new body tissues. Also spinach contain high amount of iron and vitamin C which maintain the structure of hair and skin and also maintain the iron level in the blood.
2. Power of Prevent to Cancer Disease
Vitamin C and chlorophyll help to prevent cancer. You can get the chlorophyll in all green leafy vegetables and green vegetables, spinach is also containing chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a pigment which gives the natural green color to the plants and Chlorophyll contains anticancer properties.
so if you are eating green vegetables or leafy vegetables like spinach in your diet then it will reduce the chances of cancer.
3. Good for Diabetes patients
Alpha liopic acid an antioxidant which is used to tread some chronic disease related stress: like diabetic neuropathy and slow down metabolic activity. Here is one good news spinach is containing this alpha liopic acid so this is good for diabetic patients. It helps reduce the glucose level, increase the insulin and reduce the oxidative stress.
4. Good for Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease, where the lungs became infected, swollen, narrowed and patient feel difficult to breath. Spinach is helpful for asthma patient because it contains Vitamin c, Antioxidants, beta carotene, iron and vitamin E. These essential nutrition is very helpful for the good function of lungs.
5. Helps in weight loss
Spinach is rich with fiber, low in fat and low calories so this is very helpful for weight loss. If you are doing regular exercise to burn your fat or if you are trying to lose your weight then spinach is a good option in your diet. It also curbs the appetite, so this is very helpful for weight loss.
6. Anti inflammatory properties
Another benefit you will get by taking this leafy vegetable. Spinach has very high amount of anti-inflammatory property which helps to prevent migraine, arthritis, osteoporosis, headaches and asthma type disease.
This is possible due to neoxanthin and violaxanthin. Spinach is containing these two compounds so you will get anti inflammatory properties from spinach.
7. Wound recovery
Spinach contains very good amount of vitamin c, so this super food helps in wound recovery. Vitamin c helps to create collagen and heal the wound area also vitamin c helps iron absorption in your body.
8. Good for your eyes – Boost Vision
Lutein and zeaxanthin are the essential compounds which boosts or helpful for our eyes. Spinach is containing the above two essential nutrition so eating spinach or adding spinach in your diet will keep your eyes healthy.
9. Fight with free radicals
Do you know what free radicals are? These are the unstable atoms which can damage our cells. These free radicals will cause of damaging of our cells, aging, illness, wrinkles, oxidative stress, gray hair and etc. Antioxidants can control the harmful free radicals.
As we know spinach has high amount of antioxidants so spinach can protect from the harmful free radicals.
10. Help in baby development and growth.
Folate (Folic acid) and vitamin B6, these two vitamins help in baby development inside the womb. So doctors are prescribing multivitamins and folic acid to the pregnant women. Spinach is containing these two essential vitamins (folate and vitamin B6). So this is helpful for baby development.
Note: Always consult your doctor before taking any food while someone is pregnant or any sickness. Because we are providing the data as per our research and some collected from the internet.
11. Boost or increase immunity.
Spinach contains very essential minerals and vitamins like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Folic acid, Vitamin B6, Zinc and Magnesium. These vitamins and minerals help to boost immunity in human body. So taking spinach in your diet can boost your immunity.
12. Make your bones strong
This super food contains Calcium, Vitamin – k and manganese. These minerals are very helpful for the bone tissue creation. This will help to repair or create new bone tissues. Due to calcium deficiency there is some chances of osteoporosis disease. So we have to maintain the calcium availability in our body and spinach has the quality to making your bone strong.
13. Boost iron in your blood
Iron is the most essential mineral which helps to create hemoglobin. This is also help to carry the oxygen from our lungs. Iron deficiency can cause anemia, breathing problem, weakness, chest pain, headache and many more diseases. Spinach is the best source of iron and other essential minerals which help to boost the iron level in your blood.
14. Lower the risk of Heart problems
Spinach contains inorganic nitrate and potassium. From some studies researchers found that, this may lower the chance of heart disease, because it can lower the blood pressure and less stiff the arteries.
15. Reduce appetite
From some studies researchers found that thylakoid which is available in plants or leafy vegetables like spinach can reduce the appetite. This will help you to lower the appetite. So this is best for weight loss diet also.
16. Good in nutrition with very low in fat content
As we saw spinach has no high amount of fat content, this contains very valuable vitamins, minerals and fibers which help you in boost immunity, strong bones, wound recovery, boost of iron in blood, anti inflammatory property, good for several diseases and many more. So this is good in nutrition and as well as good for health.
Some side effects of Spinach
We all know taking foods with a limitation is good, but if you are taking excess then this is not good. From the above we found the benefits of spinach. Here we will discuss some side effects of spinach.
Spinach contain high amount of potassium so the patients who have any kidney related problem then they have to avoid taking of spinach because high amount of potassium can create problem in kidney function.
Always remember before taking any home remedies or any foods consult your doctor and take their suggestion. Spinach is also containing high dietary oxalate so excess consumption can develop stones in kidney so limited consumption is best.
51+ Types of spinach
A) Smooth Leaf Spinach
- Space Spinach
- Red Cardinal Spinach
- Red Kitten Spinach
- Renegade Spinach
- Flamingo Spinach
- Corvair Spinach
- Gazelle Spinach
- Wood Pecer Spinach
B) Savoy Spinach
- Hammerhead Spinach
- Bloomsdale Spinach
- Palco Spinach
- Regiment Spinach
C) Semi – Savoy Spinach
- Carmel Spinach
- Emperor Spinach
- Kookaburra Spinach
- Acadia Spinach
- Tasman Spinach
- Reflect Spinach
- Kolibri Spinach
- Teton Spinach
- Indian Summer Spinach
- Catalina Spinach
- Tyee Spinach
- Crocodile Spinach
- Avon Spinach
D) Other Spinach Variety
- A La Carte Spinach
- America Spinach
- Auroch Spinach
- Baby’s leaf Spinach
- Butterflay Spinach
- Double Choice Spinach
- Double Take Spinach
- Early Hybrid No.7 Spinach
- Equinox Spinach
- Escalade Spinach
- Galilee Spinach
- Giant Noble Spinach
- Harmony Spinach
- Lizard Spinach
- Matador Spinach
- Merlo Nero Spinach
- Olympia Spinach
- Persius Spinach
- Red Snapper Spinach
- Red Tabby Spinach
- Riverside Spinach
- Seaside Spinach
- Sunangel Spinach
- Tundra Spinach
- Verdil Spinach
- Viroflay Spinach
Availability or popularity of Spinach in Tamil areas
Spinach is very popular in India due to its nutrition and health benefits. In old days this leafy vegetable was available in winter or spring seasons, but nowadays its available in all seasons due to advance technology of farming.
You will also get this super food – spinach in tamil telling areas like in tamil nadu, puduchery, Chennai, Coimbatore, tirunelveli and many tamil telling areas. In tamil telling area they called this Palakirai. Nowadays its easy to harvest spinach.
There are lots of hybrid varieties of spinach are available. You can grow spinach in your backyard, rooftop, and kitchen garden as well as in your farm.
Cost of Spinach in Tamil areas
As spinach is available all over the India so this is not too expensive. Because of market demand the supply is also high so the price is not exceed, but if you are purchasing spinach in summer season then you will find the price little bit high.
Because the harvest amount is little bit less in summer season also they are caring more as compare to winter or spring season. If you will harvest spinach in winter or spring season then you will get best harvest but in summer you will get less harvest.
In tamil telling area you will found spinach in a bunch type or bundle type structure, but now a days you can also get the spinach in 200 grams packets or in KG also. Lots of online stores are also selling spinach at Kilo price with including their delivery charge.
Also the spinach micro greens , baby leaves are available. If you are purchase spinach in rural area then you will get one bundle of spinach at Rs.10-Rs.30. If you are purchasing baby leaves or micro greens or if you are purchasing spinach from online stores then the price may be vary and the price will be in between Rs.15-Rs.200.
Recipes of spinach in Tamil telling areas and all over the world
You will find lots of dishes and recipes using spinach. Spinach is so popular for its nutrition and other health benefits so bodybuilders and health conscious peoples are using this very much.
There are lots of healthy dishes available using spinach as well as some tasty dishes available using spinach and those are-
- Spinach salad
- Spinach Juice
- Spinach and mix veggies soup
- spinach with mung dal or mung beans
- spinach with toor dal or chana dal recipe
- Spinach curry with mix vegetables
- garlic palak or lehsuni palak
- palak chicken curry
- garlic mushroom spinach
- spinach corn sandwich
- spinach omlet
- palak besan sabji
- palong shaker ghonto or palong shak ghonto
- spinach pasta
- spinach pakoda
- spinach besan chilla
- Naanza with spinach and cheez
- Chicken meat balls with creamy spinach
- Palak kofta curry
- spinach with potato
- tomato and brinjal fry
- spinach lentil curry
- Spinach and Paneer (Palak Paneer dish)
- palak dal
- dhaba style palak dish spinach with beans
- alu palak masala
- palak paratha recipe
- andra style palak pappu
- Korean spinach salad
- spinach chips
- spinach taco
- spinach pesto recipe
Conclusion
Spinach is the best nutrition rich leafy vegetable with having very essential nutrition and very good properties to prevent lots of diseases like anemia, osteoporosis, increase immunity, boost eye vision, good for skin and hair and many more.
Hope you get all details about spinach in this article like its type its tamil name, its benefits, its negative points, its cost in the local area , availability and many more. Always remember before taking any medicine and any foods ask your health advisor or your dietician or doctor.
FAQ
Can I take spinach in daily diet?
We all know spinach is good for health, but limited consumption is best. Kidney disease patients and the patient who is taking blood thinning medicines they must avoid or ask to their doctor regarding spinach in their diet.
Can I take raw spinach in my diet? Is it good?
You can take the baby leaves or the younger leaves as a raw, but if the leaves are old then you have to cook those leaves. If you have any health issues like kidney stone, kidney problem, arthritis, joint pain then avoid raw spinach, because spinach contains purine and oxalic acid.
You will get lots of fiber in raw spinach but if you cook the spinach then you will get good amount of beta carotene. Always consult your doctor before taking any new foods or raw foods.
Is spinach available in Tamil Nadu or Chennai?
Definitely yes, spinach is a popular leafy vegetable so this is also available in Tamil Nadu state. Nowadays you will get spinach in every vegetable market because of its nutrition value and market demand.
Is oxalic acid good for health?
High amount of oxalic acid is not good for health. If you are taking high amount of oxalic acid then it may increase the risk of kidney stones. But low amount of oxalic acid is not a problem.
Why spinach is a super food?
Spinach is fully packed with essential vitamins and minerals. This leafy vegetable is capable of prevent different diseases like cancer, improve your vision, osteoporosis, helps in weight loss, make the bones strong, increase immunity, anti inflammatory properties, helps in wound recovery, Good for asthma patients, good for diabetic patients, boost iron level in your blood and help to increase hemoglobin, reduce appetite and many more benefits. So due to lots of benefits spinach is called as a super food.
Can I grow spinach in my garden in all seasons?
Yes, nowadays it’s easy to grow spinach in all seasons because of improved variety of spinach. There are lots of hybrid varieties of spinach are available in the market. You can grow those varieties in different seasons.