Spinach provides many health benefits but very few calories.

Spinach provides many health benefits but very few calories.

About 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of raw spinach contain 2.7 mg of iron, or 15% of the DV (7Trusted Source).
Although this is non-heme iron, which isn’t absorbed very well, spinach is also rich in vitamin C. This is important since vitamin C significantly boosts iron absorption (8Trusted Source).

Nutritional profile
Ware said, “Spinach is one of the best sources of dietary potassium and magnesium, two very important electrolytes necessary for maintaining human health. Spinach provides a whopping 839 milligrams of potassium per cup (cooked). As a comparison, one cup of sliced banana has about 539mg of potassium.”

Ware noted that there are several health benefits to potassium, among them “protection against loss of muscle mass, preservation of bone mineral density and reduction in the formation of kidney stones.” She added, “Only 2 percent of U.S. adults meet the daily 4,700 mg recommendation for potassium.”

The George Mateljan Foundation’s analysis of spinach’s nutritional properties placed it at the top of their nutrient-rich food list. “Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), manganese, folate … copper, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin E, calcium … and vitamin C,” according to the foundation’s website World’s Healthiest Foods. Spinach’s calcium, however, cannot be as easily absorbed as calcium from dairy, and you should only expect to absorb about 10 percent of it.

Spinach is also a very good source of zinc, dietary fiber, phosphorus, vitamin B1 and choline. It contains a unique and beneficial mixture of phytonutrients, as well as anti-oxidants, flavonoids and carotenoids.

Ware added, “Spinach is also one of the best non-heme (plant-based) sources of iron.” The same is true of spinach’s protein content; most of the calories in spinach come from protein. This makes it a popular food for vegetarians. At only 7 calories per cup of raw spinach and 41 per cup of cooked spinach, it’s also a great choice for dieters.

Here are the nutrition facts for spinach, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates food labeling through the Nutritional Labeling and Education Act:

SUMMARY
Spinach provides 15% of the DV for iron per serving, along with several vitamins and minerals. It also contains important antioxidants. ufabet