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Spinach Nutrients - Part Four
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Spinach WordsFats: (1.1 gm per full cup)
Saturated Fats 0.2 gm - Saturated fats generally are necessary for human cellular health. Cell membranes are approx. 50% saturated fat, providing them with stiffness and stability.
Myristic acid - Minor quantities of this fat are found in spinach. This fat is common in trace quantities in most vegetables, grains and seeds, though is most abundant in dairy products and coconut oil - sources most modern diet advice tends to shun. Nonetheless, Myristic Acid functions in the human body to stabilise cell proteins used in the immune system and to fight tumours.
Palmitic acid - Minor quantities are found in spinach. Found abundantly in palm oil and animal and dairy fats. Palmitic Acid is necessary for human hormone formation. It, along with Stearic Acid, is vital to heart health. They are the preferred energy sources for the heart muscle, particularly in times of stress.
Stearic acid - Minor quantities found in spinach. Found abundantly in animal fat. It, along with Palmitic Acid, is vital to heart health. They are the preferred energy sources for the heart muscle, particularly in times of stress. Stearic acid is now believed to help lower blood serum cholesterol levels.
Monounsaturated Fats - 0.0 gm, though trace levels exist of:
Palmitoleic acid - Trace levels at best. Insufficient to warrant discussion.
Oleic acid - Trace levels at best. Insufficient to warrant discussion.
Polyunsaturated Fats 0.4 gm
Linoleic acid - Commonly known as Omega 6, one of the two essential fatty acid groups. Necessary for prostaglandin (a type of hormone with many functions) production.
Linolenic acid - Spinach's most abundant oil. Linolenic acid is one of the three oils comprising the Omega 3 fatty acids group of oils, and also an essential fatty acid. Well known for being heart healthy, cholesterol lowering, and anti-inflammatory.
Trans Fats 0.0 gm. (Trans fats, also known as hydrogenated oils, are now understood to be the most damaging fats of all. Trans fats are rare in nature and only in small quantities when found. They are very common, though, in processed vegetable oils and processed foods containing those oils. They extend the shelf life of products and produce a harder oil out of otherwise unsaturated oils, maijng them very usefuyl commercially. However, they are artificial fats and clog human cells, leading to insulin resistance and possibly diabetes, heart disease, cancer and more. Thankfully, spinach does not contain any trans fats.
Carbohydrates: (7.3 gm per full cup)
Sugars - 0.9 gm - Almost imperceptible and a negligible source of calories
Starches - 0.0 gm - Given modern nutritinal understanding of the glycemic index,, low sugars and starches is a distinct benefit for the health of most people.
Fiber / Fibre - 5.1 gm - Despite its reputation, spinach is not a high fiber vegetable. The high protein level ensures that the fiber content is only moderate in comparison to most vegetables. This means that bowel irritations, flatulence, and so forth are rare or minor with spinach as compared to most other fruits, vegetables, grains or legumes. The complex carbohydrates in fiber are indigestible and therefore contribute no calories to your diet. Nonetheless, fibre still serves valuable health functions in the human body. There are two types of fiber found in spinach:
Insoluble Fiber - This is approx. 80% of spinach's fiber content. Insoluble fibre provides bulk without calories, giving a full feelijg in the stomach - very beneficial for weight management. Being indigestible, it passes through your digestive tracts, cleaning toxins in the process and exercising the bowel muscles for ongoing regularity, cancer prevention and general digestive health.
Soluble Fiber - This is approx. 20% of spinach's fiber content. Soluble fiber helps to lower elevated cholesterol levels and may be helpful in aiding the regulation of blood sugar levels.
Other advanced complex carbohydrates - 1.3 gm
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