| Products | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | July | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
| Spinach |
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| PERIOD |
January – April
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| PROCESS |
Receiving – Sorting – Washing – Draining – Blanching – Dewatering – Homogenizing – Bagging – Freezing – Packing
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| SPECS |
—
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| PACKING |
500g, 1kg, 5 kg
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Spinach (Spinacia oleracea), raw,
Nutritive value per 100 g
(Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)
| Principle | Nutrient Value |
Percentage of RDA |
| Energy | 23 Kcal | 1% |
| Carbohydrates | 3.63 g | 3% |
| Protein | 2.86 g | 5% |
| Total Fat | 0.39 g | 1.50% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.2 g | 6% |
| Vitamins | ||
| Folates | 194 µg | 48.50% |
| Niacin | 0.724 mg | 4.50% |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.065 mg | 1% |
| Pyridoxine | 0.195 mg | 15% |
| Riboflavin | 0.189 mg | 14.50% |
| Thiamin | 0.078 mg | 6.50% |
| Vitamin A | 9377 IU | 312% |
| Vitamin C | 28.1 mg | 47% |
| Vitamin E | 2.03 mg | 13.50% |
| Vitamin K | 482.9 µg | 402% |
| Electrolytes | ||
| Sodium | 79 mg | 5% |
| Potassium | 558 mg | 12% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 99 mg | 10% |
| Copper | 0.130 mg | 14% |
| Iron | 2.71 mg | 34% |
| Magnesium | 79 mg | 20% |
| Manganese | 0.897 mg | 39% |
| Zinc | 0.53 mg | 5% |
| Phyto-nutrients | ||
| Carotene-ß | 5626 µg | — |
| Crypto-xanthin-ß | 0 µg | — |
| Lutein-zeaxanthin | 12198 µg | — |
Spinach is store house for many phyto-nutrients that have health promotional and disease prevention properties.
Very low in calories and fats (100 g of raw leaves provide just 23 calories). It contains a good amount of soluble dietary fiber; no wonder green spinach is one of the finest vegetable sources recommended in cholesterol controlling and weight reduction programs!
Fresh 100 g of spinach contains about 25% of daily intake of iron; one of the richest among green leafy vegetables. Iron is an important trace element required by the body for red blood cell production and as a co-factor for oxidation-reduction enzyme, cytochrome-oxidase during the cellular metabolism.
Fresh leaves are rich source of several vital anti-oxidant vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin C, and flavonoid poly phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, zea-xanthin and beta-carotene. Together these compounds help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a healing role in aging and various disease processes.
Zea-xanthin, an important dietary carotenoid, is selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea in the eyes where it is thought to provide antioxidant and protective light-filtering functions. It thus helps protect from “age-related macular related macular disease” (ARMD), especially in the elderly.
In addition, vitamin A is required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin and is essential for normal eye-sight. Consumption of natural vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin A and flavonoids also known to help the body protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
Spinach leaves are an excellent source of vitamin K. 100 g of fresh greens provides 402% of daily vitamin-K requirements. Vitamin K plays a vital role in strengthening the bone mass by promoting osteotrophic (bone building) activity in the bone. Additionally, it also has established role in patients withAlzheimer’s disease by limiting neuronal damage in the brain.
This green leafy vegetable also contains good amounts of many B-complex vitamins such as vitamin-B6(pyridoxine), thiamin (vitamin B-1), riboflavin, folates and niacin. Folates help prevent neural tube defects in the offspring.
100 g of farm fresh spinach has 47% of daily recommended levels of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, which helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals.
Its leaves also contain a good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, magnesium, copper and zinc. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese and copper are used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme,superoxide dismutase. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells. Zinc is a co-factor in many enzymes that regulate growth and development, sperm generation, digestion and nucleic acid synthesis.
It is also rich source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Regular consumption of spinach in the diet helps prevent osteoporosis (weakness of bones), iron-deficiency anemia. Besides, it is believed to protect the body from cardiovascular diseases and cancers of colon and prostate.