Tian Xi, director of the Nutrition Department at Tianjin Children's Hospital, says that spinach is quite nutritious, containing a large amount of carotene and is also an excellent source of vitamin B, folic acid, iron, and potassium.
In addition, it also contains riboflavin, vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium. However, because spinach contains a high amount of oxalic acid, and oxalic acid combines with calcium to form calcium oxalate, which can cause the loss of calcium in food, some people believe that eating spinach can affect a child's calcium absorption. In fact, as long as the preparation method is proper, the negative effects of oxalic acid can be greatly reduced. The correct method is to blanch the spinach in boiling water for a short time before cooking, which removes most of the oxalic acid.
Tian Xi also notes that when eating spinach, do not remove the roots completely. Spinach roots belong to the category of red foods and have good therapeutic effects. They are rich in nutrients, containing fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and spinach roots can also help prevent diabetes in children.
Tian Xi says that although spinach is good, it should be eaten in moderation by children. Some parents believe that spinach is rich in nutrients and include it in every meal during the spring, which is also not advisable. A reasonable variety of vegetables is more beneficial to health.