Spinach and oxalic acid :Is it true that to spinach must be eaten raw to avoid bringing out oxalic acid?

Question

correction: '' ... that spinach...''.

Answer 1

The way to avoid absorption of oxalic acid is to eat it boiled, changing the water a couple of times before serving.

The oxalic acid contained in spinach can react with the calcium contained in milk to produce an icky scum on your teeth. You may wish to avoid serving milk with spinach.

The oxalic acid contained in spinach can be harmful.

About 10 pounds of spinach is fatal.

The oxalic acid contained in spinach is bad for cast iron pans and carbon steel pans. Spinach will turn black when cooked in such pans.

The oxalic acid contained in spinach (can you see a pattern here?) can prevent your body from absorbing iron and calcium. To improve iron absorption, spinach should be eaten with foods that contain vitamin C.

Answer 2

If you try boiling the spinach to get rid of the oxalic acid, it's possible, but with all the rinsing required, you'll lose all the good nutrients as well, and have nothing to show for it but a mass of soggy, slimy, green stuff on your plate.

You can avoid the oxalic acid in spinach by eating other greens instead of spinach. For example, New Zealand spinach has no oxalic acid, and neither does amaranth. Amaranth is far more nutritious than spinach. Unfortunately, these greens are hard to find in stores, so you'll probably have to grow them in your own garden (but they're easier to grow than spinach).

If you're looking to get good sources of iron, forget the spinach. Go for watermelon or lentils instead. Both of these have far higher levels of iron, and no oxalic acid. Turnip greens are also more nutritious than spinach, but don't have oxalic acid. If you want raw greens for a salad, buttercruch lettuce is a good source of iron without oxalic acid.

Answer 3

I beg your pardon. I am a urologist; I deal with patients with kidney stones. Even pouring off the water after boiling the spinach and then cooking it is less healthy than the raw. Cooking spinach will cause the oxalic acid to mutate and concentrate, causing greater amounts of kidney stones.

Answer 4

Ya learn something new everyday! My heart is broken. I love my spinach salads. :(

Answer 5

Thanks for your question, I'm learning new stuff every day.