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I am just raw for almost 3 weeks and feeling so much better, I’ll find it not so hard to eat raw except for the cravings in the afternoon.. I then will eat a lot of cashews (i know probably not the really raw ones… I will do my best however ;-)).
I also do have a question I am making this green smoothie with spinach now for a couple of times this week.. and I am wondering if too much spinach can do any harm… I also tried endive but this wasn’t as good as the one with spinach in it.
I hope to learn a lot from you and thanks already for all the information shared here on this site.
Nicole
btw my name is Nicole, I live in the Netherlands and I am 33 years old and living with my bofriend and two lovely daughters.
Comments
hi nicole! You’re asking if eating too much spinach can be harmful. I don’t know the answer to that question, but perhaps someone else has the nutritional information on spinach.
Can you tell us a little more about what you eat?
Enjoy raw, and this lovely website. Toodles! ~winona
i have no idea if too much spinach is harmful, but I wouldn’t think so. it’s so good for you.
As with everything in life balance is very important.
One certainly can eat too much spinach. Therefore moderation is key.
Spinach contains oxalic acid. Please see the following site for more specifics
http://www.answers.com/topic/oxalic-acid?cat=te…
Some highlights:
“Foods that are edible but that still contain significant concentrations of oxalic acid include—in decreasing order—star fruit (carambola), black pepper, parsley, poppy seed, rhubarb stalks, amaranth, spinach, chard, beets, cocoa, chocolate, most nuts, most berries, and beans.”
“The toxicity of rhubarb leaves is due to their high content of oxalic acid.”
“Oxalic acid and its salts (oxalates) are used in many chemical processes…(such as)...removing blood and rust stains, cleaning metals other than iron, and flushing car radiators”
”...in the body, oxalic acid also combines with metals ions such as Ca2+, Fe2+, and Mg2+ to deposit crystals of the corresponding oxalates, which irritate the gut and kidneys. Because it binds vital nutrients such as calcium, long-term consumption of foods high in oxalic acid can be problematic. Healthy individuals can safely consume such foods in moderation, but those with kidney disorders, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or certain forms of chronic vulvar pain (vulvodynia) are typically advised to avoid foods high in oxalic acid or oxalates. Conversely, calcium supplements taken along with foods high in oxalic acid can cause calcium oxalate to precipitate out in the gut and drastically reduce the levels of oxalate absorbed by the body (by 97% in some cases.)7 The calcium oxalate precipitate (better known as kidney stones) obstruct the kidney tubules.
If you are healthy and you eat a handful or 2 of spinach at a time you will probably be fine, but again – too much of a good thing is not always a good thing.
Balance.
Hope I didn’t come off as ‘demonizing’ spinach – just wanted to point out that it’s best to use moderately – ie don’t juice literally pounds of it and drink it down at once.
Nutrition facts about Spinach :
it’s a great source of folic acid, potassium and magnesium, niacin, zinc, vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, as well as carotenes, lutein, and several vital antioxidants.
I have read to vary your greens. Spinach is pretty palatable but if you make the other flavors in your smoothie stronger you could add kale or other green leafies. Yeah the cravings are hard. They come and go for me. It will get easier!
Hi everyone,
Thanks for answering my question.. greenghost, thanks for the information.. If I am thinking sensible I would have known ;-). But I guess its also because I am new to the rawfood livestyle and I do like the juice with spinach in it and don’t know yet all the other vegetables I can make one with.
I also have forbidden myself to eat all those cashews.. because they are not raw and take an apple of some raisins instead (love those too)
What I eat: In the morning my breakfast contains of oatmeal, flaxseed, Brazilnut, wallnuts, almonds, spirulina, cholerra, psyllium filaments, strawberries, banana, cucumber, carrots, pumpkinseeds, goji berries, coconutfibre and a cup of water.. Blend it al together and eat half of it, Bf eats other half. during working hours, I eat a lot of fruit and in the evening mostly a green (spinach) smoothie. in the afternoon I have soms cashews or raisins, also bought some chocolate via Shazzie’s site… So can you tell me if this is alright or if am missing some importans nutrients here.
Love to hear from you. Nicole