Assignment Title:
SPINACH: TO CURE DISEASES
Submitted by:
Rashid Ali
Roll # 22
B.Sc. (Hons.) Food Science and Technology
Semester 7th (Self Support)
Email: rashidifsn@gmail.com
Submitted to:
Dr. Saqib Jabbar
Assistant professor
Institute of Food Science and Nutrition
University of Sargodha, Sargodha
INSTITUTE OF FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
UNIVERSITY OF SARGODHA
SARGODH
SPINACH: TO CURE DISEASES
Prepared By: Rashid Ali
ROLL # 22 (S.S) 7TH SEMESTER
B.SC. (HONS.) FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
INSTITUTE OF FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
UNIVERSITY OF SARGODHA, SARGODHA
PAKISTAN
EMAIL: rashidifsn@gmail.com
SPINACH AND ASTHMA
Spinach is an edible flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae. Spinach is store house for many
phyto-nutrients that have health promotional and disease prevention properties.
Important Nutrients in Spinach that Control Asthma:
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is referred as an antioxidant. One of its basic jobs is to circulate around the body
finding free radicals. When it finds these radicals, it neutralizes them so they can’t do any damage.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is another antioxidant that works to neutralize free radicals in the body.
Magnesium: It is a mineral, needed for healthy smooth muscle cells, help smooth muscle cells stay
relaxed and not constrict.
Beta-carotene: It is another fat soluble antioxidant like vitamin E. It also neutralizes the free radicals.
How Spinach control Asthma:
Asthma attack occurs when the smooth cells clamp down on
air passages, closing them off. So magnesium from spinach
help smooth muscle cells stay relaxed. Asthma is also caused
by the deficiency of magnesium. Asthma is an immune disease,
the vitamin C from the spinach breakdown of histamine, one
of the inflammatory chemicals produced by the hyperactive
immune cells. Increasing vitamin E intake, improve lung function
significantly. People, who eat a diet that is low in beta-carotene,
tend to be a greater risk of asthma. Thus eat spinach that is a rich
source of beta-carotene.
Quantity of Nutrients in Spinach that Control Asthma
Sr. #
Name of Compounds
Quantity (mg/100 g)
1.
Vitamin C
28.1
2.
Vitamin E
2.03
3.
Magnesium
79
4.
Beta-carotene
5626 (µg/100 g)
SPINACH AND VISION
Important Nutrients in Spinach that Improve Vision:
Lutein-Zeaxanthin:
Lutein and zeaxanthin are powerful fat soluble antioxidant
nutrients. They are the part of carotenoid family known as
xanthophyll carotenoids. In the body lutein and zeaxanthin are
found in the tissues of eye, as well as in the blood, brain and
adipose tissues (connective tissue).
How they Improve Vision
They protect the photoreceptor cells present in retina from
potential free radical damage. They have the ability to absorb and
filter high energy wavelengths of blue light. This is thought to be
protective as a reduction in blue light reaching the macula may
significantly reduce the oxidative stress on retina. Lutein and
zeaxanthin thus serve as ‘natural sunglasses’ that act a filter for
blue light, and may help to prevent damage to the photoreceptor
cells.
Quantity of Lutein-Zeaxanthin in Spinach that Improve Vision
Sr. #
Name of Compounds
Quantity (µg/100 g)
1.
Lutein-Zeaxanthin
12198
SPINACH AND BRAIN
Important Nutrients in Spinach that Improve Memory:
Folate (B 9): Folate or folic acid is a vitamin B. It is also referred to as vitamin M or vitamin B9.
Fiber: Fiber is a substance found in plants. Dietary fiber, which is the type of fiber you can eat, which is
found in vegetables, fruits and grains.
Tyrosine: Tyrosine or 4-hydroxyphenylalanine is one of the 22 amino acids that are used by cells to
synthesize proteins. It is a non-essential amino acid with a polar side group.
How Spinach Improve Memory:
Folate lowers the amount of Homocysteine (amino acid).
*High levels of Homocysteine disturb the function of neurotransmitters,
(Neurotransmitters responsible for keeping your brain alert and
focused) which can lead to cognitive decline (weakness of memory
and thinking skills).
*Tyrosine is an amino acid critical to synthesizing Dopamine and
Norepinephrine.
*Dopamine affects your mood while Norepinephrine offers a mental
lift and improves learning, problems solving ability and memory
function.
*A study published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that elderly people who ate a
diet high in dietary fiber, scored higher in cognitive tests than those who did not eat high fiber diet. So
spinach is also a rich source of fiber.
Quantity of Nutrients in Spinach that Improve Memory
Sr. #
Name of Compounds
Quantity (g/100g)
1.
Folate (B9)
194 µg/100g
2.
Tyrosine
0.35
3.
Fiber
2.2
References:
 https://www.blackmores.com.au/eye-health/lutein-and-zeaxanthin-explained
 http://bjo.bmj.com/content/82/8/907.short
 http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/lutein-zeaxanthin-vision
 http://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/nutrition-101/foods-for-eyes/spinach-kaleleafy-greens
 http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/spinach.html
 http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/nutrition/lutein-andzeaxanthin?sso=y
 http://scholar.google.com.pk/scholar_url?url=http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helen_
Rasmussen/publication/222693934_Xanthophyll_(lutein_zeaxanthin)_content_in_fruits_
vegetables_and_corn_and_egg_products/links/02e7e51c717e515b5f000000.pdf&hl=en&
sa=X&scisig=AAGBfm3xqWKQlOblYRMYPe_Ixdbyjm0ELA&nossl=1&oi=scholarr&
ved=0CBoQgAMoATAAahUKEwji6Oa_q8LIAhXOxI4KHaSoDTg
 http://www.macularsociety.org/about-macular-conditions/Nutrition/Xanthophylls-LuteinZeaxanthin-Meso-zeaxanthin
 http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=disease&dbid=12
 http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/allergy-and-asthma.html
 http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/health-benefits-of-spinach-includeimproving-memory/
 https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002470.htm
 http://www.dietandfitnesstoday.com/foods-high-invitamin.php?offset=2625&nutid=509
 https://www.google.com.pk/#q=amount+of+fiber+in+spinach