You must have seen green leafy vegetables in every person’s diet plan who wants to lose weight or just stay healthy. It is because they have made a good reputation as “the healthiest vegetables”. One of the most famous green vegetables is Spinach.
But some people think that spinach is unhealthy due to its acidic nature. You must have heard that; that’s why you are here, right?
So, Is spinach acidic, basic, or neutral?
You will be surprised to know that Spinach is a somewhat acidic vegetable. The pH value of spinach is not far away from the neutral point on a pH scale, so it is slightly acidic.
Want to know its health advantages and side effects? Then don’t go anywhere.
Let’s begin!
Table of Content
Spinach And Acidity Levels: A Brief Explanation
Let us briefly tell you what the pH scale is before describing to you the acidity of spinach. The pH scale has numbers from 0 to 14, if the pH of any substance is above 7 then we call it an alkaline substance.
Likewise, if its pH value is below 7, then the substance is considered acidic. But what for those who have an exact 7 pH value? Those substances are considered neutral, neither acidic nor alkaline.
Since the pH of spinach is close to neutral (5.5-6.0), it is not too acidic. This is a reason why spinach is not regarded as acidic food.
Is Cooked Spinach Acidic?
People often ask us, Is cooked spinach better than raw?
So, let’s do raw spinach versus cooked spinach!
The most interesting fact about the acidic nature of spinach is that, when cooked, it becomes less acidic. Not only this, but it also became alkaline with a pH of 9 after digestion.
Raw spinach has a pH of approximately 5 to 5.5, whereas cooked spinach has a pH of about 6.6 to 7.2, thus it becomes more neutral as it cooks.
Is spinach more nutritious raw or cooked?
Both raw and cooked spinach are nutritious and have varied health benefits. Raw spinach has more vitamin C, potassium, folate, and niacin than cooked spinach, while cooked spinach has more vitamins A and E, as well as more zinc, fiber, calcium, and iron.
| Spinach | pH value | Nature |
| Raw spinach | 5 to 5.5 | Slightly acidic |
| Cooked spinach | 6.6 to 7.2 | Almost neutral |
| Baby spinach | 6.5 to 8 | Alkaline |
| After digestion | 9 | Alkaline |
Is Spinach Good for Acidity?
Are you wondering, is spinach acidic or is it just a myth about them? It is not too acidic in nature and you can eat it even if you have acid reflux.
In fact, it may be beneficial for acid reflux sufferers. Spinach and other green vegetables are healthy for your stomach and can improve the process of digestion. It also has a low fat and sugar content, so the stomach does not feel the need to release more HCL. Asparagus, kale, and Brussel sprouts are other good green veggies to eat if you have acid reflux.
Green vegetables are always healthy for the body, and spinach is low in both sugar and acid. That is why alkaline foods are recommended if you have acidity. Spinach is a superfood that is high in protein, fiber, water, calcium, vitamin C, A, and other nutrients.
But that’s about acid reflux. Are you still thinking, is spinach healthy or not? Well, you might have guessed by now that this vegetable is healthy. But let us pinpoint the exact health benefits you can enjoy.
Let’s have a look at cooked spinach health benefits:
- Fiber present in spinach clears the digestive tract and speeds up the process of digestion.
- Antioxidants are abundant in this meal, which protects your body from free radicals while also repairing damage caused by them. Hence, the immunity gets stronger as well.
- Spinach includes nitrates, which lower blood pressure and are beneficial to heart health.
- The food is beneficial for your eyes and aids in weight loss
Planning to feast on spinach after knowing the benefits? Wait! Let us tell you what will happen if you eat too much spinach.
Is Too Much Spinach Bad For You?
Can you have too much spinach? Absolutely not!
Spinach should be your first choice if you want to add something tasty and healthy to your diet plan. But overeating is not good.
Want to know, How is eating spinach every day bad for our health?
Yes, eating an excessive quantity of anything, not just spinach can be harmful to your health. If you eat a lot of it, it might harm your kidneys.
Also, we get this question a lot, “does spinach contain oxalic acid? Yes, oxalic acid is there.
The slightly acidic nature of spinach is due to the presence of oxalic acid. The presence of this acid is quite normal in green vegetables. It forms a strong covalent bond with iron which blocks its digestion in the gut.
Don’t worry, oxalic acid is not harmful to your health. Hence, the spinach acidity level is not too much to harm you.
The oxalic acid is responsible for spinach’s earthy, slightly bitter flavor. If you consume too much oxalic acid then it may cause you harm.
Too much spinach causes Kidney stones, stomachaches, vomiting, low blood pressure, bodily tremors, and a weak pulse are all symptoms of too much oxalic acid. Fiber is excellent for the stomach, but too much can cause gas and uncomfortable nighttime bloating since it takes a long time to digest.
So, if you enjoy spinach, keep in mind that it should be used in moderation.
Is Spinach Toxic?
Having a bowl of spinach per day is considered healthy. However, excessive spinach consumption should be avoided on a daily basis. If you’re using anticoagulants (blood thinners) like warfarin, restrain from having spinach.
Spinach is rich in Vitamin K, This nutrient may interact with the anticoagulant drug, altering its action. Moreover, it may have an impact on other coagulating components in the blood.
Other than that, spinach is not toxic to eat and is completely safe to use.
Still Have Questions?
How to know if spinach is bad?
If the spinach looks wilted, faded, and wrinkly, then it is bad. Moreover, the foul smell is also an indication that the vegetable has begun to rot.
Is spinach bad for GERD?
No, spinach is not bad for GERD. Rather, eating frozen spinach is a healthy remedy against Gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is recommended by doctors to eat spinach in moderate quantities to avoid any other bad symptoms.
When should I not eat spinach?
If you suffer from acid reflux, avoid eating creamy spinach as it may worsen the symptoms. Moreover, eating too much spinach can cause heartburn and acidity due to the presence of oxalic acid. Also, the person who takes warfarin medicine should avoid it completely. But you can eat spinach once or twice a week, it will cause no harm.
Wrapping Up
So, Is spinach acidic?
Yes, overall spinach is mildly acidic in nature. It has a slightly acidic pH in raw form and neutral pH when cooked.
Spinach’s slightly acidic nature does not cause any harm when taken in moderate quantities. Moreover, spinach is more recommended by doctors due to its effective results against GERD. But avoid eating excessive Spinach or creamy ones as it may worsen the symptom of acidity.
You can also get kidney stones, stomachache, low blood pressure, and low pulse if you “over-feast on it.” Consult your doctors immediately if you have any bad symptoms after eating spinach.
