Spinach

Studies in people

• No harm found

  Carotenoid absorption from food³

  In people, taking calcium with a spinach meal did not change how much carotenoid the body absorbed from the spinach.

• Benefit

  Fatty liver disease⁴

  People who ate the most spinach were less likely to have fatty liver disease, though boiled spinach showed no link.

Animal and lab studies only

• Benefit

  Memory and learning⁷

  In animal studies, spinach and its extracts improved memory and learning in the animals tested.

Study type not stated

• Concern

  Cadmium and lead uptake⁵

  Spinach can take up cadmium and lead from soil, and scientists are still studying how much of these metals people absorb.

How it’s made and used

• Taste and freshness²

  In taste tests, 205 people liked high tunnel spinach more than open field or store-bought spinach.

• Pesticide residues on vegetables⁶

  Washing spinach with acetic acid or citric acid removed more pesticide residue than tap water alone.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.