Popeye The Sailor Man Played A Huge Role In Making Spinach Famous During The 1930s (Video)

On March 26th each year, National Spinach Day reminds us of the health benefits packed into this leafy green vegetable. Not only are there so many delicious ways that you can enjoy spinach, but it is also incredibly good for you!

• 647 AD – Spinach is introduced to ancient China and India by Nepalis as a ‘Persian Vegetable.’
• 1533 – Queen consort of France Catherine de’ Medici likes spinach so much that she orders it for her every meal.
• 16th Century – Spinach even made its way into 16th-century medical texts, where it was praised for promoting healthy skin and eyesight.
• 1614 – Spinach begins to be used as stuffing for tortellini.
• 1930s – U.S. spinach growers credited Popeye with a 33% increase in domestic spinach consumption – a welcome boost to the industry during the depression era.
• 1931 – Popeye the Sailor Man played a huge role in making spinach famous during the 1930s. The cartoon character’s reliance on spinach for superhuman strength caused a 33% increase in spinach consumption among American children. This boom even helped farmers during the Great Depression by increasing demand. See video below.
• 1937 – The spinach-growing town of Crystal City, Texas, erected a statue of Popeye in 1937. They hold a yearly Spinach Festival.
• 1940s – During World War II, frozen spinach became a dietary staple. Its long shelf life and high nutritional value made it a perfect food for soldiers and civilians. governments encouraged people to grow spinach in “Victory Gardens,” then preserve it by freezing or canning.
• 1949 – ‘Birds Eye’ was the first company to advertise frozen spinach. It did so in “Life” magazine in 1949.
• 1960 – The cartoon series “Popeye the Sailor” airs on television, encouraging kids to eat more spinach for super strength.
• 2010 – Researchers used spinach in groundbreaking solar energy experiments. Scientists at MIT extracted a protein from spinach leaves that converts sunlight into energy during photosynthesis. They incorporated this protein into solar cells to mimic natural energy production. This research contributed to advancements in green technology.
• Spinach is eaten raw or cooked and is available fresh, frozen or canned.
• Two cups of fresh spinach contain approximately 14 calories.
• Spinach is loaded with cancer-fighting antioxidants, which are believed to help improve cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health.
• These are just some of the many nutritional benefits:
• Fiber aids the digestive system
• Vitamin A (carotene), for healthy organs and eyes
• Iron helps with red blood cells and tissue health
• Vitamin C, antioxidants, and a booster for the immune system
• Folic Acid, useful in cell function and tissue growth
• Calcium, essential for bone health
• Antioxidants help remove free radicals that cause oxidative damage
• Following China, the United States produces the world’s second-largest spinach crop.
• California, Arizona, and New Jersey are the top spinach-producing states in the United States.
• Ancient Persians believed spinach had powerful healing properties. They used its juice to treat digestive issues and reduce inflammation.
• In medieval Europe, it was a go-to remedy for sore throats and fevers. Physicians recommended eating spinach for its “cooling” effect on the body.
• Types of spinach:
• Savoy:  dark green color with curly leaves; usually sold in fresh bunches.
• Flat or Smooth Leaf:  broad, smooth leaves;  mostly grown for canned and frozen spinach as well as soups, baby food, and processed foods.
• Semi-savoy:  a hybrid variety with crinkly leaves, is sold fresh and processed.
• Spinach is a cool-season crop and belongs to the goosefoot family, along with Swiss chard and beets.
• Alma, Arkansas (population approx. 4,700), holds an annual spinach festival each April, organized by the Alma Chamber of Commerce. Alma proclaims itself to be the “spinach capital of the world”, a title also claimed by Crystal City, Texas. Alma is the home of the “Allen Canning Company,” which cans and ships spinach.
• Medieval artists extracted green pigment from spinach to use as an ink or paint
• The name “Spinach” is derived from the word ispanai meaning green hand. In Latin, it became spanachi, which eventually evolved into the present word.
• It can neutralize explosives. This research dates back to the late 90s and, if you were a 90s baby (or loved Looney Tunes cartoons), seems fitting in a Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner skit: Spinach enzymes neutralize explosives. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory study found that nitroreductase enzymes, naturally found in spinach, can eat, digest, and transform explosives such as TNT.
• It can make workouts easier. Preliminary research published in Cell Press found that spinach might make your muscles more efficient during a workout.
• On average, each American eats 3 pounds) of spinach a year.
• We know cucumbers are almost entirely water, but did you know spinach is also mostly water? Raw spinach is 91% water, which is just 5% less than cucumbers!
• Due to the high amounts of iron in spinach, it’s highly beneficial to your hair. Hair loss is a result of iron deficiency, so spinach will help combat that problem!
• Believe it or not, there is more potassium in spinach than there is in bananas. Potassium helps with digestion and muscular functions.
• The health benefits of spinach never seem to end! The magnesium in spinach can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes by about 14% if you eat just over a cup of spinach every day.
• The levels of Vitamin C and collagen in spinach are perfect for nail health to keep them growing strong and avoiding those annoying hangnails.
• The crop comes in three different varieties: savoy, semi-savoy, and flat-leaf.

Sources:

National Day Calendar

Mobile-Cuisine

Amazing Facts 4 U

Mens Journal

Fact Site

Days of the Year

National Today