Maybe the kids of today have never heard of the Popeye. An old man, his success story began in the 1930s: he appeared in comic strips, short films and then ended up on TV screens. Traversed decades with an incredible muscle strength.
Such vigor did not come from distant galaxies or secretly developed formulas in laboratories, a common thread when it comes to heroes. The source of superpowers is the spinachan ingredient that can be found on any citizen’s plate.
There are some versions for choosing the vegetable — even a more controversial one, which, looking at the suspense, you can see at the end of the text. In one of them, the food was chosen due to a widespread misconception in the throes of the 19th century. German scientists analyzed the nutritional composition of spinach and, although they made valid discoveries, someone got confused by noting its content of iron.
They put the decimal point in the wrong place and the vegetable was cataloged with a ten times greater amount of the mineral. The confusion was made: spinach left the laboratory as the great champion in the fight against anemia.
Even if it does not present as much iron as a beef steak, it is necessary to praise other attributes. he concentrates folic acidvitamin that also works against anemia and discouragement. The vegetable also helps to guarantee energy for the muscles. That’s because it has nitrate, a substance that, in our body, turns into nitric oxide, favoring the supply of oxygen to muscle cells.
It is a set of exploits, backed by studies, which contribute to the adventures of the cartoon sailor. At his peak, the character increased the consumption of vegetables in the United States, albeit in a less appetizing way, since they used to be canned there.
Continues after advertising
gastronomic routes
Enjoyed in American lands and beyond, spinach is part of the beet family and has been domesticated in Asia. His scientific baptismal name is Spinacia oleracea and it was taken by Arabs to Europe in the Middle Ages. Since then it has been present in many kitchens.
In classic French cuisine, it appears in all kinds of ways, along with cheeseseggs, fish and other meats. Home with pasta, composes soups, risottos, among many preparations. Some cookbooks bear the nickname “Florentine” for all dishes that take the ingredient.
According to historians, the nickname is related to Catherine de Medici (1519-1589), an Italian from Florence, who married Henry II (1519-1559), King of France. Some say that the girl brought a lot of customs and predilections from her homeland. The vegetable would also have come in his luggage.
In Brazil, this version is called mini spinach and it has thinner and more delicate leaves when compared to the more common type around here. In fact, the one that appears in our fairs and supermarkets is the new zealand spinach (tetragonioides tetragony), with a triangular shape and a very dark green color.
This one rarely shows up in salads in natura. A lot of people don’t approve of the more bitter taste or its somewhat rough texture, difficult to chew. A suggestion for everyday life is to sauté it with onion and garlic, in a mixture that brings together a rich amount of protective compounds. Those who have more skill between the pots, however, can bet on the Florentine options.
Popeye’s spinach?
I promised to share a more controversial theory about the old sailor’s choice of spinach. Well, it comes from the music chosen for this column. Just get the kids out of the room, please.
The song, from the late 1930s, is titled The Spinach Song and was recorded by Julia Lee (1902-1958). It has a double meaning letter that dates back to the time when spinach was one of the nicknames of the marihuana. It even raises suspicions about the contents of Popeye’s pipe. Who knows…
Continues after advertising
We would like to say thanks to the writer of this post for this awesome content
