Shine the Light on Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

When next shopping for leafy vegetables, choose those under supermarket lights. New research by the US Department of Agriculture has shown that spinach packed and refrigerated under bright light for three days had significantly higher levels of vitamins C,K,E and folate. It also had higer levels of carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.

In contrast, spinach leaves stored in darkness had declining or unchanged levels of nutrients. Leafy green continue to photosynthesise even after they're picked, says plant physiologist Dr. Gene Lester who led the study. "The supermarket is a perfect environment, especially when the light are on 24/7."

The good news also applies to other leafy vegetables. "If the light is sufficient for photosynthesis in spinach," says Lester, "It is likely to be for all salad greens."

Quoted by Health Smart, Reader Digest

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)