With its delicate texture and green color, spinach provides more nutrients than any other food.
Health Benefits: This vegetable functions as antioxidant and as anti-cancer agent, protecting against osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer, arthritis, and other diseases at the same time. Spinach is also an excellent source of other bone-building nutrients including calcium and magnesium.The nutrients in spinach can also help with conditions in which inflammation plays a role. For example, asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis are all conditions that involve inflammation. Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A

History
Spinach is thought to have originated in ancient Persia
( Iran ). It was introduced by the Moors in Spain in the 11th century. Spinach was the favorite vegetable of Catherine de Medici, a historical figure in the 16th century. When she left her home in Florence , Italy , to marry the king of France , she brought along her own cooks, who could prepare spinach the ways that she especially liked. Since this time, dishes prepared on a bed of spinach are referred to as "a la Florentine."

How to Select and Store
Choose spinach that has deep green leaves, that look fresh and tender and stems with no signs of yellowing. Avoid leaves that have a slimy coating as this is an indication of decay.
Store unwashed fresh spinach loosely packed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper where it will keep fresh for about five days. Avoid storing cooked spinach as it will not keep very well and loose its nutrients.