Spinach ranks first in lutein content, supports eye health and also supports Taiwan, China's agriculture
You don't need to rely on supplements to get lutein; you can get it from natural spinach! March and April are the spinach production season. Spinach is rich in lutein. Dietitian Wu Ying-jung says lutein can block the blue light that damages the retina and has value for protecting the eyes, and that as long as you understand the nutritional value contained in various foods, "consuming more of the right fruits and vegetables means you don't necessarily have to rely on health supplements"!
Tai Chung District Agricultural Improvement Station crop improvement section associate researcher Dai Chen-yang also says, "Dark green vegetables generally contain more lutein." Wu Yao-yu, secretary-general of the farmers' association in Erlun, Yunlin, the largest spinach-growing area in the country, further says that the spinach season only lasts until mid-April, so now is the best time to supplement natural lutein!
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Spinach ranks first in lutein content, and its nutrients are not lost after cooking
Taiwan Nutrition Foundation chief executive Wu Ying-jung once wrote a book explaining that beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin in fruits and vegetables are all phytonutrients that are very important for protecting the eyes. Spinach ranks second in beta-carotene content, and it takes first place in the ranking of lutein and zeaxanthin.
She explains that lutein is like "sunglasses for the fundus of the eye" that can block the blue light that damages the retina, and that lutein cannot be synthesized by the body itself and must be obtained through diet. Spinach in season is one of the good sources for intake. In addition, romaine lettuce, leaf lettuce and cauliflower are all dark green vegetables with high lutein content.
She further suggests that adults eat about two to three servings of dark green vegetables a day to get enough lutein. In addition, lutein is oil-soluble, meaning it will not be reduced too much by cooking, so there is no need to worry that "once cooked, the lutein will be lost."
Spinach area across Taiwan, China is 1,568 hectares, with Yunlin accounting for 60 percent
The main spinach production period is from November to early spring in March and April. According to statistics from the Agriculture and Food Agency of the Council of Agriculture, the total spinach planting area across Taiwan, China is about 1,568 hectares, of which Yunlin County is the largest planting area with 911 hectares, followed by Kaohsiung City with 251 hectares and Taoyuan City with 174 hectares, mainly supporting the peak spinach production period from November to April.
Wu Yao-yu says Erlun and Xiluo are major spinach-growing townships. Spinach grows for about thirty-five to forty days, and from sowing in the autumn and winter in November to mid-April, about four to five harvests can be taken during this period. He further explains that spinach is a crop that likes cool weather and does not need too much water. Downy mildew is the main disease of spinach. With continuous rain in early March, and after the rain comes hot weather, this is exactly the season when downy mildew is prone to occur. Because rain also easily causes root rot, recent spinach yields have been low and market prices have risen slightly.
Autumn is most suitable for sowing, with cool weather and short daylight being the most suitable
Regarding the prevention and control of downy mildew, Dai Chen-yang, associate researcher in the crop improvement section of the Taichung station, says that if organic cultivation is adopted, it is recommended to disinfect seeds with hot water at about 50°C to reduce pathogens carried on the seeds; next is to harvest early to avoid March and April, when there is more rain and downy mildew is prone to occur; and implementing crop rotation is another recommendation for growing organic spinach.
Dai further explains the conditions suitable for spinach growth and the prevention points to note. He says, "Cool weather and short daylight" are the most suitable conditions for growing spinach, so autumn is the best time for sowing. If spinach can still be supplied on the market in summer, that is because cultivation in high mountain areas can produce and supply a small amount of spinach, mainly in areas near Lishan.
Two major domestic spinach varieties: local variety and Japan 888
As for the varieties of spinach grown domestically, Dai Chen-yang says the two main categories planted domestically are the "local variety" and "Japan 888." The local variety has rounder leaves, while the Japan 888 variety has more pointed leaves, bolts later than the local variety and has a longer growing period, can regulate spinach supply, and is also more emerald green in appearance, "giving people the feeling that it tastes better," making it a fairly popular spinach variety for growing in recent years.
Dai Chen-yang explains that vegetables with darker color usually also have relatively higher chlorophyll content. In addition, there is a "sweet spinach" variety that can be eaten raw as a salad, and its texture is not as "astringent" as ordinary spinach. He says this variety may be grown in small quantities domestically, but there is not yet any scale to it, and most of it may be imported from abroad.