Is Spinach a Steroid?

                                                      Jacob recently had a question from a coaching client about whether the use of spinach has a steroidal effect. Jacob thought that sounded pretty neat, so I researched it a bit. This is what I found out:

The good news is that yes, spinach consumption has a steroidal effect.

The bad news is that this is not a reasonable alternative for your training.

Spinach has, according to a study from Rutgers University, phytoecdysteroids which can enhance muscle growth up to 20 percent. Tests, performed on rats, found increased protein synthesis in muscles within one month. See the full details of the study here.

The problem is that 1 kilogram, or approximately 2 pounds, would have to be consumed per day just to get the muscle building effects. This is equivalent to 4 tall glasses. To get a steroidal-type effect, much more would need to be consumed.

Beyond the expense (spinach isn’t cheap), there are other side effects of too much spinach.

The dangers of overconsumption of steroids are these:

~Spinach has a very high concentration of oxalic acid. This can cause stones in the kidney and bladder.

~This acid can also inhibit the absorption of calcium, linked to osteoporosis.

~Spinach has very high levels of nitrates.

~Some people report digestive problems from consuming a large amount of spinach in one day. And you wouldn’t want to eat much else in terms of fiber, so your eating habits would become pretty limited.

With that said, spinach is a nutrient powerhouse: Per kilo, there is

only 230 cals
28g protein
14 net carbs
22 fibre
4 Fat (1/3 omega 3)
100%+ of A, Folate, K, E, C, B6, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium
40%+ of zinc, phosphorous, B1, B3.
The most alkaline vegetable (for acid/base balance)

The verdict? You can’t go wrong with eating spinach in moderation. The test was likely performed with special grade spinach, and the ordinary garden-variety of spinach wouldn’t provide the same effects. But if you want to try eating it in excess, see how you feel. You’ll probably get sick of it pretty quickly.

By Kalli Hiller