Kerry dePenaloza
Prof. Leake
Writ 1133
14 May 2013
Spinach
Over
the past few days, I have been keeping a food log. This is the first time I have ever kept a
food log, and it is quite interesting to see what I eat on a regular
basis. I ate things from Asian noodles,
to chicken wings, and even a chicken caesar flatbread sandwich. Even though I was eating so many different
things, there was one item that I had more often than not, and this became more
evident after writing a food log. I
noticed I was eating spinach salads more than I normally do.
My
like for spinach came from my background in food. My parents have always kept healthy food in
the house and always made healthy food part of every meal. Spinach is a plant that is that to have
originated in ancient Persia. Spinach
has been around for years and a part of my different cultures thanks to the
Arabs. In the article “Pakistan &
Gulf Economist” by S. M. Alam, the author writes, “Arab traders carried spinach
into India, and then the plant was introduced into ancient China.” It is very cool to eat something that has
ties to different centuries and different cultures. I really enjoy eating spinach, not just
because of its unique history but also mostly for its health benefits.
From
an early age, I would watch Popeye and see him eat his spinach when he was in a
sticky situation. When I eat spinach, I
feel energized and ready to go, just like Popeye. In the article Pakistan & Gulf Economist
by S.M. Alam, the author talks about the health benefits of Spanish by saying,
“spinach is an excellent source of beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin
K, potassium, iron, sulphur, sodium, folic acid, and oxalic acid.” Along with all the beneficial things one can
get from eating spinach, it also contains more protein than any other vegetable
on the market. In the article “The
World’s Healthiest Foods,” author George Mateljan talks about the unknown benefits
of spinach, saying, “you may be surprised to learn that spinach helps to
protect against inflammatory problems, oxidative stress-related problems,
cardiovascular problems, bone problems, and cancers.” The reason spinach has such an effect on our
bodies is due to all the phytonutrients it contains. Almost every vegetable contains
phytonutrients, however, spinach is among a few that contain some of the most
beneficial phytonutrients. Every part of
spinach has something beneficial to us as humans. Spinach is something that should be a part of
every diet. In one cup of cooked
spinach, you get 24 nutrients that are all good for you. The real question is why would someone not
eat spinach if it does nothing but benefit you and your body.
I
have never really gone in depth with spinach.
I have just known my whole life that it is healthy for you. After doing a food log and seeing the times I
ate spinach, I will certainly be increasing my spinach intake. The article by George Mateljan really puts
things into perspective. I was never
aware of everything that spinach does for the body. If you are not the biggest fan of spinach, I
would highly suggest reading the article by George Mateljan; it makes me like
spinach even more. I have always
wondered why I feel so energized after a bowl of spinach, and it is extremely
evident at this point. I guess Popeye
was right when he said “I’m strong to the finish because I eats my spinach!”
Works Cited
Alam, S. M.
"Spinach." Pakistan & Gulf Economist 30.11 (2011): 60-1. ProQuest.
Web. 14 May 2013.
Mateljan, George. "Spinach." The
World's Healthiest Foods. N.p.. Web. 13 May 2013.
<http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=43
1. What food of eating practice is the author researching and what are the reported health implications?
ReplyDeleteSpinach, the health implication is that spinach is full of nutrients, and the author persuades others to try it.
2. In what ways is the scientific study rewritten for a broader audience? What rhetorical and language choices are evident?
We are all familiar with Popeye. I think it is a good way to bring him into the essay, and talk about why spinach is good for people’s health.
3. What suggestions do you have for revision?
You do a good job tell you experience about spinach as well as the aspect of health. Maybe add more materials from the study, and talk about other people’s opinion about spinach.
1.In this essay, Kerry researches the health aspects of spinach. He explains how spinach is incredibly healthy, in that it is rich in nutrients and such. He also touches on the traditional and historical context of spinach.
ReplyDelete2.This essay seems to be written for a larger audience based off of his explanation of the quotations he uses, and makes them more easily understood to the common reader.
3.I thought it was interesting to hear more about spinach. My mom has gone through a recent "super foods" craze, and she told me a lot about how healthy spinach was, and how it is completely nutrient packed. I would suggest to remove some of the slang and personal language, just to match the scientific context of the essay, but it was a great read!