Researchers have also performed the taste test with sandwiches and tacos. Morelock said the spinach used was a curly-leafed Savoy variety he had developed, although any spinach would work. The additional folic acid is something young women need since it helps reduce the risk of birth defects, researchers say. Susanne Luchetti, a registered dietitian and clinical nutrition coordinator for Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., said the substitution is a good way to get more nutrients in a meal. A half cup of spinach also contains 54 micrograms of folic acid, she said, while iceberg lettuce contains 16 micrograms.
People are very, very deficient in taking five fruits and vegetables a day, especially raw.
She said spinach also contains lutein, which may help protect the eyes from cataracts and macular degeneration, a progressive deterioration of the central portion of the retina resulting in a loss of sharp vision. Morelock said a person's nutrition would be improved by getting two or three servings a week of spinach. Morelock said the next stop, after a few more taste tests involving tacos, will be to try to get fast-food establishments to make the switch to spinach. Many already advertise low-fat sandwiches and improved nutrition, he said. Even if your favorite burger restaurant doesn't make the change, Morelock said this is something that's pretty easy to practice at home.