Delicious and Versatile Water Spinach: Beware of Excessive Consumption, It Can Be Harmful to Your Health

Among the types of leafy vegetables, water spinach is popular in every region of Vietnam, from North to South. However, not everyone can eat this type of vegetable.

Health benefits of water spinach

Water spinach is used to prepare many dishes, such as boiled, stir-fried, salad, pickled, soup, and raw… According to the book “Vietnamese Medicinal Plants and Drugs” compiled by Professor Do Tat Loi, water spinach contains many minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin C, B1, B2, PP… In a plate of cooked water spinach weighing over 3 ounces, it contains: Energy: 78kcal, Protein 10g, Lipid 1.2g, Carbohydrate 6.6g, Fiber 3.1g, Beta-carotene 17,463mg, Vitamin C 72mg, Calcium 312mg, Iron 4.4mg, Sodium 116.7mg, Potassium 1031.2mg, Zinc 1.1mg. Not only is it a familiar daily dish for Vietnamese people, but water spinach is also a favorite food in many places around the world, such as Bali (Indonesia), China, India,… Looking at the nutritional composition of water spinach, it can be seen that this is a vegetable rich in nutrients that are good for health, such as preventing constipation, increasing fiber to support weight loss, supplementing calcium, and cooling the body…

In Vietnamese culture, water spinach is so familiar that it is depicted in many poems and folk songs. However, the following individuals should limit their consumption:

People taking Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine and folk experience, water spinach has detoxifying properties, so eating it with Traditional Chinese Medicine will reduce the efficacy of the medicine. Therefore, people who are taking Traditional Chinese Medicine should eat water spinach far away from the time of taking medicine or stop treatment before eating water spinach. However, this depends on the instructions of the doctor, not all Traditional Chinese Medicines need to avoid eating water spinach. But mostly, many Traditional Chinese Medicines contain Rehmanniae Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, so eating water spinach should be avoided as it can react with these medicines, causing toxicity that can harm the kidneys.

People with arthritis

Some people may experience increased joint pain when eating water spinach. However, for people with osteoporosis, blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg, eating water spinach is still good because it is high in calcium. The amount of calcium in water spinach can support cases of calcium deficiency but without arthritis.

People with gout

Water spinach is a vegetable high in protein, not good for gout patients, so those who have gout and experience pain when eating water spinach should stop eating it.

People with kidney stones

Water spinach contains a high amount of oxalate, so eating a lot of water spinach can increase the risk of kidney stones. People who are treating kidney stones, at risk of stone formation, or have urinary tract infections should limit their consumption of water spinach.

People with allergies and diarrhea should also be cautious when eating water spinach as it may worsen their condition. Water spinach grown under water carries the risk of infection with Fasciolopsis buski parasites, which can enter the body when consuming raw or undercooked water spinach, causing indigestion, allergies, and abdominal pain.

Tips when eating water spinach:

Water spinach has a high oxalate content, which can easily form urinary stones, so it should be blanched in boiling water before cooking to reduce the oxalate content.

Water spinach grown in water is prone to parasite infestation, especially as they have a hollow structure, making the risk even higher. Therefore, absolutely do not eat it raw. When eating raw water spinach, choose the dried type and wash it thoroughly, soak it well.

Water spinach is very good, but do not eat too much at once as it may cause diarrhea.