Spinach Soup FAQ

Is there any substitution for the tomatoes?

Yes, you can use 1-2 mangos instead.

Should this be eaten cold or room temperature?

It’s best to eat it room temperature, soon after it’s prepared for the greatest benefits.

What is your view on the oxalate content of spinach?

There is a myth that certain leafy green vegetables are high in oxalates and are therefore harmful. This is completely incorrect and is preventing many people from getting some powerful and needed nutrients and healing properties provided by foods deemed to be high in oxalates. 

Oxalates are not the concern they are believed to be. There are oxalates in every single fruit and vegetable on the planet. The vast array of nutrients in so-called high oxalate leafy greens are some of the most nutritious available to us. Medical research and science has not discovered that there are anti-oxalates in fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens that prevent the oxalates from causing us the damage the current trend tells us they do. In reality, these foods don’t cause us any harm, rather they provide us with critical healing nutrients like phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals. 

I’m allergic to oranges, what can I substitute with?

You can add the juice of a lemon or lime.

Is it ok to eat spinach cooked? Or is it more beneficial when it’s raw?

Raw spinach is the most nutritious and healthy. It’s best to eat all leafy greens (lettuces, kale, spinach) raw.

Is it ok to freeze spinach until you are ready to use it?

Ideally, you want the spinach fresh and raw in this soup.

Should tomatoes be avoided because they’re considered to be a nightshade?

If you’ve heard that nightshade vegetables aggravate conditions such as arthritis, you can let go of this misconception. Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, when ripe, have no negative effect on health. It’s the opposite: These amazing foods enhance health with their nutrients and healing properties. They’re exactly what you need when you’re dealing with illness.

The modern-day theory goes that these foods are high in alkaloids that cause inflammation. It’s not the alkaloids causing inflammation, though. It’s not the foods that grow on nightshade plants that are the problem. We have to look at the other ingredients served with these foods. In the case of ketchup and tomato sauce, there’s often high-fructose corn syrup, and where there’s tomato, you’ll frequently find a wheat crust or slice of sandwich bread.

 

 

Learn more about the hidden healing powers of fruits, vegetables, and herbs in the #1 New York Times Bestselling book Life-Changing Foods.