MINERAL COMPOSITION OF THE LEAVES OF NETTLE (URTICA DIOICA L.) AND SPINACH (SPINACIA OLERACEA L.)

Abstract

With the fast-paced pace of lifestyle changes and the increasing focus on health, it is important for people to ensure a healthy and balanced diet. It is suggested to include as many vegetables, fruits and berries as possible in the daily diet, with which the body can be enriched with beneficial substances such as polyphenols, anthocyanins and micro-/macro-nutrients. Recently, various plant additives have been used in the production of various products to enrich the product with minerals, vitamins, proteins, or other nutrients. It is likely that the use of nettle or spinach leaves in food production can provide mineral enrichment to conventional foods.  The aim of this study was therefore to determine and compare the mineral composition of the leaves of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.).

The study showed that the leaves of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) accumulated significantly higher amounts of minerals important for the human body, such as the macronutrients potassium and magnesium, and the micronutrients iron, manganese and zinc, than those of nettle (Urtica dioica L.).