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why the difference in sodium? HELP!

ractayjon
ractayjon Posts: 365
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Wondering if anyone knows the answer --

Why does 1 cup of raw spinach have 7 calories and 24grams of sodium while 1 cup of cooked, boiled, drained no salt added has 41 calories 126 grams of sodium?

Is it possible that the 1 cup of raw is measured raw (obviously) and the 1 cup of cooked is measured cooked (so a heck of a lot more spinach since it shrinks to nothing)?
I assumed that you measure it raw and then cook it (like 2 oz of pasta)
But if that is the case then what the heck happens to the spinach when you boil it in a few ounces of water?
Im very confused and it will make a huge difference in my sodium numbers for the day (which I watch) which is why Im questioning.
Thanks

Replies

  • lisawest
    lisawest Posts: 798 Member
    Well, I don't claim to be fantastic cook, but if I were measuring it, I would measure the cooked spinach after it's cooked. Which that could account for the HUGE difference. (With pasta I always measure how much goes in, then reweigh how much came out to figure out how much I should be getting!:bigsmile: )
  • ractayjon
    ractayjon Posts: 365
    k, I kept searching I and found the answer - yes when "they" say 1 cup raw it literally means 1 cup raw so fresh leafs in a cup...and when "they" say cooked, boiled etc they are measuring a cup full of cooked spinach - which is probably 20 times more spinach (since spinach shrinks so much) hence the up in nutrients....
    completely opposite of say pasta where you measure dry --
    Someday I will figure this all out?!
    I have been tracking it wrong for a while - just noticing the sodium today....ugh.....
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