Spinach apparently has a steroid effect

The_Hustler · 09-05-2008 4:34am #1

source:http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/general/water_cooler_moments/spinach+can+boost+muscles/2153547

Popeye may have been right - eating lots of spinach really can give you muscles.

Researchers have discovered a steroid chemical in leafy greens which ramps up the manufacture of muscle protein.

US scientists at Rutgers University in New Jersey extracted the compounds, known as phytoecdysteroids, from spinach. "When they placed the liquid extract on samples of cultured human muscle, it sped up growth by 20%," New Scientist magazine reported.

Alternate source:http://genxxl.com/diet-nutrition/spinach-has-steroid-effect/

EDIT: I've now read that it's not all leafy greens so I've changed the title. It's been found in a good few plants but the only edible one is spinach.
http://www.bignewsday.com/story.asp?code=YT749832P&news=spinach_really_does_make_muscles_grow

Overheal · 09-05-2008 4:36am

Actually spinach turns out to be quite tasty. Beats the **** out of Brussel Sprouts anyway.

The_Hustler · 09-05-2008 4:47am

I can't remember the last time I've had it but I'll be adding 1kg per day of it now!:p

Here's a link to an abstract of the study but I can't understand a word! http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/jafcau/asap/abs/jf073059z.html

BossArky · 09-05-2008 5:17am

I was having a similar conversation with someone a few weeks ago. We had both loaded up our plates with salad containing bits of spinach and were wondering aloud why PopEye used to love the stuff. Question answered!

Vegeta · 09-05-2008 8:24am

Overheal wrote: »

Actually spinach turns out to be quite tasty. Beats the **** out of Brussel Sprouts anyway.

I love the sprouts, I could eat them at every meal. Only thing is they're not great for the old bum burps, they leave quite the lingering smell after them.

Tiriel · 09-05-2008 8:55am

Spinach is a super food - fantastic blood nutrient and is actually really good for your sight!! Apparently it helps prevent eyesight from deteriorating. Some more reasons to eat it! Plus, it's really simple to cook, only takes minutes and it's ready!

Naos · 09-05-2008 8:58am

Sweet! I'd eat baby spinach on the odd occassion, would it be the same deal?

If so, I'm going to start buying a bit more

tribulus · 09-05-2008 9:21am

Nothing to shout about really. It was applied directly onto the muscle which is akin (fairly) to an IM injection. So unless you want to go injecting sh1t (in which case get some proper drugs!) then munching spinach isn't going to do much as the compound with all its hydroxyl and a couple of carbonyl groups* will be readily broken down in the stomach (edit) and of course 1st pass metabolism too.

*I don't know the exact structure, just using the standard steroid structure.

Hanley · 09-05-2008 9:31am

Get the spinach while you can kids, it's next on the IMB's ban list.

BossArky · 09-05-2008 11:17am

PopEye looks like he could lay off the curls and do a few more deadlifts!

PrettyInPunk · 09-05-2008 1:11pm

Spinach is amaaaaaazing

jessconr · 09-05-2008 3:28pm

popeye looks like he had a stroke years back which paralysed the right side of his face & he also suffers from 2 genormous tumors on both his arms

BossArky · 09-05-2008 3:36pm

Just found the lyrics... :pac:

- Popeye

I'm Popeye the Sailor Man,
I'm Popeye the Sailor Man.
I'm strong to the finich
Cause I eats me spinach.
I'm Popeye the Sailor Man.

I'm one tough Gazookus
Which hates all Palookas
Wot ain't on the up and square.
I biffs 'em and buffs 'em
And always out roughs 'em
But none of 'em gets nowhere.

If anyone dares to risk my "Fisk",
It's "Boff" an' it's "Wham" un'erstan'?
So keep "Good Be-hav-or"
That's your one life saver
With Popeye the Sailor Man.

I'm Popeye the Sailor Man,
I'm Popeye the Sailor Man.
I'm strong to the finich
Cause I eats me spinach.
I'm Popeye the Sailor Man.

The_Hustler · 10-05-2008 12:35am

BossArky wrote: »

I was having a similar conversation with someone a few weeks ago. We had both loaded up our plates with salad containing bits of spinach and were wondering aloud why PopEye used to love the stuff. Question answered!

Actually, years ago people thought spinach had 10 times the iron it has because of a decimal point error. I think that's why it was used in PopEye. It's funny that that was associated with muscles and after finding out that was wrong, it's been replaced with this.

tribulus wrote: »

Nothing to shout about really. It was applied directly onto the muscle which is akin (fairly) to an IM injection. So unless you want to go injecting sh1t (in which case get some proper drugs!) then munching spinach isn't going to do much as the compound with all its hydroxyl and a couple of carbonyl groups* will be readily broken down in the stomach (edit) and of course 1st pass metabolism too.

*I don't know the exact structure, just using the standard steroid structure.

It's conceeded that you would need to eat kilos to get the effect but are you saying that wouldn't do anything either?

After reading about all the benefits of spinach I might seriously start eating this regularly.
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=43

I'll probably hate it though, I'm not a fan of many green leaved vegetables.