Spinach: nutrition for pregnancy & family
Also known as Paleng, Palong shak, Palak ni bhaji, Palak, Spinak soppu, Palong heh, Basala cheera, Paalungo ko Saag, Palang sag, Paalakya, Pasalai keerai, Palakoora. Food group: Green Leafy Vegetables. Vegetarian.
What 100 g gives you in pregnancy
| Folate | 142 mcg — 24% of the daily need in pregnancy |
- Folate lowers the risk of neural tube defects, which form in the first weeks of pregnancy.
Daily requirements are NIH / US Dietary Reference Intakes recommended intakes for pregnancy. Requirements differ by country — folate is 600 mcg in US guidance against 570 mcg in India's — so percentages are only meaningful against the authority named here. They are for 100 g of this food and are a guide, not a meal plan; your doctor may advise different amounts for you.
The same food in US food tables
The USDA publishes its own analysis of this food. The figures differ, because they measure different varieties grown in different conditions -- neither is wrong. See Spinach, raw in the USDA tables.
Explore further
Spinach is a notable source of folate, iron, calcium and vitamin c — see what each does in pregnancy.
More green leafy vegetables: Agathi leaves, Amaranth leaves, green, Amaranth leaves, red and green mix, Amaranth leaves, red mix, Amaranth spinosus, leaves, green mix, Amaranth spinosus, leaves, red and green mix.
Spinach in Indian languages
| Assamese | Paleng |
| Bengali | Palong shak |
| Gujarati | Palak ni bhaji |
| Hindi | Palak |
| Kannada | Spinak soppu |
| Kashmiri | Palak |
| Khasi | Palong heh |
| Malayalam | Basala cheera |
| Manipuri | Palak |
| Marathi | Palak |
| Odia | Palang sag |
| Punjabi | Palak |
| Sanskrit | Paalakya |
| Tamil | Pasalai keerai |
| Telugu | Palakoora |
| Urdu | Palak |
Regional names as recorded by ICMR-NIN in the Indian Food Composition Tables.
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 24 kcal |
| Protein | 2.1 g |
| Fat | 0.6 g |
| Carbohydrate | 2.0 g |
| Fibre | 2.4 g |
| Iron | 2.9 mg |
| Calcium | 82 mg |
| Folate | 142 mcg |
| Vitamin C | 30.3 mg |
Why it can help during pregnancy
- Iron: Iron supports the extra blood your body makes during pregnancy.
- Folate: Folate supports your baby's early neural development.
- Calcium: Calcium helps build your baby's bones and teeth.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron from food.
Consensus public-health guidance (WHO / ICMR-NIN). A balanced, varied diet matters more than any single food.
Nutrition source: ICMR-NIN — Indian Food Composition Tables (IFCT). Values are typical per 100 g and vary by variety and preparation.
Educational information, not medical or dietary advice. Most everyday foods are fine in normal amounts — ask your doctor or dietitian about anything specific to your pregnancy.