Spinach is a green leafy plant in the species Spinacia oleracea, classified in the Amaranthaceae family. Biochemically, testing targets plant proteins including storage and structural proteins, lectins, and membrane channels such as aquaporins—molecules involved in water transport and basic plant cell function. Spinach also contains characteristic peptides and small molecules that can be resolved by protein- and peptide-level assays. Over time, common dietary items like spinach were added to multiplex food panels because they are widely consumed and contain distinct plant antigens that the immune system can recognize. In the Food Zoomer context, spinach is treated as a defined antigen source so that antibody patterns to its proteins can be compared with responses to other foods, lectins, and plant aquaporins for clearer pattern recognition.

Elevated antibody signals to spinach suggest measurable immune recognition of one or more spinach-derived proteins. Increased IgA versus IgG may point toward stronger mucosal (gut-line) engagement, while higher IgG reflects systemic immune exposure or memory; interpretation depends on the isotype pattern and related markers across the panel. Low or undetectable antibody levels indicate little measurable immune response to spinach proteins in the tested sample, which can reflect tolerance, limited recent exposure, or assay limits. Any single result should be interpreted alongside the full Food Zoomer profile, clinical history, and other laboratory findings to understand patterns of food-related immune activity.

Spinach is included because it is a common dietary plant with distinct proteins and lectins that may register on IgA/IgG assays. Testing spinach helps identify whether plant-derived antigens contribute to clustered reactivity across leafy greens or related foods, supporting personalized dietary planning and targeted interpretation within the Food Zoomer report.