Okay by hamburger I just mean ground beef by itself. Can't really compare a generic burger because the bun can have a million random ingredients.
Spinach has more vitamin C, but if you cook it then much of that is gone. Spinach still wins here.
Both have lots of vitamins. The fat in beef supports better absorption of these vitamins. Beef wins here.
The iron in beef is 10x more absorbable than the iron in spinach. Beef wins here.
Spinach has calcium but it also has oxalates. These bind to the calcium so you don't absorb much of it. Instead the bound calcium can become kidney stones! Ask someone who has passed kidney stones and they will tell you not to eat spinach. Beef wins here.
Spinach might be the food with the most pesticide residue of any food. Beef doen't need pesticides. Beef wins here.
Spinach can cause gas, bloating, and inflammation. Beef has zero side effects for me. Beef wins here.
Processed meat has been linked to increased risk of colon cancer. But the only link was found in meats that have added preservatives. It's only the preservatives that cause cancer. Hamburgers are usually made from 100% beef and have no preservatives. The pesticides used on spinach are known likely carcinogens. So you decide if one is more risky than the other. Maybe everything under the sun can cause cancer, and of course the sun itself. I'll take my chances with the food that touched fewer synthetic chemicals.
Red meats have been linked to more increased chances of heart problems but I'm not convinced this isn't just "People who eat burgers are much more likely to eat fries and soda." Fries and soda are actually very verifiably bad for you. So spinach wins here but I am unconvinced the beef is causing anything. Heart problems are the leading cause of early death. But which major city in the world has the longest life expectancy? It's Hong Kong, at 87 years. While the people of Hong Kong eat more meat than any other major city in the world.
Outbreaks are more common from spinach than from beef. But maybe the beef ones are more deadly when they do happen? Somone needs to crunch numbers.
| Hamburger | Spinach | |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamins | 🏆 | ❌ |
| Minerals | 🏆 | ❌ |
| Risks | ? | ? |
Conclusion: Hamburger is healthier than spinach.