These Supermarket Myths Are Wasting Your Money

Myth: Always pick the bag of spinach at the back of the produce case

Not necessarily true. In a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, spinach that was continuously exposed to light for just three days contained higher levels of vitamin C and preserved levels of vitamin K, vitamin E, folate, and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.

The scientists believe light boosts nutrient levels by aiding photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert energy from the sun into food. In other words, the package of spinach at the front of the case—where it receives the most light—could actually be more nutritious than the one sitting in the dark at the back.