Got bored with this winter? Surely spring follows winter. One best thing about spring is asparagus, because it is a spring vegetable. Asparagus is high in nutrition and you should definitely consider including it in your diet. I have included a video of how to make lemon sprinkled roasted asparagus shoots hope you enjoy it.
Asparagus is low in calories and has less amounts of sodium. It is a good source of vitamins, proteins and minerals. It is rich in folate, iron and selenium. Exclusively white asparagus is popular in North Western Europe. Now the best way to eat asparagus is to eat it as fresh as possible. It has a very high respiration rate and is more perishable. If you are storing asparagus in a fridge then cover it with a damp paper or wet towel and eat it within 48 hours of your purchase.
As we have discussed earlier asparagus is rich in folate. This substance fights homocysteine which implicates heart disease. Folate is essential for pregnant women for the development of a healthy fetus. Studies point out people who have died from Alzheimer’s disease had extremely low to zero levels of folate. This goes without saying that folate helps to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
The green asparagus is especially rich in vitamin C. This vitamin helps the body to produce and maintain collagen which is essential for connective tissues. Asparagus is low in sodium and is beneficial for people with hypertension. Asparagus has a very good amount of B vitamins which play a key role in the metabolism of sugars and starches and helps to maintain and manage healthy blood sugar levels.
Asparagus helps in easy bowel movements. It works wonders for the intestines. It contains a substance known as inulin which does not get broken down. When it reaches the large intestine it becomes food for the bacteria which help in better nutrient absorption, lowering the risk of allergy and colon cancer.
Wild asparagus contains phytonutrients known as saponins which has anti inflammatory and anti cancer properties. Including wild asparagus in your diet result in improved blood pressure, blood sugar level regulation and better control of blood fat levels.
The anti inflammatory substances and antioxidants present in asparagus is very useful for amyotropic lateral sclerosis. This is a neurodegenerative disease resulting in the death of certain nerve cells. The antioxidants and anti inflammatory substances reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.
Researchers from Korea claim that the biological function of asparagus can help alleviate alcohol hangover and can protect liver cells. This does not mean that you can drink alcohol. I am busy preparing a post titled the health hazards of drinking alcohol. Watch this space for more of it!
Asparagus results in strong urine odor. There are no research studies that have found a link between asparagus consumption, urine odor and health risk. It seems that if you want to enjoy the health benefits of asparagus you should not mind about the odor. Whatever the case might be it is your choice.
Take care
Swarnam
Take care,
Swarnam
Swarnam