Asparagus - and its many benefits

 Asparagus and its many benefits

 What is it?

 Asparagus is a spring vegetable and is widely cultivated in Europe, Africa and West Asia. It belongs to the Lily Family. Asparagus green and is herbaceous, perennial plant which is 100-150 cms tall and has feathery foliage.

The leaves are needle like and flowers are bell shaped.

Asparagus and its many benefits

Composition of Asparagus every 100 gm

Health Benefits:

Asparagus is high in vitamin K and folate and also has an amino acid named asparagine in abundance. This amino acid helps in cleaning up the waste of our body. It is also very low in calories and high in protein and vitamins.

Here are some of the health benefits of Asaparagus:

• Blood clotting: Asparagus includes Vitamin K. Vitamin K helps in blood clotting. This is necessity of our body since when someone bleeds its essential the blood clots so as to stop the bleeding. Asparagus in daily or monthly diet will help keep up the vitamin K in the blood.
• Acidity: Asparagus helps in cleansing the waste and reducing the acidity of the blood.
• Cancer: The National Health Institute USA lists Asparagus as one of the top foods that helps in treating Cancer. Since asparagus is a source of potassium, protein and ever welcome Vitamin C it helps in strengthening blood vessels and tissues and assists in producing collagen for the body. There are other elements like Vitamin D, Folate, and Glutathione that play some role in reducing the risk of cancer. Although it helps and assists it is not a medicine that may be taken as a substitute of treatment for cancer.

• Cataracts: Asparagus has antitoxidants and hence due to its properties it helps in improving vision and prevents cataracts. 
•  Constipation: Asparagus is known to improve the bowel movement and due to its rich fiber content it reduces constipation. It proves beneficial in instances of diarrhea as well.
•  Pregnancy: Considered a healthy diet it is one of the top foods recommended during pregnancy. Vitamins like K, A, C, B1, B2 and B6 and dietary fibers and protein help keep up the energy level of pregnant women. Also folate is essentially required to prevent birth defects like spina bifida. It also assists in blood production for a baby. It is also considered to be one of those foods which help in babies’ DNA coding. It also aids in boosting milk production for breastfeeding mothers
•  Heart: A heart healthy food asparagus root reduces cholesterol levels and its dried root is used in Chinese and Indian medicines. It is a natural diuretic that contains no fat or cholesterol or sodium. Rich in Vitamin C and potassium it helps maintain proper blood pressure and heart function.
• Tooth Aches: Asparagus root is used in wine or placed in the mouth to help tooth ache. This is used as homemade remedy my many in order to prevent tooth ache. You can also chew the root in order to prevent tooth ache.
• Kidney Stones: Due to high amount of fiber and protein it helps in flushing out wastes from kidney and hence prevents formation of stones. Some people have claimed in some articles on Google that they drank Asparagus along with coke or wine and got relief from kidney stones. Well this may be hard to believe for some but you may give it a try. Although high dosage is not recommended ever. You may also consult a doctor before having asparagus with wine since in some cases of stones asparagus isn’t helpful but very good for other kinds of stones.
• Aging: Some preliminary researches conducted have shown asparagus to be reducing or slowing the process of aging. It consists of Vitamin B12 and folate which prevent cognitive impairment. Our brain fights cognitive decline and it helps the brain in it with its nutritious composition.
• Diuretic: It is the best detoxifying and diuretic diet which consists of glutathione, and antioxidants. Helps body get rid of excess water.
• Diabetes: Low in carbs and glycemix index and good in vitamins asparagus helps in maintaining blood glucose management and hence helps in reducing diabetes. High in carbohydrates it reduces the appetite which increases during diabetes.

 

Some common usage of Asparagus in daily diet:

1. You can bake, stir-fry or sautéed asparagus into fried or baked eggs or pasta.
2. You can also use sautéed asparagus along with garlic and pepper and butter.
3. You can place leafs or pieces of aspagus in steamed rice.
4. You can make a juice of asparagus and have it mixed with lemon and honey to make it a better and healthy juice.