Asparagus is definitely one of my favourite vegetables and can be cooked in so many ways. This is a spring vegetable so perfect for this time of year and reminds me that summer is just around the corner.
My favourite way of eating Asparagus is with a Poached Egg and Pepper which is so nice and simple either as a healthy snack or starter.
Asparagus come in many forms which are also associated with their colour. You will see a choice of White, Purple or Green types which tend to be more common, although that does depend on where in the world you live.
There are about 12 different types of asparagus which include Apollo, Atlas, Jersey, Mary Washington, Precoce, Purple Passion, UC 157, Viking, Wild plus White, Green and Purple. You might find that there is a certain variety which you prefer so it is worth investigating to see what you can find.
Also, I know that a lot of people are put off of eating Asparagus because of the strength of their pee. A number of people suffer from a pungent, sulphur type smell once they have eaten Asparagus and this they find off putting.
The reason that Asparagus have this effect on your pee is due to the asparaguisic acid which is not found in any other vegetable. Once Asparagus has been digested the asparaguisic acid produces compounds including methanethiol, dimethyl sulphide and dimeythl sulfone. These compounds contain sulphur which is the same chemical that give rotten eggs their putrid smell. The body excretes these compounds in urine as they cannot be broken down. However, not everyone experiences this smell due to a genetic mutation which means some people excrete them and others do not. Scientists have also found that some people can smell the chemicals whereas others cannot.
Now for the 5 benefits of eating Asparagus
Super Nutritious
Asparagus is very good for you as it is a good source of fibre, folate and Vitamins A, C, E, K. It also has chromium which is a trace mineral that enhances the ability of insulin to transport glucose from the bloodstream into the cells.
Especially good for you if you are watching your blood sugars.
Helps Fight Against Cancer
Asparagus is a herbaceous plant along with Avocado, Kale and Brussel Sprouts. Herbaceous Plants are a rich source of glutathione, a detoxifying compound that helps break down carcinogens and other harmful compounds like free radicals.
Therefore, eating these plants helps fight certain forms of cancer such as bone, breast, colon, larynx and lung in particular.
Packed Full Of Anti – Oxidants
One of the top ranked foods for its ability to neutralise cell damaging free radicals.
Can help slow down the ageing process and reduce inflammation. Anything that can reduce the anti – ageing process is definitely worth eating in my books!
Improves The Brain 
Folate within asparagus works well with vitamin B12 found in fish, poultry, meat and dairy to help prevent cognitive impairment.
In a study, adults who had high levels of folate and B12 performed better on a test of response speed and mental flexibility than those who did not.
Once over 50 be sure to increase your folate and B12 as your ability to absorb it decreases with age. Brain disease now is becoming more and more common as we live longer.
A Natural Diuretic
Contains high levels of amino acid asparagine which serves as a natural diuretic.
Increased urination not only releases fluid but helps rid the body of excess salts. Especially beneficial for people who suffer with edema and those who have high blood pressure or heart related disease.
Conclusion
Asparagus comes in so many varieties and has so many health benefits. However, I am so aware that unlike me there are a number of people who do not like this great vegetable. Perhaps it is worth looking into the different varieties to find one that you might get on with better.
Whilst a number of you are put off of eating Asparagus because of the strength of their pee the benefits for your health more than out weighs the disadvantages.
As always I teach that the more varied your food choice is generally the healthier that you become. Just like Asparagus there is a number of other fruits and vegetables that have nutrients or minerals that are only found in them alone. Having a varied diet means that you will reap these benefits and your body will become a lot more efficient and better able to deal with diseases or viruses.
Go on! Try a different type of asparagus and let me know how you get on.
Enrique
I didn’t use to eat asparagus many years ago. Now, I love it, especially with pasta or chicken. It can be prepared with a little butter or olive oil to enhance the flavor.
I didn’t know about its smell in pee. Honestly, I’ve never noticed it. I must be the kind of person you mention in your article lol.
Asparagus is one of the best vegetables we can eat. As you said, it has a lot of beneficial properties for all of us. As a man in his early thirties, I’m starting to worry about my skin and other things I didn’t pay attention to. Since it has anti-aging properties, I will be eating lots haha.
Thanks for sharing.
Imelda Easthorpe
Thank you Enrique,
I really appreciate your comments and really pleased you enjoy asparagus. Yes asparagus is very versatile and is great in pasta and chicken.
If you have not notice the smell then you are definitely one of the special ones!
Georgi
Hi, I found your post very interesting it is always useful to know certain things about what we eat. It is amazing how in nature we can find everything our body needs in food. Thanks for the post.
Imelda Easthorpe
Thank you Georgi,
I am so pleased you have enjoyed my article. Nature is amazing and we just need to look after it and it will look after us.
Thank you again
Juliet
Thanks Imelda, I have only seen the green asparagus, I’ll be on the lookout for the other varieties. Also, I never knew asparagus has this much advantage to the human health. Being in my mid fifties, I am particularly drawn to its anti ageing and brain improvement qualities. I’m definitely adding asparagus to my recipes.
Imelda Easthorpe
Thank you Juliet,
I really appreciate your comments and I am so pleased I was able to introduce you to a few more different types. I have had purple, white and green and they all have their uniqueness. I can honestly say however, that I have not had every variety.
Ali
You did a great job Imelda! I believe that this is the information that can’t be find on the web easily and you decided to share it with others for free, that’s really great!
I didn’t know much about health benefits of asparagus but I’ve been always interested to know more about this topic and your comprehensive guide helped me a lot. I don’t know if you wrote this post 100% by yourself or got help from other sources as well, anyway, it has really brilliant information which convinced me to share it with my friends on social networks.
I think, the Internet needs more quality posts like yours these days, especially when we see a lot of crappy ads and scams about this topic. You can’t read a post easily on a website without seeing tons popups but your site and post is an ideal example of a quality article which is not covered by annoying ads, has very useful information and lets readers enjoy reading every piece of it.
Thank you again and I wish you continue providing such that quality information in the future which turn the Internet and blogs into a better place to surf!
Best,
Ali
Imelda Easthorpe
Hello Ali,
Thank you so much for your comments I am pleased that you have enjoyed my post.
I am a qualified Nutrition Advisor so other than the science information it is my post based on a food I enjoy and wish to share the benefits with others.
Thank you