Asparagus: Properties and Health Benefits

Asparagus is ideal for cleansing the body, stimulating diuresis, and eliminating excess fluids and toxins. Its very low calorie content makes it highly recommended for diets. It is also considered an excellent food for protecting the cardiovascular system.

Extremely versatile in the kitchen (the recommendation is to eat them boiled, with oil and lemon), they are present in many recipes, from first courses to second courses.

Index of topics

Nutritional properties

In particular, 100 grams of asparagus contain 20 calories, divided as follows:

50 percent protein
42 percent carbohydrates
8 percent lipids

In 100 grams of asparagus among others, there are:

93,2 grams of water
2,20 grams of protein
0,12 grams of lipids
2,1 grams of fiber
1,88 grams of sugars
3,88 grams of carbohydrates
5,6 milligrams of vitamin C
1,13 milligrams of vitamin E

Benefits

Asparagus is rich in mineral salts including potassium and magnesium.: this makes them particularly useful for heart and muscle health. They are also known for their diuretic effect and this is why they are perfect for those who suffer from heart problems.: administered frequently they help to expel the water that, due to poor cardiac activity, remains in the tissues and cannot be eliminated normally. Their diuretic properties also make them an ideal food for those suffering from high blood pressure and water retention.: They contain high levels of asparagine, an amino acid that helps the body eliminate excess sodium.

Also asparagus:

They aid digestion as they contain fibre and prebiotics (such as inulin)
They are energetic
They support brain function and the entire nervous system
They have purifying properties: they are in fact rich in glutathione, a substance that promotes the purification of the body allowing it to eliminate harmful and carcinogenic substances. This is why they have been judged as an important food for the prevention of some forms of cancer including bone, breast, colon and lung cancer.
According to some studies, they may even play an important role in preventing type 2 diabetes. The active ingredients in asparagus may promote insulin production and lower blood glucose levels.

How to eat asparagus

Asparagus is very versatile and can be used in a variety of ways and dishes. The first thing to do is clean them thoroughly:

Wash the stems well
Remove the hardest end part (it breaks easily with your hands)
If they are large, you can peel the stem slightly

The advice is to enjoy them in the simplest way: boiled, with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and squeezed lemon.

About find one of ours mini-collection best recipes with asparagus.

How much asparagus can you eat?

Luckily, asparagus season is quite long. It begins in early March and continues until autumn, late October. During this time, it's easy to find fresh asparagus, which is always preferable to canned or frozen. During its season, asparagus can be eaten in abundance, even twice a week. No problem. The World Health Organization's guidelines recommend at least two servings of vegetables a day, and a serving of asparagus is approximately 250 grams, net of waste.

How long do they last and how are they stored?

Asparagus should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than three days. You can then freeze it and cook it directly, without thawing it. The best way to cook asparagus is definitely steaming.

Controindicazioni

There are no details contraindications For the use of asparagus, unless you suffer from certain medical conditions: cystitis, kidney stones, prostatitis. Asparagus should be avoided if you suffer from gout or if you are taking diuretic medications, as it may interfere with these medications.

What are asparagus good for?