A popular ingredient in gourmet dishes across the world, asparagus scores high for its delicate flavour and appealing form. When in season, it comes packed with health boosting goodness that adding it to your daily diet can help you in numerous ways. Asparagus or garden asparagus, scientifically called Asparagus officinalis, is a member of the Lily family. It is very labour intensive to grow, and perhaps is the reason why it comes with a high price tag. Garden asparagus was first cultivated in Greece about 2500 years ago and was believed to be a herbal medicine, used for curing toothache and preventing bee stings. It grows underneath the soil and as soon as the tips emerge, it is cut. It is acknowledged to be a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, Potassium and Calcium, among other nutrients.
There are three types of asparagus:
French Asparagus: The French Asparagus is purple in colour but is similar in appearance and taste to the other two types. It is genetically less fibrous thus more supple as compared to the other two types.
British and American Asparagus: The British and American Asparagus is green in colour, considered as the best of all the other types and is available from May to June. It is a bit grassy in taste.
Spanish and Dutch Asparagus: The Spanish and Dutch Asparagus is the pale sibling of green asparagus being white in colour. It has a subtler flavour than the green Asparagus – sweeter in taste with a hint of bitterness.
The top producers of Asparagus in the world are California, Washington and Michigan. A perfect asparagus can be defined as rigid, with bee lined shoots, curled and a perky tip.
Benefits of Asparagus
- Helps Fight Against Diabetes – Type 2 Diabetes is a major disease affecting the world population today. According to a study published in The British Journal of Nutrition, “Asparagus, a popular vegetable, can keep diabetes at bay by helping blood sugar levels stay under control while boosting output of insulin, the hormone that helps the body absorb glucose.” “Asparagus has proved to be an effective weapon to help fight against diabetes. The intake of asparagus leads to high urine and salt excretion from the body which help in regulating the blood sugar level,” says Dr. Lochan Arora, Physiotherapist and Nutritionist at Veda Physiotherapy and Nutrition Clinic.Another article published in The British Medical Journalin 2006 showed asparagus triggered an 81 percent increase in glucose uptake by the body’s muscles and tissues.
- Great Source of Antioxidants – Asparagus contains high level of antioxidants which help in fighting against free radicals in the body, which have been found to be the risk factors for diseases like cancer, heart trouble, etc. According to Ms. Nidhi Sawhney, Dietitian at Nutri Advice, “Asparagus is a very good source of fiber, folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K and minerals that enhance the ability of insulin to transport glucose from the bloodstream into the cells.”
- Increases Immunity – Incorporating asparagus in the diet helps in fighting bacterial infections, urine infection and cold which makes the immune system strong. Asparagus is a great source of B-complex vitamins which are essential for energy production and to maintain the nervous system.
- Could Help Fight Risk of Cancer – “Asparagus contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and other powerful antioxidants which are very beneficial to maintain healthy cells and fight risks of cancer,” says Dr. Arora. Asparagus also regulates homocysteine levels in our blood- a strong risk factor for heart disease.
- Slows the Aging Process – “Asparagus is a vegetable known for its antioxidant content, which has the ability to slow down the agingprocess,” says Ms. Nidhi.6. Acts as a Natural Diuretic“Asparagin, an amino acid, acts as natural diuretics. Asparagin is present in asparagus in high levels which helps the body in releasing the extra salt from the body through urination,” adds Ms. Nidhi. Asparagus provides a useful amount of vitamin K, essential for strong bones and to main blood pressure.
How to Add Asparagus to Your Diet
The best way to consume asparagus is to roast, grill or stir fry it. Quick cooking works well to preserve the nutritional content and the antioxidants present in it. You can also add it to your soups and curries.
भारतीय भाषाओं में इसके नाम
- हिंदी – शतावर, सतावर, सतावरी
- संस्कृत – शतमुली, शतावरी
- बांग्ला – सतामुली
- तमिल – शिमाई-शहदावरी, अम्मईकोडी, किलावरी
- तेलुगु – छल्लागड्डा, पिल्लीगडालु, किलवारी
- कन्नड – मज्जीगी-गिड्डी, एहेरू बल्ली
- गुजराती – सता सतावरी, इकोलाकान्टो वरी, इकोलाकान्टो
- मराठी – सतावारमुल, सतावरी
- मलयालम – शतावली, सतावरी
- पंजाबी – पुठ कांडा , ਪੁਤਕੰਡਾ
Source: https://food.ndtv.com/health/6-incredible-benefits-of-asparagus-the-nutrient-powerhouse-1649301
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User article on ASPARAGUS
When I was in the United States Navy (USN), I was stationed in Key West, FL. I worked at the clinic at Naval Air Station on Big Coppitt Key just a few miles north of Key West. The hospital at Key West was for out patients only for retired armed forces personnel that lived in the area. If you needed to be hospitalized you were sent to Homestead Air Force Base (AFB) Florida. I had the day off and just went inside the hospital(Corpman barracks were next to the hospital). There was a retired naval officer who worked in the lab and he was a very interesting gentleman to talk with. He was a retired biochemist from the USN. He asked me what was going on that day and I said I had the day off. I wish I was working as the crew on duty that day was taking a sailor to Homestead as he had a very bad kidney infection.
Now this elderly retired naval officer told me the man should have eaten more asparagus and he wouldn’t have that problem. I asked why? I’ll never forget him asking me I ate asparagus and I said yes, I love them.
He replied by asking me if I notice how my urine stinks after eating asparagus? I said but that I had never thought that it was because of what I ate but yes it does have a pungent odour. He informed me that it is because the asparagus is detoxifying my body of harmful chemicals!!!
This was back in 1986 but I had to share this story…Eat more asparagus my friends.
Asparagus — Who knew?
My Mom had been taking the full-stalk canned style asparagus. She pureed it and took 4 tablespoons in the morning and 4 tablespoons later in the day. She did this for over a month. She is on chemo pills for Stage 3 lung cancer in the pleural area and her cancer cell count went from 386 down to 125 at the end of a week.
Her oncologist said she will not need to see him for 3 months.
THE ARTICLE:
Several years ago I met a man seeking asparagus for a friend who had cancer. He gave me a copy of an article, entitled “Asparagus For Cancer” printed in the Cancer News Journal, December 1979. I will share it here, just as it was shared with me: I am a biochemist, and have specialized in the relation of diet to health for people over 50 years of age.
Several years ago, I learned of the discovery of Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S. that asparagus might cure cancer. Since then, I have worked with him on his project. We have accumulated a number of favourable case histories.
Here are a few examples:
Case No. 1.
A man with an almost hopeless case of Hodgkin’s disease (cancer of the lymph glands) was completely incapacitated. Within 1 year of starting the asparagus therapy, his doctors were unable to detect any signs of cancer, and he was back on a schedule of strenuous exercise.
Case No. 2.
A successful businessman, 68 years old, suffered from cancer of the bladder for 16 years. After years of medical treatments, including radiation without improvement, he began taking asparagus. Within 3 months, examinations revealed that his bladder tumour had disappeared and that his kidneys were normal.
Case No. 3.
On March 5 1971, a man who had lung cancer was put on the operating table where they found that the lung cancer had so widely spread that it was inoperable. The surgeon sewed him up and declared his case hopeless. On April 5 he heard about the Asparagus therapy and immediately started taking it. By August, x-ray pictures revealed that all signs of the cancer had disappeared. He is now back at his regular business routine.
Case No. 4.
A woman had been troubled for a number of years with skin cancer. She developed different skin cancers which were diagnosed by the acting specialist as advanced. Within 3 months after beginning asparagus therapy, the skin specialist said her skin looked fine with no more skin lesions. This woman reported that the asparagus therapy also cured her kidney disease, which had started in 1949. She had over 10 operations for kidney stones, and was receiving government disability payments for an inoperable, terminal, kidney condition. She attributed the cure of this kidney trouble entirely to the asparagus treatment.
I was not surprised at this result as “The elements of materia medica”, edited in 1854 by a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, stated that asparagus was used as a popular remedy for kidney stones. He even referred to experiments, in 1739, on the power of asparagus in dissolving stones.
Note the dates!
We would have other case histories but the medical establishment has interfered with our obtaining some of the records. I am therefore appealing to readers to spread this good news and help us to gather a large number of case histories that will overwhelm the medical skeptics about this unbelievably simple and natural remedy.
For the treatment, asparagus should be cooked before using. Fresh or canned asparagus can be used. I have corresponded with the two leading canners of asparagus, Giant and Stokely, and I am satisfied that these brands contain no pesticides or preservatives.
Place the cooked asparagus in a blender and liquefy to make a puree. Store in the refrigerator. Give the patient 4 full tablespoons twice daily, morning and evening.
Patients usually show some improvement in 2-4 weeks.
It can be diluted with water and used as a cold or hot drink.
This suggested dosage is based on present experience, but certainly larger amounts can do no harm and may be needed in some cases.
As a biochemist I am convinced of the old saying that “what cures can prevent”. Based on this theory, my wife and I have been using asparagus puree as a beverage with our meals. We take 2 tablespoons diluted in water to suit our taste with breakfast and with dinner. I take mine hot and my wife prefers hers cold.
For years we have made it a practice to have blood surveys taken as part of our regular checkups. The last blood survey, taken by a medical doctor who specializes in the nutritional approach to health, showed substantial improvements in all categories over the last one, and we can attribute these improvements to nothing but the asparagus drink.
As a biochemist, I have made an extensive study of all aspects of cancer, and all of the proposed cures. As a result, I am convinced that asparagus fits in better with the latest theories about cancer.
Asparagus contains a good supply of protein called histones, which are believed to be active in controlling cell growth. For that reason, I believe asparagus can be said to contain a substance that I call cell growth normalizer. That accounts for its action on cancer and in acting as a general body tonic.
In any event, regardless of theory, asparagus used as we suggest, is a harmless substance. The FDA cannot prevent you from using it and it may do you much good. It has been reported by the US National Cancer Institute, that asparagus is the highest tested food containing glutathione, which is considered one of the body’s most potent anti carcinogens and antioxidants.
Just a side note… In case you are wondering why this has not been made public, the simple answer is that there is no profit in curing cancer!
Please share this article to everyone in your Address Book. The most unselfish act one can ever do is paying forward all the kindness of other people.
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Disclaimer: All information, data and material has been sourced from multiple authors and is for general information and educational purposes only and are not intended to replace the advice of your treating doctor.
The views and nutritional advice expressed are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician
