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Asparagus is rich in vitamins and minerals, but you may not be too fond of it because it can make urine smell a little strange. However, you shouldn’t miss out on this superfood because it offers many health benefits, such as promoting weight loss and keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range.
Asparagus is a fiber-rich veggie that can help relieve bloating and promote weight loss. It’s also a natural source of nutrients like vitamins A, B6, C, E and K, and minerals like calcium, copper, folate, iron and protein.
Asparagus, especially purple asparagus, is rich in anthocyanins that give fruits and vegetables their blue, red, and purple hues. Anthocyanins also have antioxidant effects that can help your body fight free radical damage.
Make sure you don’t overcook or undercook asparagus. While cooking asparagus helps activate its cancer-fighting potential, cooking it for too long could negate some of its nutritional benefits and make the vitamins leech out into the water.
Asparagus contains vitamin E, an important antioxidant. This vitamin boosts your immune system and protects cells from free radical damage.
To reap the health benefits of asparagus, roast the vegetable with a bit of olive oil. Your body absorbs vitamin E better if you eat it with a bit of healthy fat.
Like green, leafy vegetables, asparagus is chock-full of vitamin K, a nutrient that is crucial for blood coagulation, which helps stop bleeding after a cut, and bone health. You also need vitamin K since it helps your body absorb calcium.
Four asparagus spears contain 22 percent of your recommended daily allowance of folic acid. This nutrient is essential for women who are planning on getting pregnant because it helps fight neural tube defects.
Asparagus is a low-fat, low-calorie vegetable. A cup of asparagus only contains 32 calories.
It’s also rich in soluble and insoluble fiber, which makes it the perfect superfood if you want to lose a couple of pounds. Since your body digests fiber slowly, consuming asparagus helps you feel full longer!
Fiber-rich asparagus can also help relieve constipation and lower blood cholesterol levels.
Asparagus is a natural diuretic because it’s full of the amino acid, asparagine. This is why consuming a lot of the veggie can help flush excess fluid and salt from your body, as well as prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Women who don’t urinate enough are at risk of developing UTI, but adding asparagus to your regular diet can help prevent infections since going to the bathroom more frequently helps you flush out bad bacteria from your urinary tract.
If you’re feeling bloated, eat asparagus to relieve your condition.
Asparagus promotes digestive health and is rich in prebiotics (fiber) that nourish the “good” bacteria (probiotics) in your digestive tract.
Asparagus is rich in folate, a B vitamin that can boost your mood and helps prevent irritability.
Studies have identified a link between low levels of folate and vitamin B12 in people who are suffering from depression, which suggests that boosting your intake of both vitamins can help fight the condition. Asparagus is also rich in tryptophan, an amino acid linked to improved mood.
If you’re an asparagus fan, you need to know how to make nutritious dishes like a no-cream asparagus soup.
You can also try following the recipe for a savory asparagus salad with a runny poached egg for another filling dish.
This recipe ensures that you use each nutritious part of the vegetable, like the woody ends of asparagus stalks and green leek tops.
Instead of cream, you’ll be using vegetables like celery, leek tops and potatoes. This immunity-boosting soup is also jam-packed with flavor. You can tweak this no-cream version for loved ones who are on non-dairy, paleo, vegan or vegetarian diets.
Ingredients for 5 servings:
Preparation:
Notes:
This simple, bistro-style asparagus salad with a poached egg is low-calorie, tasty and nutritious.
Ingredients for 2 servings:
Preparation:
Try these tasty recipes for no-cream asparagus soup and asparagus salad with a poached egg to boost your mood and overall health.
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