Asparagus is delicious, low in calories with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. There are some incredible health benefits of asparagus like helping in digestive health, supporting a healthy pregnancy, and some of which you’re about to discover.
Description of Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable grown in a garden. It takes about 3 years to mature and it will be ready for harvest for a month in the spring.
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1. Asparagus helps in digestion
Fiber is essential for a healthy digestive system. This is important in order to avoid constipation. Asparagus contains about 1.8 grams from 90 grams of cooked asparagus and that’s 7% of your daily dietary fiber needs. (1)
Studies conducted by Bingrong Li, et. al at the Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, The Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China suggested that fiber-rich fruits and vegetables help in reducing the danger of heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. (2)
2. Asparagus helps in losing the weight
It contains about 20 calories in 90 grams of cooked asparagus. This contributes to the process of losing weight. (1)
It is comprised of 94% water and is considered water-rich vegetables. These properties as per the studies conducted by Marta Stelmach-Mardas, et. al in the Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal 14558, Germany suggested that water-rich foods are associated with weight loss. (3)
Michelle J Clark stated that fibre rich foods can also lowers the body weight. (4)
Related: Top 5 best tips to lose weight
3. Contains anti-aging properties
Asparagus is rich in vitamin E and vitamin C which is essential for your skin. (5)
It helps in protecting the tissue cells and keeps skin young and healthy.
4. Supports healthy pregnancy
Asparagus is a good source of folate.
Consuming half a cup of asparagus constitutes 34% of daily folate (Vitamin B9) needs and a pregnant woman with its 22% daily folate needs.
5. Helps fight cancer
American Cancer Society has published many articles and reviews regarding the importance of asparagus in lessening cancer symptoms. (6) In these articles and reviews, cancer survivors talk about their personal experiences and the benefits they have acquired from the intake of asparagus.
A study conducted on Saponins secluded from Asparagus persuade apoptosis in human hepatoma cell HepG2 throughout a mitochondrial-mediated trail by Y. Ji, C. Ji, L. Yue, and H. Xu found that saponins found in asparagus help in inducing cancer cell deaths. (7)
6. Helps in boosting immunity
Asparagus consumption improves immunity with the help of prebiotic contents and antioxidant properties. (8)
Vitamin B contents also help in boosting the energy level by the conversion of food to fuel.
Related: Top 5 best immunity-boosting fruits
7. Helps in treating diabetes
The extract from asparagus pedals the blood glucose by improving insulin emission and β-cell tasks in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes. (9)
The rise in 81% of glucose uptake by muscles and tissues contributes to lowering blood sugar. (10)
8. Helps in improving the vision
Half cup (90g) of asparagus contains 905 IU, 18% of the daily needs of vitamin A.
This high vitamin A content helps enhance eye health and prevent other vision-related issues like macular degeneration.
Half a cup (90g) of asparagus contains 1.3 mg/7% of daily vitamin E requirement helps in protecting your eyes from diseases like cataracts.
9. Helps in treating tuberculosis
Research conducted on “Chemical constituents of Asparagus” by J.S Negi, P. Singh, G.P Joshi, M.S Rawat, and V.K Bisht stated that the roots of asparagus plants can be used for the treatment of tuberculosis. (11)
10. improves bone health
Half a cup (90g) of asparagus contains 45.5 mcg/57% of daily value requirements of vitamin K intake and this adequate intake of vitamin K enhances calcium absorption contributing to bone health improvement. (1)
Can Dogs Eat Asparagus?
Numerous dogs love eating fruits and vegetables. But, all the foods that we consume won’t be suitable for all the dogs. So What about asparagus? can dogs eat asparagus?
Asparagus is an excellent vegetable packed full of vitamins and minerals. It is considered one of the most healthy vegetables for humans, but is it healthy for dogs?
Asparagus is non-toxic for humans as well as dogs. So it is safe for dogs too. But make sure you chop asparagus into small pieces and prepare in order to avoid swallowing difficulty while feeding your dogs with asparagus.
Since asparagus is tough, your dog might get difficulty digesting raw asparagus. So lightly cooking will soften the asparagus and ease in digesting. Instead of using cooking oil or butter, just boil or steam asparagus and feed your dog.
The final expression of alert about asparagus is about asparagus fern, the inedible part of the asparagus plant is harmful to dogs. In the event that you are growing asparagus in your nursery, you should set up a fence to ensure your dog can’t eat the harmful piece of the asparagus plant. Ingesting this piece of the plant can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and extreme stomach torment.
