Asparagus, its fleshy spears topped with bud-like compact heads, is often thought of as a luxury vegetable, prized for its succulent taste and tender texture. It is harvested in the spring when it is 6 to 8 inches tall. While the most common variety of asparagus is green in color, two other edible varieties are available. White asparagus, with its more delicate flavor and tender texture, is grown underground to inhibit its development of chlorophyll content, therefore creating its distinctive white coloring. It is generally found canned, although you may find it fresh in some select gourmet shops, and it is generally more expensive than the green variety since its production is more labor intensive. The other edible variety of asparagus is purple in color. It is much smaller than the green or white variety (usually just 2 to 3 inches tall) and features a fruitier flavor. It also provides benefits from phytonutrients called anthocyanins that give it its purple color. With prolonged cooking, the purple color may disappear.
Benefits
It is high in vitamin K and Folate
Eat asparagus when you are pregnant or thinking about conceiving -
because of it being high in folic acid it helps prevent birth defects such
as spina bifida
Great for your heart
Helps menstrual cramps with fertility problems
Great for your gastrointestinal tract and your colon
Helps menstrual cramps
Great food to help treat depression
Has been known to increase the success rate of chemo therapy
Is considered a diuretic which means it is a good anti-inflammatory -
best for arthritis, asthma rheumatism, and even water retention…PMS
Help get rid of warts
Helps detoxify your body
Add more asparagus to your diet to lover cholesterol
Great for nursing mothers stimulating milk production
Has antioxidant agents - prevents the effects of aging
Has antifungal and antiviral qualities
Great for your kidneys - cleansing your body by stimulating urination
and preventing kidney stones
Helps prevent bladder and urinary tract infections
Use to be used as an a aphrodisiac - increase sexual and comforting
feelings
Helps with treating HIV
Helps prevent multiple sclerosis
Helps prevent scurvy
Asparagus has anti-cancer agents - especially lung cancer
Helps fight chronic fatigue syndrome
Helps fight off high blood pressure
If you bruise easily - eat more asparagus
Is considered a laxative - eat an asparagus if you have diarrhea and
constipation
Great for your capillaries - eat more asparagus to avoid varicose veins
Great for your eyes preventing cataracts
If you are experiencing hair loss- eat more asparagus
