The Truth About Asparagus

 

There is a quote by Acharya Jeevaka (ancient Ayurveda physician) “NASTI MOOLAM ANAUSHDHAM”, which literally means “There is no plant which is not medicine”.
As we look around, we always find something interesting in nature and nature always gives us more than we expect.

Asparagus plant is one of them more with nutrient, more with taste, more with happiness, to fight with lots of diseases.

COMMON NAMES (INTERNATIONAL)

FRENCH :ASPERGE
ARABIC :HILYAWN
SPANISH :ESPARRAGO, ESPARRAGUERA
PORTUESE :ESPARGO
GERMANY :SPARGEL
JAPAN :ORANDA-KIJI-KAKUSHI
HUNGARY :SPARGA
SWEDEN :SPARRIS
INDIA : SHATAVARI
SPAIN :ESPARRAGOTRIGUERO
GREEK : SPROUT OR SHOOT

The english word “asparagus” is derived from classical latin, but the plant was once known in english as sperage from the medieval latinsparagus.

This term itself is derived from the greekasparagos& the greek originated from persianasparag meaning “ sprout” or “shoot”.

Family name :Liliaceae
Part use : Young shoot, seeds, root.

Types of Asparagus : White and Purple

 

What is white asparagus ?

In Germany white asparagus is celebrated with festival from April to June.

White asparagus is exactly like green asparagus just without chlorophyll (the green in plant that helps regenerate oxygen in the photosynthesis process). This is mild and slightly bitter than green variety.

White cooked asparagus contain double amount of vitamin C and about half of vitamin A .

What is purple asparagus?

Purple asparagus was developed in Italy and it is just as uncommon in America as white spears are.
Purple variety is bit nuttier and sweeter because it has 20 % more sugar in its stalk.

While the stalks are purple outside, the inner part is same as green variety.

Purple asparagus contain anthocyanins, which are antioxidant.

Chemical compound : Asparagus are with essential oil, asparagine, arginine, tyrosine, flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin and rutin), resin, and tannin.

 

Uses of Asparagus

Green Asparagus is rich in antioxidant such as vitamin E, vitamin B, vitamin C, polyphenols that help neutralize free radicals that cause damage to cells.

Asparagus is also rich in vitamin K (which plays a role in blood clotting), folate (needed to sustain a healthy pregnancy), and an amino acid called asparagine (essential to normal brain development).it also has the more fibers of the color.

Medical professionals use asparagus to cure the following diseases.

• Anxiety
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Joint pain
• High blood pressure
• Kidney stone
• Liver disease
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Metabolic syndrome
• Constipation
• Skin wrinkles
• Urinary tract infection
• Pulmonary embolism
• Stress
• Chronic fatigue syndrome

Asparagus Festival

May is called national asparagus month.
In California about 90% of the fresh market of asparagus.
In Germany also during the April -June this is the time of asparagus festival.

Does your urine smell after eating asparagus?

Asparagus contains a Sulphurus compound called mercaptan( which is also found in rotten eggs, onion, and garlic). When your digestive system breaks down mercaptan, by-products are released that cause the strange smell.

Is any part of asparagus toxic?

Like the rhubarb, the part of asparagus plant that we love-the young stem are perfectly safe to eat. Nut the asparagus hides a deceptive, nasty secret ; its fruits , which are bright red berries, are toxic to humans.

Interaction with lithium

Because of its diuretic effect, asparagus extract may reduce the concentration of lithium in the blood and with it the drug’s effectiveness.

On the other side, asparagus extract may enhance the effect of diuretics such as Lasix (frusemide), causing excessive urination and side effect.

Some interesting recipes of asparagus

Asparagus soup:

Asparagus salad:

Another Asparagus salad:

Grilled asparagus:

 

Asparagus with other vegetables:

Thank you for all my readers I hope you will enjoy this asparagus with lot of new taste that I have added in this short article.

Since I was looking at market for this fresh asparagus, I wanted to get it to know better and also the difference between Ayurvedic plant shatavari (asparagus racemose) and this one ( asparagus officinalis).

Enjoy this asparagus reading and soon will come with the shatavari (the medicinal asparagus ).

Written By…