10 Amazing Health Benefits of Eating Asparagus
Asparagus is a vegetable that has gotten a bad rap because it makes your pee smell terrible. This is about the only drawback to eating it, unless, of course, you don’t like the taste. It’s one of the healthiest and most amazing vegetables on the planet. It’s packed with nutritional value and there are plenty of good reasons why you should eat it. Here are 10 amazing health benefits of eating asparagus.
1. Asparagus is a natural mood booster
Asparagus contains the B vitamin Folate which is an essential nutrient that can help you to lessen the effects of depression and it can also lift your spirits and prevent irritability. Did you know that some physicians prescribe folate and vitamin B12 to people suffering from depression? Another nutrient that is found in Asparagus is tryptophan. This is an amino acid that has been shown to improve a person’s mood, so eat your asparagus and be happy.
2. It’s loaded with antioxidants
Antioxidants are found in asparagus in the form of anthocyanins, especially the purple variety. These deliver antioxidants to your body which help to ward off disease and illness. Antioxidants help to prevent the destruction of the cells in your body and they also help to promote a healthier immune system. They’ve even been known to unlock a cancer-fighting potential in your body. It’s best to cook asparagus to an al dente level of doneness. Steaming til it’s slightly firm but still cooked and softened slightly will help your body to extract the most benefits from the nutrients within. Overcooking can cause the vitamins to disperse into the water.
3. It’s good for dieters
Asparagus is a food that is very low calorie. It is a popular food that is recommended in weight loss programs because it contains a good amount of both insoluble and soluble fiber. Your body digests this fiber at a slower pace and the asparagus will help you to feel full for longer. In addition, a full cup of asparagus is only 32 calories.
4. Asparagus is packed with vitamin E
Roasting asparagus in a small amount of olive oil can make it a treat that will improve your health. The olive oil helps your body to absorb the vitamin E that is found in asparagus. Did you know that vitamin E is another type of antioxidant? It helps to destroy free radicals in the body that can lead to illness.
5. Asparagus can ease constipation
There is an additional benefit to a large amount of fiber that is found in asparagus. It not only promotes weight loss, but it can also ease the discomfort of constipation. Many of the most common laxatives use some form of fiber to help get things moving within your body. While it won’t cause diarrhea, it will stimulate your system to regain regularity of your bowels.
6. Asparagus is good for your urinary tract
If you tend to have urinary tract issues, asparagus may be a good choice for a natural solution. Asparagus is a natural diuretic and this means that it makes you pee more. It helps your body to flush out the excess amounts of salt and fluid through the process of urination. This can be helpful in the prevention of urinary tract infections.
7. Asparagus can help to stimulate the libido
Here’s a fun and interesting fact that many people don’t know about asparagus. It’s a natural vegetable based aphrodisiac. You can thank the folate and the vitamin B6 for boosting feelings of arousal. That’s not all. The vitamin E stimulates testosterone in men and estrogen in women which both happen to be sex hormones.
8. Asparagus is good for your digestive health
If you’re having an issue with bloating, asparagus truly can help. It’s really good for your digestive health because it not only full of fiber, it also contains prebiotics which are carbohydrates that are not able to be digested. This encourages the growth of healthy bacteria in your digestive tract, known as probiotics. It can help to reduce the amount of gas and bloat that you have and sometimes it will even reduce a bulging belly.
9. Asparagus can help with a hangover
If you’ partied a little too hard the night before, studies show that asparagus contains amino acids and minerals that can actually help ease a hangover. They do this by protecting cells in the liver from the toxins that are produced by alcohol.
10. Asparagus is good for pregnant women
Whether you’re already pregnant or you hope to become pregnant, asparagus contains nutrients that your body needs. Folic acid can help to lessen the chances of having a premature birth. You can get 22% of the daily recommended allowance of folic acid from a serving of asparagus.
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