Green Series - Part 3 Asparagus

In this part of the series I will be looking closely at the ASPARAGUS!As a kid, asparagus always stuck out to be one of the not so nice tasting of vegetables, which did put me off for some time! But as soon as my knowledge of nutrition evolved and I opened my eyes to the importance of good diet, I found numerous health benefits associated with it. There are many reasons why ASPARAGUS is one of the most beneficial vegetables available to us, and hopefully I’ll show you the reasons in this article.The health benefits are endless and it’s packed with vital nutrients essential to maintain a healthy body.Asparagus is shown to be an effective detoxifying vegetable as it is high in Potassium, Vitamin C and fibre (Fibre plays an important role in cleansing the digestive system), keeping your body free from toxins.Folate is another nutrient found in plentiful amounts (just 8 spears contain nearly half of your recommended daily amount), a vitamin which has numerous health benefits to us. Below are just some of the advantages of folate;- It has anti-cancer properties- Can help reduce pain and inflammation- Helps reduce the risk of heart disease- Can help keep your cardio-vascular system functioning properly- Can also help regulate blood sugar by metabolising sugar and starch (along with other B Vitamins –Pantothenic Acid and Choline (part of the complex B vitamin group)It also contains a number of other important vitamins which include; Vitamins A, B, E, and K (Vitamin K has shown to help prevent osteoporosis and osteoarthritis) in relatively large amounts.As well as an abundance of vitamins, it is also packed with good amounts of essential minerals. Minerals, which include calcium, iron, potassium, copper, manganese and selenium.Some of the nutrients mentioned can help towards fight inflammation, which in-turn can help to protect against illnesses such as asthma, cancer, arthritis and even some auto-immune illnesses.If you’re not convinced that you should include this in your diet yet, there’s more!!!Asparagus contains virtually NO fat, NO cholesterol and only 8mg of sodium. Although it has virtually no fat, it has been found to contain bountiful quantities of omega 3 fatty acids. At only around 25 calories per 8 spears, it is a perfect vegetable for people on a calorie restricted diet!Something I would add is that asparagus is one of the BEST natural diuretics. The amino acid asparagine helps to release fluids and flushes the body of salt and other toxins. So if your dieting down for a show or putting the finishing touches towards getting the perfect body, make sure you have asparagus on your plate!!Quick Dish – My recipe for asparagus is simple, yet beautiful. I find asparagus compliments red meat very well, so here’s my quick dish;- 8oz Fillet Steak (or steak of choice)- Ground Black Pepper- 2 Cloves of Crushed Garlic- 8 Asparagus Spears- Garlic Infused Extra Virgin Olive OilSimply fry the steak to your liking, and flavour with garlic and pepper. On a separate griddle pan, heat to a high temperature and dry griddle the spears of asparagus. It’s a very quick and easy way to enjoy asparagus and can be cooked up within 10 minutes!!