“In some cultures, Asparagus is believed to have an Aphrodisiac effect…”

The ASPARAGUS plant is a perennial and a member of the lily family and related to the onion, garlic, leek, turnip and gladioli.

The spears we buy for eating are actually the shoots from an underground crown.  It can take about 3 years for the crowns to develop and begin to produce the shoots, but the crowns can then produce for up to 20-30 years.

The history of the asparagus dates back about 2000 years and is a said to be a native plant to the Eastern Mediterranean region.  The name comes from the Greek word asparagos meaning “sprout” or shoot”.  The asparagus gained popularity in France and England in the 16th Century and was called the “Food of Kings”.  Roman Emperors were so fond of it they kept a special asparagus fleet for the purpose of fetching it.

Asparagus is grown throughout the world and is grown in most states of Australia.  Australian Asparagus has been highly regarded on world markets for more than 20 years.

You can purchase different coloured varieties of asparagus.  The most common are white, green and purple.  The white variety is grown covered in mounds of soil so that the stalks grow underground.  They still grow at the same rate as uncovered stalks. When the tip breaks the soil’s surface, the farmer then probes underground with a special knife to cut the stalk, which is all white.  It is the sunlight that turns the stalks green, as sunlight develops chlorophyll, so this is why they are grown covered in soil.  As white asparagus lack chlorophyll, it has a milder taste than the green variety.

The purple variety originated in Italy and is coloured by a pigment called anthocyanin. The purple variety produces larger spears, but fewer numbers per plant.  It is much sweeter and tender than the green asparagus, which makes it a great addition to salads.

In some cultures the asparagus is believed to have an aphrodisiac effect, due to its shape.  It is used in Traditional Ayurvedic Medicine to increase circulation in the genito-urinary system.  It is also used to cool fevers, increase mother’s milk and relieve menstrual cramps.  Traditional Chinese herbalists believe the stalks increase compassion and love (hence genito-urinary as mentioned above).

Asparagus is the leading provider among the vegetable world of folic acid.  It is also a good source of Beta-Carotene, Vitamins B, C, E and K, potassium, zinc, iodine, copper, magnesium and contains no fat or cholesterol.  It also contains large levels of Glutathione, a high powered anti-oxidant and an important weapon in the fight against free radicals.  Asparagus also contains rutin which helps protect blood vessels and the flavonoid quercetin which is a cancer-fighting anti-inflammatory. The inulin (a special kind of carbohydrate that we don’t digest, but the health-promoting friendly bacteria in our large intestine do) found in asparagus stimulates and increases the growth and activity of the friendly bacteria.

You may notice after eating asparagus you encounter a strong odour in your urine, which is harmless.  This comes from the amino acid Aspargine, a diuretic that helps dissolve uric and oxalic acids.

Consuming asparagus on a regular basis may assist in the following:

• Promotes cardio-vascular health
• Great for kidney and bladder health
• Assists in pre-pregnancy/pregnancy health with the high folate levels which is known to benefit the foetus’ nervous system
• May assist in treating arthritis, rheumatism
• May assist with PMS related water retention
• Great for boosting vitality

You can eat asparagus in a variety of ways. They can be consumed raw as an accompaniment to dips or sprinkled with lemon juice, steamed, roasted or stir-fried. So make asparagus a regular addition to your meals whether it is breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack time to help gain the excellent health properties they provide.

Until Next Time,

Dedicated to Improving Your Wellbeing, Committed To Helping You Achieve Abundance,