Do you enjoy fresh asparagus?  I do!  And now is the time to be eating it!  Right now it is widely available in my local community.  I have a friend who brings me fresh asparagus every week.  Yummy!

Why is it good for us?

1. Rich in protein- 1 cup of asparagus is only 24 calories but half of the calories are derived from protein.
2. Excellent source of folic acid- 263 micrograms/cup.  The optimum daily intake is 400-1200mcg.  Folic acid is beneficial in a variety of body process but one of its most important roles is that folic acid works closely with Vitamin B12 in the production of genetic material.  This is why the folic acid levels of pregnant women is closely monitored.
3. High in many vitamins- excellent source of Vitamins C, A, K, B6, B2(riboflavin) and B1(thiamin)- all of these needed to maintain a healthy nervous system.
4. Good source of dietary fiber– as well as niacin, phosphorus, potassium and iron
5. Historically used to treat arthritis and rheumatism– According to  ‘The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods’ by Michael Murray N.D., ‘asparagus has unique phytochemical antioxidants as well as inhibitors of the COX-2 enzyme, which produces inflammatory compounds.  Ultimately, this means that asparagus can benefit those with arthritis.  Yay!

Of course there are those who are not fond of asparagus because their urine has a strong odour soon after eating asparagus.  Well this is just an indication of how well it works as a diuretic.  Another yay!

I enjoy finely chopped asparagus added to my salads and also marinated in a balsamic vinaigrette with olive oil.

Here is a different recipe to try…Asparagus Guacamole

Thanks for reading!  If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe and join me on Facebook and Twitter.