Until recently, asparagus and dishes from it in our kitchen were not in special demand. However, with close acquaintance, it turned out that young shoots have great health benefits, especially for women. This issue is covered in detail by this article.
What is asparagus
Asparagus or asparagus, the Latin botanical name, is a perennial. The culture is grown as a vegetable plant, young shoots are suitable for food. Rhizome is powerful, branched, with many processes. The stems are straight or slightly curved, with a smooth surface, grow up to one and a half meters.
The foliage is replaced by a tenon-shaped cladode, arranged alternately, pressed against the stem. The length of thin filiform plates is from 1 cm to 3 cm.
Aspargus blooms in May with bisexual flowers. Funnel-shaped inflorescences, cream-colored, male flowers 5 mm in size, female flowers 2–2.5 mm. Long flowering. Orange-red small berries ripen in August.
Did you know? In one of the most ancient gourmet authorship books from the Roman Empire Apitsia, there are several recipes for making asparagus. The vegetable was considered a delicacy in ancient Rome.
Calorie content and chemical composition
Asparagus contains many minerals and vitamins. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are present in small amounts. In addition, shoots and roots contain organic acids, saponins, coumarins. For a detailed review of the composition and nutritional value of the product, the table below.
The table shows the values as a percentage of the daily norm in 100 g of the product.
| The nutritional value | Vitamins | Minerals |
| Proteins - 2.5 | K, phylloquinone - 34.7 | Silicon - 326.7 |
| Fats - 0.2 | C, ascorbic acid - 22.2 | Copper - 18.9 |
| Carbohydrates - 1.5 | E, tocopherol - 13.3 | Cobalt - 17 |
| Fiber - 7.5 | B9, folates - 13 | Iodine - 10 |
| Water - 3.9 | Beta Carotene - 10 | Manganese - 7.9 |
| Calories - 1.2 | A, retinol - 9.2 | Potassium - 7.8 |
| PP, nicotinic acid - 7 | Phosphorus - 7.8 | |
| B1, thiamine - 6.7 | Magnesium - 5 | |
| B2, riboflavin - 5.6 | Iron - 5 |
What is useful asparagus for the female body
A green plant has many beneficial properties for the body. Regular use of the vegetable strengthens the immune system, saturating the body with vitamins and minerals. Thanks to iodine, the function of the endocrine system improves, accordingly, the hormonal background is regulated. The plant is able to normalize blood pressure, support the work of the myocardium, and also increase the elasticity of blood vessels.
With a diuretic effect, asparagus removes salts from the body by regulating the water-salt balance. This property will be appreciated by patients with chronic kidney and liver diseases.
In shops on the shelves you can sometimes find the so-called Chinese asparagus. Keep in mind that it has nothing to do with asparagus
During pregnancy
Asparagus contains almost all the vitamins and minerals necessary for the development of the fetus. The complex of substances supports the health and external beauty of the expectant mother. Folic acid is especially important for the formation of a healthy nervous system in a child. Without a sufficient amount of it, fetal pathologies and the development of anemia in the mother are possible.
Minerals and vitamins in the composition of the plant will restore the imbalance of the substances of the mother's body, since it spends its own reserves on the formation of the fetus. Often the condition of the skin, hair worsens in pregnant women, the nails are flaked, so it is important for the expectant mother to replenish the supply of beauty vitamins - A, C, E. Women are tormented by edema and constipation, asparagus resists both problems because it has a diuretic and mild laxative effect.
Breastfeeding
In the postpartum period, the body experiences a breakdown, lack of nutrients, its immunity is weakened. Regular consumption of asparagus in food will help restore strength and quickly return to normal. A low-calorie product will also allow a woman to quickly restore the weight and proportions of the figure, without depriving her of proteins and carbohydrates necessary for energy production. The vegetable will contribute to the normalization of the hormonal background, prevents postpartum depression.
Together with the mother’s milk, the baby will also receive beneficial substances. There is an important point: the shoots contain sulfur compounds that can cause flatulence in the baby, change the taste of milk, so you need to consume the vegetable in moderation, it is best to consult a pediatrician.
Doctors believe that nursing mothers should be wary of using asparagus, since the product is extremely active on the body.
Introduce asparagus into the diet of a nursing mother gradually, in small doses, and observe the reaction of the baby. With the slightest negative effects, it is better to refuse the product, perhaps the child is allergic.
Important! A nursing woman can eat only a fresh product after heat treatment. Canned asparagus can harm the baby’s immature digestive system.
When losing weight
A vegetable rich in fiber and protein is nonetheless low-calorie, which makes it possible to saturate the body with the necessary energy, to satisfy the feeling of hunger without the risk of gaining weight.
Due to the high content of dietary fiber, asparagus is recommended for obesity, constipation, indigestion, chills
Thanks to dietary fiber, gastric secretion improves, digestion processes are accelerated, undigested food lumps are excreted. Shoots rich in minerals and vitamins accelerate the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins, contribute to their breakdown and assimilation. The diuretic effect removes excess fluid and salts from the body, which also affect the amount of body fat.
Plant application
Asparagus is used in various industries, except for cooking, the product is used as a remedy in traditional medicine. Green shoots are no less in demand in home cosmetology.
In cooking
For preparation, young shoots are taken about 20 cm long, not reaching the surface of the soil. It is believed that stems that are exposed to the sun for a long time lose some of their beneficial properties and taste.
Boiled asparagus is universal in application, it is used as:
- salad ingredient;
- garnish for meat, fish, seafood;
- component of soup, scrambled eggs, casseroles.
The taste of boiled shoots can be compared with the taste of young green peas. For the winter shoots canned, frozen and dried in the oven.
Important! Asparagus is not served with hot spicy sauces and dressings, as they interrupt the delicate taste of greens.
In cosmetology
At home, for cosmetic procedures, apply juice, broth or infusion and the flesh of the shoots.
Rubbing the skin with fresh juice shows a rejuvenating and firming facial contour effect. Infusion or decoction helps to get rid of acne, inflammation and copious excretion of subcutaneous fat.
With its help, you can get rid of acne, dysentery, cystitis and even epilepsy.
Vegetable pulp, mashed into gruel, is used to prepare masks. Depending on the added ingredients, masks can exhibit this effect:
- supply;
- moisturizing;
- anti-aging;
- lifting effect;
- bleaching.
In folk medicine
Asparagus as a preventive, therapeutic and dietary product is used for many diseases associated with the cardiovascular, digestive, nervous system and problems of the musculoskeletal system.
Did you know? Asparagus lovers were many famous personalities, such as Louis XIV, Marcel Proust, Thomas Jefferson, and Leo Tolstoy mentioned asparagus in his novels, endowing his characters with love for the product.
Especially distinguish its useful properties for such ailments:
- Pancreatitis - the plant improves the production of gastric juice, speeds up digestion, has a protective effect on the gastric mucosa. Regular use helps to eliminate toxins, breakdown products of drugs and other harmful elements. Shoots are useful for intestinal function, improving its motility.
- Gout - caused by metabolic disorders, deposition in the bone and cartilage tissues, on the walls of blood vessels of metal salts and urea. In both folk and official medicine, asparagus preparations are prepared to remove these substances from the body. A green vegetable improves metabolic processes, breaks down accumulations of oxalic acid, thereby relieving pain.
- Diabetes - The therapeutic effect is manifested in the normalization of blood glucose levels, the elimination of bad cholesterol, and the improvement of insulin production. Diabetes is often accompanied by concomitant diseases: decreased vision, vitamin deficiency, anemia. The plant benefits - in its composition, rich in substances that reduce the risk of these ailments, strengthen the immune system of a diabetic.
Possible contraindications and harm
Despite the obvious benefits, the plant has a number of warnings and contraindications for use. The vegetable is contraindicated in case of urolithiasis, since it can cause the movement of stones, which will create a strong pain syndrome. The diuretic effect of the shoots is not desirable in the presence of cystitis and prostatitis.
- Given the large amount of dietary fiber, caution should be used in acute forms of the following ailments:
- gastritis;
- pancreatitis
- cholecystitis;
- ulcer.
Asparagus is a tasty and healthy product, saturated with vitamins and minerals necessary for women's health and beauty. Remember that a fresh vegetable is many times more useful than drugs created on its basis.
