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What Is Asparagus Good For?

Cultivated mostly for its tender shoots, the asparagus is a vegetable known for its benefits to the everyday diet because of its valuable qualities. It is virtually fat free, very low in calories and bursting with important vitamins and minerals. Asparagus is a great vegetable to incorporate into the diet, not only because of its array of required nutrients for your health, but also because it is proven to reduce a range of medical conditions.

  1. Folic Acid in Asparagus

    • Asparagus supplies a very large amount of the recommended daily allowance of folic acid. The folic acid provided through asparagus can help fight infections and boost iron absorption during pregnancy. The folic acid provided by asparagus is required for blood cell formation and is proven in the prevention of health defects, such as spina bifida, a disease that can cause paralysis or even death in babies.

    Vitamins and Nutrients

    • High levels of vitamins and nutrients in asparagus make it an extremely good choice for all diets. Some of the vitamins it contains help to maintain the immune system in the human body as well as look after the blood and skin. Asparagus contains a very small amount of sodium, which also helps in maintaining the heart function and blood pressure levels.

    Diet

    • Asparagus is known to be very low in cholesterol and contains no fat. Asparagus contains a high level of fiber, which is used in our bodies to keep the digestive tract functioning at the effective levels. Fiber helps to control body absorption, and the fiber found in asparagus can therefore help the body feel fuller for much longer, assisting in weight loss.

    Anticancer Benefits

    • Many studies have proven that asparagus, which contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients, can reduce the risk of certain cancers. Research shows glutathione, which is also found in asparagus, may contain anticarcinogen, thought to change the activity of cancerous cell types and act as a natural defense against cancer. So far the testing to prove asparagus can reduce some cancers is ongoing and this has not been concluded.

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