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Asparagus originates from The Mediterranean, and the Southern and Northern areas of Africa, with Egypt possibly being the first to cultivate asparagus, where it was valued for it’s medicinal properties.
Roman emperors kept an “Asparagus Fleet” of boats for collecting this prized delicacy.
Today China is the world’s largest producer of asparagus, with Peru, United States, Mexico and Mediterranean countries being the other main producers.
Asparagus and smelly pee was first researched in 1820, and the French novelist Marcel Prost famously remarked that asparagus "transforms my chamber-pot into a flask of perfume".
Health Benefits of Asparagus
- Calories
Asparagus is low in calories and carbohydrates, and relatively high in protein.
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- Dietary Fiber
Asparagus is an excellent source of potassium, and a good source of dietary fiber.
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- Kidneys
A study of Asparagus-P, a traditional herbal medicinal product consisting of a combination of asparagus roots and parsley concluded that Asparagus-P supports kidney function.
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- Antioxidants
Research of anthocyanins from purple asparagus has proved their high antioxidant activities.
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- Diabetes
Research at the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, has demonstrated that asparagus stimulates insulin secretion, which may provide new opportunities for the treatment of diabetes.
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- Arthritis
At the University of Illinois at Chicago, the constituents of asparagus were evaluated for inhibitory activity against cyclooxygenase-2, an enzyme that catalyzes the production of prostaglandins, which are responsible for promoting inflammation. When cyclooxygenase-2 activity is blocked, inflammation is reduced. This may be the reason that asparagus is beneficial for the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism.
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- Diuretic
Asparagus has a diuretic effect, and asparagine, an amino acid present in asparagus may be the source of its diuretic properties, and when excreted, gives urine a strong odor. In another study at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Birmingham in the UK, the pungent urinary odor produced by certain individuals within a few hours of eating asparagus has been shown to be due to a combination of up to six sulphur-containing alkyl compounds identified as methanethiol, dimethyl sulphide, dimethyl disulphide, bis-(methylthio)methane, dimethyl sulphoxide and dimethyl sulphone.
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- Urine
In yet another study, it was determined that everyone’s urine has an odor after ingesting asparagus, and that not everybody has the ability to smell it.
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Nutrient Values of Asparagus per 100g
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Energy Value
94kj
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Sugars
1.30g
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Dietary Fiber
2.0g
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Sodium
14mg
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Zinc
0.60mg
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Potassium
224mg
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Magnesium
14mg
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Copper
0.165mg
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Calcium
23mg
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Vitamin C
7.7mg
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Vitamin E
1.50mg
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Vit. B3 (Niacin)
1.084mg
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Vitamin B6
0.079mg
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Vit. B1 (Thiamin)
0.162mg
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Vit. B2 (Riboflavin)
0.139mg
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References:
The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods by Michael Murray, Joseph Pizzorno, and Lara Pizzorno.
Benders' Dictionary of Nutrition and Food Technology.
USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.
PubMed: PMID18236449
PubMed: PMID18406435
PubMed: PMID1508062
PubMed: PMID3433805
PubMed: PMID3433805
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