7 scientifically proven health benefits of asparagus

Asparagus (asparagus) is a popular herb that is distinguished by its exquisite taste and aroma. It can be of various colors (white, pink, green, purple) and is widespread in cooking, folk and evidence-based medicine. It is consumed raw, as well as in roasts, pastas and other dishes. For the first time, the plant began to grow in ancient Greece.

Asparagus is a source of valuable nutrients (especially folate, vitamin K, iron, fiber) that determine its health benefits.

According to scientists, regular intake of asparagus reduces blood pressure and the risk of developing malignant tumors, maintains the health of the cardiovascular and endocrine systems, and contributes to the normal course of pregnancy.

Agrotechnology for growing asparagus

There are 100 known plant varieties, each with differences in taste and appearance. The most popular is common asparagus. It just grows and tastes good. One bush bears fruit for up to 20 years and each root throws out up to 50 shoots that can be eaten. In addition to them, the plant produces inedible fruits in the form of red berries.

An adult asparagus (asparagus is also called) reaches a height of 1.5 meters and is absolutely not afraid of Russian frosts, which adds to its popularity.

Edible parts contain a lot of nutrients such as iron, calcium, ascorbic acid, copper, phosphorus, sodium, beta-carotene and other trace elements in trace amounts. All of these vitamins are indisputably important for the life of the human body.

Like other crops, asparagus is grown in two ways: planting in the ground and sowing for seedlings. For those who want to try growing a royal vegetable for the first time, planting in the ground is recommended. This approach makes maintenance easier. It is important to use high-quality planting material, to purchase it from a trusted supplier. You can ask an experienced gardener for advice.

Seeding for seedlings is complex and labor-intensive. They say that such vegetables have a stable immune system, they easily endure cold weather and other climatic adversities. When starting to grow asparagus, it should be remembered that the crop will first appear on the table only after 3-4 years. After adaptation, the vegetable does not require special care, so many gardeners are happy to plant it on their plots.

Harvesting

The first food shoots appear on asparagus only in the fourth year of life. And it is necessary to break them out only when they begin to lift the crust of the soil. As a rule, harvesting begins in May, and if the spring is early, then from the first ten days of April.

The first food shoots appear on asparagus only in the fourth year of life.

Carefully rake the ground where the cracks have appeared, and, having found a seedling, cut it off at the base, being careful not to damage the young shoots and rhizomes. It is necessary to cut off all the seedlings: this will only contribute to the growth of new ones. The holes formed after cutting must be covered with earth again.

In the first year of fruiting, harvesting should not be extended for more than a month, so as not to weaken the young rhizomes once again. Collecting seedlings from old plants should be completed by the end of June.The warmer it gets outside, the faster the asparagus begins to grow. But as soon as its shoots appear on the surface of the earth, they lose their taste, turning into a dark pink or purple color. To prevent this, harvest twice a day: early in the morning and late afternoon. At a temperature of about + 15 ° C, you need to collect asparagus every 2-3 days.

In the first year of fruiting, harvesting should not be extended for more than a month, so as not to weaken the young rhizomes once again.

If you use beautiful openwork green asparagus to arrange bouquets, do not cut all branches from one bush: this can be detrimental to the plant. Collect the seeds only when the berries acquire a deep red color.

Growing asparagus from seeds

The process can be accelerated a little by pre-preparing the seeds. They are soaked in warm water for 7 days. The fluid is changed daily. Before planting, it is advisable to rinse the seed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Spread the processed and swollen seeds on a damp cloth and wait for sprouts. With the appearance of greens up to 1-3 mm in height, the culture is transferred to a box or separate containers.

The plant rises for a long time after planting, do not worry prematurely. The first shoots may appear 3-6 weeks after sowing.

Sowing seeds

Growing from seeds is considered difficult due to poor germination, but this is a misconception. With proper preparation, asparagus sprouts well and difficulties are extremely rare.

In the second half of April, a land mixture for sowing is made by mixing the following components: peat, manure, sand and earth in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 2. At the same time, they begin to prepare seeds (the technology is described above).

The prepared material is placed in a box in rows. The distance between the holes is preferably 5-10 cm. Water is not poured into the hole, pre-soaked and germinated seeds are laid out and covered with earth. From above, the area is sprayed with a spray bottle and covered with film or glass, creating a greenhouse effect. This is not necessary, but it helps the plants to hatch and grow stronger faster. It is necessary to moisten the soil with crops regularly. The cover is removed with the appearance of the first shoots. It is important that the air temperature is kept at +26 ° С.

Description

Medicinal asparagus is a perennial plant of the Liliaceae family that has medicinal properties.
It has a powerful rhizome and erect stems up to one and a half meters high.

The stems are widely covered with small leaves, in the axils of which the so-called cladodia are formed - an accumulation of filamentous twigs.

Asparagus blooms at the end of spring. Flowering continues until the end of summer.

Asparagus flowers grow in pairs, held together in the axils of the pedicels. They have a pale greenish color.

Fruits are spherical berries that acquire a red color when ripe. Asparagus ripens in September.

You can look at the photo of Asparagus officinalis below:

Other common types of Asparagus on our website: Sprenger, Crescent, Feathery, Meyer.

How to dive correctly

Picking asparagus is necessary in case of sowing in a box or other seedling container. When planting germinated seeds in the ground, the procedure is not required.

If the plants have grown, they are often transferred to the garden bed or into a large container when they reach 10-15 cm in height. Each bush should be 10 cm apart from the other. When transplanting, the asparagus roots are slightly pruned, as they grow strongly below the soil surface.

A few days after the pick, the vegetable is fed with a universal mineral fertilizer. A week later, preparations begin for planting in the ground. Asparagus is hardened by taking it outside for a short time, gradually increasing its exposure to air.

Plant application

Asparagus is used in various industries, except for cooking, the product is used as a remedy in folk medicine. Green shoots are no less in demand in home cosmetology.

In cooking

For cooking, take young shoots about 20 cm long, which have not come to 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 use, it is used as:

• salad ingredient;
• garnish for meat, fish, seafood;
• component of soup, omelet, casserole.

The taste of boiled shoots can be compared to the taste of young green peas. For the winter, the shoots are canned, frozen and dried in the oven.

Important! Asparagus is not served with hot spicy sauces and dressings, as they overpower the delicate flavor of the herbs.

In cosmetology

At home, for cosmetic procedures, juice, decoction or infusion and the pulp of the shoots are used.

Rubbing the skin with fresh juice has a rejuvenating and lifting effect on the face. An infusion or decoction helps to get rid of acne, inflammation and abundant secretion of subcutaneous fat.

It can help you get rid of acne, dysentery, cystitis and even epilepsy.

Vegetable pulp, crushed into gruel, is used to prepare masks. Depending on the ingredients added, masks can have the following 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 heroes with love for the product.

Its beneficial properties are especially distinguished for such ailments:

1. Pancreatitis - the plant improves the production of gastric juice, accelerates digestion, shows a protective effect on the gastric mucosa. Regular use helps to eliminate toxins, breakdown products of drugs and other harmful elements. Shoots are good for bowel function by improving intestinal motility.

   

2. Gout - caused by metabolic disorders, deposition in bone and cartilaginous tissues, on the walls of blood vessels of metal salts and urea. Both in folk and in official medicine, preparations are made from asparagus to remove these substances from the body. A green vegetable improves metabolic processes, breaks down oxalic acid accumulations, thereby relieving pain.

   

3. Diabetes - The therapeutic effect is manifested in the normalization of blood glucose levels, the elimination of harmful cholesterol, and the improvement of insulin production. Diabetes is often accompanied by concomitant diseases: decreased vision, vitamin deficiency, anemia. The benefits of the plant are in its composition, rich in substances that reduce the risk of these ailments, and strengthen the immunity of a diabetic.

   

Planting asparagus outdoors

When growing asparagus outdoors, you need to find a suitable location. The vegetable is photophilous, so sunny areas protected from wind and drafts are perfect. It is important to take into account the sensitivity of the plant roots to overflow, therefore, the culture is slightly raised above the bed, leaving indentations in the aisles. Asparagus does well against walls or fences.

Outdoor planting involves a number of preparatory work that must be done in advance.

The soil is dug up, cleared of weeds, debris, small stones. The selected area is fertilized with organic matter at the rate of 50 kg of humus per square meter.

Landing dates

Prepared seedlings or seeds are planted at the same time.Planting is carried out in spring or autumn on a prepared fertilized area, well warmed up by the sun. The vegetable is planted in May or September, at the choice of the gardener, there is no fundamental difference. The main thing is that the earth is warm enough.

Open ground planting technology

Planting seeds or seedlings in the ground is practically the same. The only difference is that the already grown bushes will not need to be planted, dived and performed other work on the care of young shoots described above. The method of cultivation has little effect on the growth and development of the culture; in any case, it will take at least 3 years to expect the first harvest.

Regardless of the method, the distances between the plants are large. When planting with seeds, the material is not deeply buried (1-2 cm) and greenhouse conditions are created by covering the crops with a film and lightly sprinkling with water.

Seedlings are planted according to the seasons with slight differences.

Spring planting

When planting in May, preparatory work should be done in advance and the plants should be transferred to the ground before the start of bud growth. Since the roots of asparagus grow strongly, they dig a hole 30 cm deep, and the root system of the plants is carefully laid in it in length. The distance between the bushes should be at least 0.5 meters. The row spacing is left on average up to 30 cm, but if there are free areas, a little more can be done so that the roots do not get confused. After planting, the culture is watered abundantly and sprinkled with dry earth on top so that a crust does not form.

Autumn planting

Differences from the spring are only in the choice of fertilizers for the soil and the depth of rooting. To feed the soil, a mixture of superphosphate, potassium sulfate and ammonium sulfate is used in a ratio of 1: 1/2: 1/3 per square meter of the planting area. Chemicals are introduced, thoroughly dug up and loosened the earth.

Landing before winter is more superficial. The distances between the rows and plants are identical, but it is not worth deepening by 30 cm, 10-15 cm will be enough. Above the asparagus, a hill is created that will protect it in frosts.

How is it useful - 7 theses

Below are the top 7 health benefits of asparagus, with links to scientific studies.

Rich composition

Asparagus is low in calories (about 22 calories per 100 grams) and contains the following nutrients (per 100 grams of plant):

It also contains small amounts of iron, zinc and riboflavin (vitamin B2).

It is important to note that asparagus is a rich source of vitamin K and folate.

1. Vitamin K regulates blood clotting, controls bone metabolism and supports cardiac activity.
2. Folic acid is responsible for metabolism in general, reduces the risk of neural tube malformations in the fetus.

Asparagus is a low-calorie product containing many valuable vitamins and minerals that are necessary for the body to function properly.

Antioxidant action

Asparagus, like most other vegetables, is rich in antioxidants - special substances that protect the cells of the body from the negative effects of free radicals and oxidative stress.

According to American experts, oxidative stress is the leading cause of aging, since it causes damage to the structures of the DNA of mitochondria - cellular "energy stations".

Also, this process causes a number of chronic diseases from the central nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine and other systems, and also several times increases the likelihood of malignant cell transformation.

Asparagus is a rich source of antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, flavonoids, polyphenols, glutathione).

The most valuable flavonoids are quercetin, isohamnetin and kaempferol. These compounds inhibit chronic inflammation in the body, slow down free radical mechanisms and inhibit oxidative stress. A decrease in the incidence of oncological and cardiovascular diseases was noted in individuals who regularly consume vegetables (in particular, asparagus).

Asparagus, due to the presence of antioxidant substances in the composition, inhibits free radical mechanisms and reduces the risk of developing chronic and malignant diseases.

Improving the health of the gastrointestinal tract

Asparagus is rich in dietary fiber. The abundance of fiber in the diet has a positive effect on stool frequency and consistency. It also prevents constipation.

According to foreign studies, dietary fiber improves the condition of the intestinal microflora. Fiber is a prebiotic - food for friendly microorganisms, which stimulates their growth and reproduction, reduces the number of pathogenic forms. An increase in the number of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli is noted.

Adequate intestinal microbiocenosis has a positive effect on the state of the whole organism. For example, beneficial microorganisms living in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract synthesize vitamins B12 and K2, which stimulate the immune system and reduce the likelihood of developing infectious and inflammatory diseases. This is the conclusion reached by experts from Argentina.

Vitamin K2 also regulates blood clotting, reducing the risk of bleeding with liver failure or a poor diet.

In individuals whose diet is rich in fiber, inflammatory and malignant bowel diseases are much less likely to be recorded. The anti-cancer effect is due to the ability of friendly bacteria to synthesize butyrate, which interacts directly with the epithelial cells of the colon and rectum, protecting them from any damage.

The use of asparagus contributes to the normal functioning of the digestive system and ensures the prevention of a number of pathologies, the risk of which is high in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Prevention of pregnancy complications

Asparagus contains high amounts of folic acid (vitamin B9), which supports the work of red bone marrow, regulates the synthesis of red blood cells, as well as any regenerative processes in the human body.

According to scientists from Hungary, folic acid also prevents neural tube defects in the fetus.

Neural tube defects are an extremely serious problem, which, although rare (1 case per 1000 pregnancies), leads to dangerous complications: learning difficulties, loss of control over pelvic functions, impaired formation of muscle tissue in the child's body.

Vitamin B9 is especially important for women in the early stages of pregnancy, when the future tissues and organs of the fetus are laid.

Asparagus has a high content of folic acid, which prevents the appearance of neural tube defects in the fetus and increases the adaptive potential of the mother's body.

Lower blood pressure

Hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases, in which the level of systolic and diastolic blood pressure rises. The problem affects about 1.3 billion people worldwide.

Studies show that asparagus, due to the presence of potassium, can lower blood pressure.

According to scientists from the United States, the positive effect is associated with two main mechanisms: relaxation of the smooth muscles of arterial vessels with a subsequent decrease in total peripheral resistance and the elimination of sodium chloride through the urinary system.

Experiments on rats show that a diet rich in asparagus results in a 17% decrease in systolic blood pressure and 14% in diastolic blood pressure.

It is recommended to use asparagus not only to alleviate the course of hypertension, but also to prevent its development with a burdened history (the presence of this disease in close relatives) or an unfavorable somatic background (the presence of obesity, heart disease, gout, etc.).

Asparagus contains potassium, which, by relaxing the vascular muscles, lowers blood pressure.

Weight loss aid

To date, there have been no studies examining the direct effect of asparagus on body weight. However, the plant has a number of features that allow it to be used to correct body weight:

1. Low energy value. The calorie content of asparagus is quite low, therefore, the plant can be consumed in almost any quantity.
2. High water content. Asparagus is approximately 94% water. The works of specialists from Germany show that the use of low-calorie plant foods rich in water leads to weight loss due to body fat.
3. Satisfaction of hunger. Asparagus is rich in fiber, which, after entering the stomach, increases in volume and inhibits the activity of hunger centers in the brain. As a result, the person consumes less food over the next few hours.

Thus, eating asparagus can help you lose weight or maintain body weight.

Depression prevention

According to scientists from the United States, folic acid can significantly reduce the risk of depression and other emotional disorders.

The action is associated with a decrease in the formation of homocysteine, a biologically active substance that reduces the delivery of blood and oxygen to the brain tissues.

An excess of homocysteine ​​in the brain can also negatively affect the synthesis of a number of hormones (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine) that regulate appetite, mood, and Ri.

Asparagus consumption is associated with a low incidence of depressive disorders.

Outdoor asparagus care

For any plant, care includes components such as suitable soil, proper watering and timely fertilization. Knowing the preferences of a particular species, gardeners get a rich harvest with minimal effort. Asparagus is an unpretentious vegetable that is resistant to frost.

Priming

The culture is saturated with vitamins and substances useful to humans, therefore, the soil for planting must be appropriate, nutritious sandy loam type.

For spring planting, a plot is prepared in the fall. Having cleared the area from dry plants and grasses, a deep digging is carried out, immersing the shovel 0.5 meters. At the same time, fertilizers and compost with a volume of 15-20 kg per square meter are introduced into the ground. Of the chemicals, 70 g of superphosphate and 40 g of potassium sulfate are used for the same area. As soon as the snow melts, the earth is harrowed and 60 g of ash and 20 g of ammonium nitrate are added.

Watering

Asparagus should be watered frequently immediately after planting, during the adaptation period. For 2 weeks the plant is moisturized often and abundantly, gradually reducing the amount of moisture. After making sure that the asparagus has begun, watering is reduced to once a week. In dry periods, irrigation is carried out daily. The soil in the area where the vegetable is planted should always be slightly damp. By neglecting this recommendation, you can get fibrous shoots with a bitter taste.

Fertilizer

If the planting of asparagus was carried out without preliminary preparation of the site, then after the first weeding, you need to add nutrients. To do this, mix the slurry with water in a ratio of 1: 6. A little later, after about 3 weeks, the bushes are fed with a solution of bird droppings and water in a ratio of 1:10.Before preparing for wintering, the plant is fertilized for the last time using a ready-made mineral complex.

If the land was prepared in advance, then in the first year after planting, top dressing is not needed.

Forcing asparagus in winter

In the cold, vitamins and greens are especially strong. A healthy vegetable like asparagus will come in handy in early spring or winter. There is a method of growing a plant in a greenhouse. To do this, in the fall, the roots of adult plants (5-6 years old) are dug up and placed in a cool place, for example, in a cellar. The temperature should be kept at around +2 ° С.

In the first days of winter, the roots are planted in a greenhouse, rather closely, up to 20 bushes per square meter. The bed is sprinkled with humus and covered with a film. The temperature is maintained up to +10 ° С, and after about a week it is raised again to +18 ° С. The entire period of ripening is maintained at a constant temperature.

Plants are watered often, but little by little. Immediately after irrigation, the topsoil around the trunk is loosened.

Weight loss benefits

The slimming benefits of asparagus are also obvious. Due to the low calorie content, the vegetable can be consumed by absolutely all people, if it is not contraindicated for them. And regular use of asparagus can reduce weight in those people who want to lose extra pounds. It can be eaten fresh in salads or made into simple dishes. Slimming Asparagus Salad Recipe:

• 0.5 kg of shoots;
• 1 tbsp. l. chopped parsley;
• 3 tbsp. l. vegetable oil;
• 1 lemon.

Cut the asparagus into small pieces, put in salted water and boil. Mix oil and lemon juice, add a little sugar, pour over asparagus. Add chopped parsley, mix everything.

You can also eat asparagus with other vegetables, canning for further cooking, and make soups. To do this, you need to take only fresh shoots, smooth, with a glossy skin, not withered leaves. Asparagus is not stored for long - about 1 week in the refrigerator, then it largely loses its beneficial properties.

Diseases and pests of asparagus

Asparagus is a robust plant with good immunity. It is rarely exposed to diseases, and with proper prevention, pests bypass it. Sometimes there are problems for novice gardeners, we will consider them in detail.

It's important to know

Due to its cleansing properties, asparagus is indispensable for those who are losing weight and diets to cleanse the body: it will help remove accumulated toxins, accelerate metabolism due to the rapid removal of fluid from the body, and at the same time, due to its low calorie content, it will not create extra pounds.

In addition, after eating at least one asparagus sprout, you may notice a slight change in the smell of body secretions. This is due to the presence of some sulfur compounds in asparagus, similar to those found in onions and garlic, as well as the breakdown of the aspartic amino acid. Do not be afraid of this - the smell will return to normal within a few hours..

Therefore, before introducing asparagus into your diet, it is necessary to weigh all the pros and cons, determine the possible consequences, and conduct an allergic reaction test.This is the only way to really get the benefits of asparagus for the body, and not just pleasure from the delicate gourmet taste.

Contraindications

Asparagus is such a harmless plant that it has practically no contraindications. You should not include asparagus in your diet if you have:

• cystitis;
• individual intolerance;
• exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases such as stomach and duodenal ulcers;
• prostatitis;
• articular rheumatism.

Asparagus contains compounds that can alter the odor of urine and other bodily secretions. Scientists explained this phenomenon by the presence in some people of genes that are responsible for the presence or absence of enzymes that break down these odorous substances.

Also do not forget the fact that in some supermarkets you can find the so-called "Korean" asparagus. In fact, this is only a name and this plant has nothing to do with asparagus.