Asparagus is a premium vegetable originating from Europe, imported to Vietnam. Therefore, it is dubbed the “emperor’s vegetable.” This vegetable is favored by many for its nutritious qualities and unique taste.
The crunchy and sweet vegetable that acts as a “medicine” for lowering blood pressure, effectively controlling blood sugar, strengthening bones, and is very beneficial for men
- Benefits of Asparagus
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Stimulates urination
- Prevents and supports the treatment of respiratory diseases
- Improves intestinal and digestive health
- Supports safe weight loss
- Fights aging and beautifies skin
- Prevents osteoporosis
- Enhances libido
- Prevents cancer
- Anti-inflammatory
- Controls blood sugar
- Lowers blood pressure
- People who should not eat asparagus
Asparagus is a vegetable that originated in the Mediterranean over 2,000 years ago and has gradually become popular worldwide for its delicious flavor, crisp texture, and slightly bitter taste. Currently, in Vietnam, asparagus is cultivated in several provinces such as Ninh Thuan, Nam Dinh, and Phu Tho. This vegetable is often prepared in various ways such as stir-frying, grilling, or used in soups and salads.
Asparagus differs from local bamboo shoots in that it is not a root but a shoot. When consumed, asparagus has a fragrant taste, with a feeling of crispness and a sweet bitterness, making it delicious whether used in soups, stir-fried, boiled, steamed, or grilled, distinctly different from other vegetables.
Asparagus offers numerous health benefits, containing essential nutrients for the body such as vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, folate, iron, potassium, copper, calcium, protein, and is particularly rich in antioxidants. Below are the scientifically proven health benefits of asparagus.
Benefits of Asparagus
Asparagus has many health benefits:
Improves Cardiovascular Health
Asparagus has a fragrant taste, a crisp texture, and a sweet bitterness…
Asparagus is very high in fiber, potassium, and folate, which can help reduce bad cholesterol in the blood and stabilize blood pressure. This also minimizes the risk of cardiovascular diseases or strokes.
Stimulates Urination
In many herbal remedies, asparagus is used as a natural diuretic. Those suffering from weak kidneys, urinary retention, or painful urination will find that regular consumption helps improve their urination flow.
Prevents and Supports Treatment of Respiratory Diseases
There is a traditional remedy that suggests those suffering from coughs or sore throats should brew asparagus roots and drink daily. The brew from the roots has natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Thus, it positively contributes to preventing and supporting the treatment of respiratory-related diseases.
Improves Intestinal and Digestive Health
The intestinal microbiota thrives thanks to the inulin found in asparagus, promoting digestion and helping food break down and move easily through the intestines and out of the body.
A common benefit of asparagus in beauty is safe weight loss.
Supports Safe Weight Loss
One of the common benefits of asparagus in beauty is safe weight loss. It is rich in fiber but low in saturated fats. Therefore, it is an ideal food to include in the diet of those wishing to lose weight. This food helps achieve weight loss safely with minimal side effects.
Fights Aging and Beautifies Skin
Glutathione present in asparagus has antioxidant properties, protecting the skin from the harmful effects of UV rays, helping improve sun-damaged skin and aging due to age. Among the three types of asparagus, purple asparagus exhibits this effect more clearly. You can incorporate asparagus into your meals instead of relying on medications or supplements.
Prevents Osteoporosis
Asparagus is a rich source of vitamin K, which helps speed up the blood clotting process while strengthening bone health.
Enhances Libido
Asparagus also regulates menstrual cycles and alleviates pain during menstruation.
The vitamins E, A, C, and B6 in asparagus stimulate sexual desire in women and play an important role in producing testosterone. Additionally, asparagus helps regulate menstrual cycles and reduce pain during menstruation.
Asparagus is considered a miraculous herb for men. This vegetable is rich in essential nutrients for the body and is regarded as a valuable natural aphrodisiac.
Prevents Cancer
The glutathione in asparagus is very beneficial for cancer treatment and prevention. According to the American National Cancer Institute, asparagus provides a higher level of glutathione than any other food. It helps inhibit the development of free radicals that cause cancer in the body.
Anti-inflammatory
Asparagus is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, helping to protect the body against the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Asparagus is effective in treating bladder inflammation, preventing kidney and gallstones… it contains antioxidant compounds, and purple asparagus has more antioxidant compounds than other colors…
Controls Blood Sugar
Asparagus has a glycemic index of 15, which does not cause a spike in blood sugar levels after consumption. Asparagus contains trace minerals that help enhance the activity of insulin—the hormone that metabolizes carbohydrates and glucose in the body, keeping blood sugar levels stable.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that eating asparagus could help control type 2 diabetes. Consuming high-fiber foods like asparagus is an excellent way to manage blood sugar levels, fitting well into the diets of diabetic patients.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Potassium in asparagus helps lower blood pressure, eliminates excess sodium, benefiting your cardiovascular system by reducing stress on blood vessel walls, thus preventing heart disease and strokes.
People Who Should Not Eat Asparagus
1. People with Edema
Individuals experiencing edema due to heart or kidney disorders should avoid asparagus dishes, as this water-rich vegetable may worsen their condition. This group should consult a doctor before consumption.
Patients with high blood pressure need to be cautious when consuming asparagus.
2. People Taking Antihypertensive Medication
Asparagus is a food that can regulate blood pressure and reduce risks associated with hypertension. However, patients with high blood pressure who are currently taking antihypertensive medication need to be cautious when consuming asparagus, as it may react with the medication, causing a sudden drop in blood pressure that could be harmful.
3. Gout Patients
To lower uric acid, patients often need to limit purine intake. However, asparagus is a food that contains a relatively high amount of purines (over 150mg/100g of food), so to avoid exacerbating gout or causing severe joint pain, patients should refrain from consuming it.
4. Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women
Asparagus is not safe to use in conjunction with medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In fact, asparagus extract has been used to control fertility as it affects hormone levels.
