With asparagus season well underway, it’s only fitting to examine the health benefits of this vibrant green vegetable.
Try to incorporate asparagus into your weekly menu plan until the season ends in March for added nutrition and flavour.
- Fibre: one serving of asparagus contains 7% of your daily fibre needs. With only 16 calories per serving (1 serving is approximately 75g) and no cholesterol, this is a healthy way to add more fibre to your diet.
- Blood pressure: asparagus has a high potassium content and contains minimal sodium, making it great for maintaining healthy blood pressure.
- Vitamin C: asparagus is rich in vitamin C, providing 25% of your daily requirement.
- Folate: folates help create new cells and repair DNA. A single serving of asparagus contains more than 20% of the daily folate needs.
- Gut health: asparagus contains a high amount of inulin, a prebiotic important for growing healthy bacteria that prevents infection in the gut.
- Bio-active compounds: containing a strong variety of bio-active compounds, including antioxidants beta-carotene and rutin, asparagus protects the body from disease and promotes good health throughout the ageing process.
Smart Tip: You can keep asparagus for up to eight months when frozen. Cook your asparagus for one minute in boiling water, cool and freeze in sealed freezer bags.
Try our favourite asparagus recipes:
Cauliflower Pizza with Zucchini Flowers, Asparagus & Caramelised Onion
Shaved Asparagus Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette