livelife365: asparagus

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

I Smell Asparagus!

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I mention asparagus? For me, it’s not how much I enjoy those tasty green (or white) spears, though I can think of few other vegetables that I like as much as asparagus. Does your mind automatically go through the long list of all the health benefits associated with a diet filled with asparagus? Probably not. The first thing that comes to my mind, besides the guilt associated with my inability to add adequate amounts of asparagus to my already veggie-loaded plate, is the, er, um, ahem…smell. That’s right, the odor wafting up from the, ahh, you know, toilet…that aromatic red flag nudging my nostrils reminding me that, yes, I remember now, I had asparagus for dinner.

Could it be that funky stench is the reason why asparagus, while highly regarded in some cultures, is not as popular as it should be? Perhaps, like that pungent bulb of flavor, garlic, it is eschewed rather than embraced due to a particular lingering aftereffect of the somewhat smelly kind? Well, I’d like to change all that, melt away those stinky misconceptions and celebrate this wonderfully tasty and surprisingly nutritionally robust vegetable.

ASPARAGUS FUN FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW (THAT DO NOT EMIT A FUNKY ODOR)

* asparagus is a member of the lily family
* plants are usually not harvested for the first three years
* after harvesting, the spears grow into ferns which produce red berries
* a spear can grow up to ten inches in 24 hours
* the larger diameter spears are considered better quality
* California produces the most asparagus in the United States (over 70%)
* asparagus is one of the most nutritionally balanced veggies

Now, what about that smell? Do you know why your urine has a distinct odor after consuming asparagus? Before I get into that, let’s look at the nutritional benefits of asparagus first.

A 5 OUNCE SERVING OF ASPARAGUS:

* is an excellent source of folacin (folic acid)
* is a good source of fiber and potassium
* is a significant source of thiamin and vitamin B6
* is rich in rutin (a bioflavinoid)
* has no fat or cholesterol
* is very low in calories

While I did not produce a video about the wonders of asparagus, I do have one of me eating just about everything else:

MIKEY LIKES IT!

Every spring the asparagus is celebrated at a huge festival a few miles south of where I live. The Stockton Asparagus Festival is one of the most popular food fests on the west coast. While enjoying all things asparagus, you can munch on asparaburritos, asparagus salsa and nachos, and for dessert, asparaberry shortcake. Can you imagine what those port-a-johns smell like?

And speaking of that smell. First off, not all of us are affected (or afflicted) with that unique odor during urination after consuming asparagus, though I don’t know too many people who are not. One theory has to do with enzymes and how the amino acids in this veggie break down…blahblahblah. Here is a more thorough scientific explanation.

Anymore questions? No? Good. I say ignore the smell and consume massive quantities of this delicious and nutrient-rich vegetable as often as possible. I know I’m going to.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike