Friday, January 25, 2008

Asparagus for folic acid!


Asparagus has been prized for its delicate taste and nutritional benefits for nearly 2000 years. It has the highest folic acid content of any vegetable, making it a perfect food during pregnancy. It is also a natural diuretic, laxative, and may promote cardiovascular health.
Asparagus is a member of the lily family and related to onions and garlic. The tender spears that we eat grow from an underground crown, which can take up to three years to develop enough to produce shoots; but once it begins, the crown can continue to produce spears for up to 20 years.
The ancient Greeks and Romans believed asparagus could relieve toothaches and bee stings, and while these medicinal benefits have proven false, asparagus can help prevent and relieve other health conditions. Asparagus contains key minerals and amino acids that act as a natural diuretic, which may help relieve PMS-related water retention, arthritis and rheumatism. Its high fiber content may help prevent and relieve constipation, and it contains a particular type of amino acid that helps to neutralize ammonia in the body, which can be toxic and cause fatigue. It also contains rutin, a bioflavonoid, which strengthens blood vessels and prevents their rupture, and is a good source of potassium which can help fight hypertension and quell exercise-related nausea by balancing electrolyte levels.
The high folic acid content in asparagus may play a key role in promoting cardiovascular health. Folic acid has been shown to decrease homocysteine levels in the blood and to improve endothelial function (blood flow) in blood vessels. Homocysteine is a naturally-occurring amino acid, elevated levels of which have been linked to coronary heart disease and stroke. Some scientists estimate that consuming 400 mcg of folate daily could reduce the number of heart attacks suffered by Americans each year by 10 percent.
The folic acid found in asparagus is also necessary for new cell formation and maintenance as well as DNA replication, which are especially important during periods of rapid cell division and growth such as pregnancy. Folic acid deficiency has been linked with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Some studies show that folic acid may also help prevent stroke, some cancers, and possibly Alzheimer's disease.
The inulin content of asparagus may also promote intestinal tract health. We are unable to digest inulin, a certain type of carbohydrate, but the beneficial bacteria in our intestine can, which causes more of these good bacteria to grow and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. The proliferation of these good bacteria can help you to digest food and fight off illness.
It takes only one cup (approximately 5.3 ounces) of asparagus to supply 66 percent of the daily recommended dose of folic acid, and it is also a great source of vitamins C, E and A, and vitamins B1, B2, B3 and B6, as well as dietary fiber, iron, manganese, copper, and phosphorous.

13 comments:

foods high in folic acid said...

This is my second visit to this blog. We are starting a new initiative in the same category as this blog. Your blog provided us with valuable information to work on. You have done a admirable job!

Cheers!
foods high in folic acid

Anonymous said...

view gucci bag sale to get new coupon

Anonymous said...

I'm gone to say to my little brother, that he should also pay a quick visit this webpage on regular basis to obtain updated from hottest news update.
Visit my website ... how to speed up your computer

Anonymous said...

Pretty! This has been an incredibly wonderful post.
Many thanks for providing this information.
My web blog : youtube.com

Anonymous said...

Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers?
My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing
months of hard work due to no data backup.
Do you have any methods to prevent hackers?
Also see my web site > how to download movies

Anonymous said...

Good blog post. I certainly appreciate this website. Continue the good work!
My site :: free iphone 5

Anonymous said...

You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation
but I find this topic to be actually something which I think I would never understand.
It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I'm looking forward for your next post, I'll
try to get the hang of it!
My homepage :: http://www.yourtobaccosstore.com/

Anonymous said...

Hi there i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere, when i read this post i thought i could also
make comment due to this brilliant paragraph.
my website: Real estate Antalya

Anonymous said...

Many gaming portals, forums, magazines and publications give away
free Xbox live codes for their readers. play and compete with different gamers
around the world. One and only thing superior to System is almost certainly Console
Take up residence, given it grants the opportunity to relax
and play along contacts -and complete unknown people to from the globally.



Visit my webpage :: msp codes

Anonymous said...

Nikki Montgomery is a fitness and beauty expert with about 7 years experience
in cellulite treatments. Later, the skin will
come into view smooth as lying down, but the dimpling will
appear when standing. The best way of dealing with cellulite
& stretch marks ( is by choosing a treatment option and sticking to it.


Look into my web page :: Get rid Of cellulite

Anonymous said...

The actual estate in Malta is now gradually commencing the
recovery along with the charges have changed marginally.
But many people don't know how to earn profits this way. This all depends on where you are thinking of investing.

Also visit my web site; hae vuokra-asuntoa

Anonymous said...

This paste will be applied directly to the skin tag 3 times a day until the skin tag falls off.
Once your mole is dry, cut a piece of duct tape three times the size
of the mole. Extended hair can cause your physique pimples to get worse if you do not wash it typically, and make confident that it is genuinely cleanse.


my blog post :: Mole Removal

Anonymous said...

s Director of Digital Marketing, Monica Valdez, was recently
interviewed for a blog article called "Should you Have an App for That. (pictured) is a multi-protocol app for file sharing on the Android operating system. The interface to Interpret is simple and easy to navigate.

Look at my website ... mobile ad network