It really feels like Spring today in Colorado. It's just lovely! A bit warm with a lingering bite in the air. And our local stores have asparagus on sale. I imagine that yours probably does, as well! I know spring has arrived when the asparagus hits the market.
The first time I saw a picture of asparagus growing, I thought it was a joke. It literally looks like someone just shoved a bunch of spears in the dirt:
It's also one of the only perennial vegetables. It grows back every year! It becomes quite the diva showy plant after it's harvest-able season:
Asparagus typically yields no harvest it's first year.
Here are some fun facts about asparagus:
- Per one-half cup serving, asparagus has the highest content of folate of any vegetable.
- Ancient and medieval medicinal practices used crushed asparagus tips to reduce swelling and alleviate pains associated with bee stings, wounds and infections.
- In proper conditions, asparagus can grow as much as one inch per hour.
- Early English and Dutch colonists brought asparagus to
North America.
Nutrition Facts:
It looks like a wonderful source of:
-Vitamin A: Vitamin A helps form and maintain healthy skin, teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucus membranes, and skin.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation. Vitamin C is important for your skin, bones, and connective tissue. It promotes healing and helps the body absorb iron.
- Vitamin B6: The body needs vitamin B6 for more than 100 enzyme reactions involved in metabolism. Vitamin B6 is also involved in brain development during pregnancy and infancy as well as immune function.
Favorite Recipes:
Please share yours! Do you like asparagus?
Asparagus, Fantastic, Asparagus!
