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Recipes with Asparagus: Tofu Coconut Curry with Asparagus & Basil
In early spring, your body starts to crave snappy and refreshing textures like fresh asparagus and bitter greens. As the heaviness of winter gives way to the lightening of springtime, you may crave fresh spring greens and simple foods. Is there any vegetable that trumpets the arrival of spring more than asparagus? The tender new shoots are full of phytonutrients and chlorophyll, restoring vitality after a long winter of heartier root vegetables lacking in freshness.
The first sign of asparagus at the farmers' market brings cheers of delight, as well as a competitive rush to bag the treasured stalks. It's a clear signal that spring has finally come. The bright green spears are an equal favorite at Passover and Easter tables, evoking memories of celebration and unfurling spring flowers. True asparagus fanatics far and wide can make a pilgrimage in late spring to Stockton, California for the annual Asparagus Festival. See you there!
Detoxifies Your Blood
Asparagus purifies your blood by sending toxins out through your urinary tract. You may notice that after eating asparagus you need to make an extra trip to the bathroom. On these trips, you might have noticed that asparagus even makes your pee smell funny. Asparagine, an aptly named substance in asparagus produces an acetone smell in the urine after eating. Asparagus' high content of saponins and potassium are responsible for its diuretic properties. Kapha constitutions will benefit from asparagus' drying effect, while it can be too drying for vata in large quantities. Dry, deficient vata should especially avoid asparagus during the dry months of August to October.
Reduces Puffiness in Your Skin
Are you waking up in the morning feeling puffy? Asparagus for dinner is like a facelift in the morning. This spring time vegetable directly helps your body remove water retention, relieving you from the discomfort of awaking in the morning with puffy eyes, hands and feet. It's diuretic action directly eliminates puffiness and water weight, while astringency serves to tone blood vessels and tighten the skin. Asparagus' blood purifying properties are useful for purging any remnants of spring congestion from the lymphatic system.
Soothes Inflammation
When you cook asparagus (even without adding oil) it becomes slightly slippery and slimy like licorice or oatmeal. This demulcent quality serves to coat and soothe mucus membranes of the digestive and urinary tracts, causing asparagus to act as a balm for inflammation. Its cold astringency adds to this soothing effect. If you notice a little burning sensation when you pee, have some asparagus and see what happens!
Your Spring Appetite
It's okay to eat lighter foods in early spring, as the body gets its energy by metabolizing the winter fats that kept you warm during long, cold months. If you observe the seasons in your diet, you will notice that springtime's harvest matches the desire for bright, light greens. Your body's craving for asparagus in early spring is an impulse that should be honored. Weekend warriors rejoice; the defiant, ambitious spears build your strength and inspire your vitality, while remaining very easy to digest.
Recipes with Asparagus: Cream of Asparagus Soup with Thyme & Mushrooms
Green, White and Purple Varietals
Be daring in your selection of asparagus. Green is where it begins, but you can also find white and purple varieties. Abundant green asparagus are rich in a variety of minerals and vitamins, namely potassium, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B, folic acid, beta carotene. Equally nutrient rich purple varieties tend to be thicker and less stringy. When cooked they offer a slightly sweeter flavor with a hint of nuttiness. Appearing alien or albino, stark white asparagus have actually never seen the sun! These plants are covered with soil and kept from receiving sunlight. Therefore they lack chlorophyll and never turn green. They have somewhat less nutritional value than green and purple varieties because they are lacking phytonutrients called anthocynanins.
About Asparagus
Asparagus has a delicate flavor and texture making it an ideal vegetable for gourmet cuisine!
Buying & Preparation
Be daring in your selection of asparagus. Green is where it begins, but you can also find white and purple varieties. Abundant green asparagus are rich in a variety of minerals and vitamins, namely potassium, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B, folic acid, beta carotene. Equally nutrient rich purple varieties tend to be thicker and less stringy. When cooked they offer a slightly sweeter flavor with a hint of nuttiness.
Appearing alien or albino, stark white asparagus have actually never seen the sun! These plants are covered with soil and kept from receiving sunlight. Therefore they lack chlorophyll and never turn green. They have somewhat less nutritional value than green and purple varieties because they are lacking phytonutrients called anthocynanins.
Asparagus tips rot may rot before the rest of the staulk. Always guage freshness of asparagus by looking at the tip first. Check for sliminess or bad smell.
Note: Wild asparagus grows in North America. For those of you extra interested in asparagus, see the book "Stalking the Wild Asparagus." The base of the asapargus is stringy and fibrous. Break off these woody tips with your hand. The asparagus will naturally break at the point where it's edible.
Cooking Asparagus
I love asparagus when it's crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. I usually broil them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme or rosemary. Other options grilling, sauteing, steaming, and frying. They are also lovely in soups!
Fast & Easy
Asparagus is an excellent treat for those on the go, since it is so easy and cooks quickly. "As quick as cooking asparagus," is an ancient Roman saying for something that can be done quickly. Take advantage of the ease of asparagus to ensure your body gets all the vegetables it needs each day.
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AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT
Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances.
With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you.
Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature.
By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health.
See How it Works.
Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics
(gunas).
Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance.
By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick.
Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold).
You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.
Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food.
Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body.
Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food.
Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods.
Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion.
Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste.
One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes.
The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent.
Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?
Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types
(doshas),
are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia.
They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature.
Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.
Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.
Hot and oily with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body. Vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.
Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.
Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Asparagus
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary.
The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.
Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.
An herb that tonifies and strengthens the urinary system. These can be helpful for urinary incontinence or improving function after a urinary tract infection. They can also strengthen the bladder to ward off a urinary tract infection.
STRONG RUTIN
Rutin is a flavonoid with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Commonly used to treat conditions such as varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and high blood pressure.
Asparagus may be beneficial for these symptoms.
The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual.
Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.
We will use this information to better predict food that helps you.
CONTRAINDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS
Asparagus may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms.
Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications.
Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.
Herb Drug Interaction Risk
Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Asparagus. Please see your health care provider for more information.
Diuretic: Diuretics may clear pharmaceutical drugs more quickly, lowering the effect. Avoid if taking water pills or pharmaceutical diuretics.
Hypotensive: Herbs that lower blood pressure can magnify the effect of blood pressure reducing pharmaceuticals.
View other ingredients for Summer
Asparagus is recommended for Summer. Check out these other Summer foods here.
Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when
right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in
Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire
reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once
you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a
healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda.
His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful.
John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda,
offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.
John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy,
& botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
His wife and family of 7 kids live in Asheville, NC.
“I have a question regarding "FODMAPS" (Fermentable Oligo-Di-Monosaccharides and Polyols), since asparagus is supposed to be included in this list: Are vatas the most prone to having issues with these food substances? Thanks!"
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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.
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