Asparagus is a stalk-like vegetable that is harvested in the late spring and early summer. Although there are many ways you can prepare asparagus, most people agree that asparagus is best when it’s been steam cooked and served with a little butter.

Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that is grown in several different countries including the United States, Peru and France. The most popular variety of asparagus is the green and white asparagus. Before you start cooking your asparagus you should thoroughly wash it and make sure that it’s free of sand.

Whenever possible you should try to eat your asparagus while it’s fresh. After it’s been canned, asparagus loses half of its nutritional value.

Before you start eating asparagus you should prepare yourself to have strange smelling urine. One of the components in asparagus, methyl mercaptan, can cause your urine to smell like ammonia. Scientists don’t really understand why the human body reacts to the methyl mercaptan, but research indicates that half of the population will experience strongly scented urine.

A Natural Diuretic

Asparagus is an excellent diuretic. Eating large quantities of asparagus will help flush out your kidneys, keeping them free of kidney stones. Asparagus is an excellent way to make sure your bladder remains free of infection. Women who are menstruating report that they feel less bloated and retain less water after they’ve eaten a helping of asparagus.

Making Pregnancy Easier

Women who are planning on getting pregnant will want to eat a helping of asparagus every day. Asparagus has a very high level of folic acid. The folic acid will make it easier for the woman to conceive. Mothers who ate large amounts of asparagus were less likely to have a child with a birth defect. Continue to consume asparagus after the birth of the baby will help improve the new mother’s milk production.

Strengthening your Cardiovascular System

Eating asparagus will improve your cardiovascular system by strengthening your heart, improving your blood flow and hardening your capillaries. After eating asparagus some people noticed their varicose veins were less visible.

Fighting Cancer

Asparagus has anti-cancer agents that work to shrink tumors and increases the production of white blood cells. Patients that ate asparagus are more likely to complete rehab and enter remission than patients who didn’t eat asparagus.