Unique-tasting, asparagus contains many nutrients with known functions in and benefits on the human body.

China and Peru are the world’s largest producers and exporters of asparagus. Asparagus is a flowering perennial plant belonging to the Asparagaceae family. Only 20 of the 300 varieties of asparagus are edible. Asparagus has been used as a vegetable and medicine as early as 3000 BC in Egypt. 

Asparagus reduces inflammation in the body and prevents cancer

Asparagus has been used to treat problems involving inflammation, such as arthritis and rheumatism, assist with inflammation of the urinary tract and may also be useful for nerve pain and swelling (neuritis).

Asparagus has a truly unique combination of anti-inflammatory nutrients such as flavonoids: quercetin, rutin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin. Asparagus is also rich in saponins compounds including: asparanin A, sarsasapogenin, protodioscin, and diosgenin. Sarsasapogenin is being researched for its potential benefits for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” Inflammation maybe responsible for the death of motor neurons in ALS. 

Inflammation is often associated with the development of all disease, including cancer. It causes changes in cells that lead to tumor development and progression. This means that reducing inflammation is ideal to maintain cellular health.

According to the World’s Healthiest Foods web site, “asparagus and asparagus extracts can change the metabolic activity of cancer cell types, and these changes are protective in nature and related to better regulation of inflammation and oxidative stress.”

In fact, the non-profit George Mateljian Foundation says:
“We would describe asparagus cancer research as preliminary, and not yet validated by large-scale studies involving humans and dietary intake. But the trends in animal studies and cell studies are clear – asparagus and asparagus extracts can change the metabolic activity of cancer cell types, and these changes are protective in nature and related to better regulation of inflammation and oxidative stress. Cancer cells from the liver are best studied in this regard.”

Fortunately, asparagus ranks low in pesticide levels that means  you can buy conventionally produced asparagus without worry.