Do You Eat Asparagus?

While I am not a big fan of asparagus, I make and eat it.

Why?

When my son was younger, he came from a visit with my parents and asked me why we didn’t eat asparagus.

He had it when he visited my parents and liked it.

I realized then that because I grew up NOT liking it, I chose not to make it as an adult.

I didn’t actively choose not to make it; I didn’t think much about it.

After that, I started including asparagus in meals and finding ways to make it so I may eat it.

Roasting is good, and I do live to wrap it in prosciutto and roast them. I also have a dish I make in which I cut them into one-two-inch pieces and toss them as gnocchi with other ingredients.

I most often get the asparagus from the bi-weekly harvest box from my local farmer, though sometimes I will get it at the grocery store.

So, what is the big deal with asparagus? Why should we eat it? And what about that “smell” that comes along the next day that reminds you that you had asparagus yesterday?

Nutrients in Asparagus

According to FoodData Central, 100 grams (about ¾ cup) of raw asparagus has:

20 calories
2.2 grams of protein
2.1 grams of fiber (and 3.9 grams of total carbohydrates)
2.1 mg of iron
202 mg of potassium,
52 mcg folate
449 mcg beta-carotene
710 mcg lutein + zeaxanthin
41 mcg vitamin K

So, it has a variety of vitamins and minerals, some phytochemicals that help with eye health, fiber, some protein, and very low calorie—the profile of various vegetables.

Why Should We Eat It?

Why not? If you are like me and didn’t like it as a kid, or have not had it, give it another try.

Like with all vegetables, eating them benefits our health.

You may see the following claims relate to asparagus:

First, it has anti-cancer properties – which it probably does, but lots of vegetables do; asparagus isn’t a standout food in this area.

Help with digestive health – however, virtually any food with fiber will do that.

Promote weight loss – an excellent way to get someone’s attention, but there is nothing special about asparagus over other vegetables.

Eat it because it is a vegetable that can provide variety to your diet.

Adding prosciutto or cheese or other things doesn’t mean asparagus isn’t still good; it just means there is added fat and protein in the mix.

Whether you can smell the asparagus aftermath is influenced by your DNA.

Asparagus Urine

I have always heard about this but have never smelled it – the distinct asparagus urine.

After eating asparagus, some people notice an unfamiliar odor in their urine. And according to 23andMe, whether you can smell the asparagus aftermath is influenced by your DNA

When I logged into the 23andMe website and my genetics report, it suggested that my genetics make me likely to smell the asparagus odor in my urine and that 66% of people can smell it, while 34% cannot.

Even though my genetics suggest I can smell it, I cannot. Or maybe I can, but I don’t have the genetic variant to produce that distinct smell.

So here is the question: does everyone produce that distinct smell? Some research suggests that some people may be unable to smell anything, not because they can’t smell it but because they don’t produce that smell.

Trust me; I am not following people around the day after they eat asparagus to see if I can smell it.

The bottom line is that while you may be able to smell it, not everyone knows that smell.

What is your favorite way to enjoy asparagus?