You see asparagus in competitor diets for several reasons: it's a mild diuretic, low in calories (24 calories per cup or raw), and provides some electrolyte balance since you sweat your tail off hours a day with cardio!
Runner's World sent an email today with even more information about asparagus...things I didn't even know. I'm definitely putting it into my post-surgery menu. Now to just teach Chris how to bake it for me. Hmmmm...does this guy look like a cook?
From Runner's World...
GOOD: As a side dish
One cup of asparagus spears supplies 115 percent of your Daily Value for vitamin K, which is vital for bone health, and 65 percent of your Daily Value for folate, a B vitamin that promotes healthy blood cells and helps prevent birth defects.
GET IT: Steam asparagus spears for about five minutes, or until tender. Drizzle with olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon.
BETTER: In a salad
Many runners--especially those who avoid meat--don't get enough iron; that's because nonmeat sources of the mineral, such as vegetables and grains, are not as readily absorbed. But eating foods high in vitamin C, like asparagus, increases iron absorption from nonmeat foods.
GET IT: Add raw asparagus tips to a salad of spinach, arugula, and radicchio to get the most benefit from the iron in the greens.
GREAT: With your dinner
Asparagus is loaded not only with folate but also vitamin B6. When combined with vitamin B12, this trio works together to lower circulating levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that wreaks havoc on artery walls, leading to heart disease.
GET IT: Stir-fry one-inch pieces of chicken or lean beef, which are high in vitamin B12, with 1 1/2-inch pieces of asparagus spears. Serve over brown rice for additional B vitamins.
I also like to to take fresh asparagus and stir fry in PAM a little bit but keep a lot of the crunchiness. I then dip it in spicy brown mustard and add salt to it. Yummy!
It's in my new recipe Mammy's Shrimp and Penne Pasta...it's Yummo!
Posted by: Mammy (Corinne's Mom) | June 18, 2009 at 04:43 AM
Someone emailed me a question best asked here...
"Asparagus makes my urine very smelly. I'm worried. Is that normal or does it happen to everyone."
It's NORMAL. Mine smells pretty ripe when I eat it. Everyone I know has this issue.
http://www.wisegeek.com/why-does-asparagus-make-some-peoples-urine-smell-funny.htm - this article is really good.
Posted by: Corinne | June 18, 2009 at 07:28 AM
That pic of Chris is FABULOUS!!!! ;) Both Matt & I love grilled asparagus(just sprinkled with some dried herbs) and it gets just a little singed on the tips and is YUMMY. Ditto with the "after effects," but it's well worth it.
Posted by: Maggie | June 18, 2009 at 01:18 PM
I love asparagus. I do the same just put in a pan, maybe some garlic and steam it but I still like it crunchy. It really helps me with my swelling too.
Posted by: Kathleen | June 19, 2009 at 05:50 AM