health benefits of asparagus

The temperatures are on the rise, flowers are in bloom and farmer’s markets are stocked full of this season’s finest. If you look, you will find asparagus most dominantly known in its green variety, but also available in white and purple, stocked on the shelves. This nutrient dense vegetable is only available in the produce aisle of your local supermarket from February to June, with its peak harvest in April, when the price for these gems may come down a bit.

Why all the hype about asparagus?

Asparagus is an ancient food that is a member of the lily family. Its name is Latin, as the Romans took the plant from the ancient Greeks and cultivated it. The plant takes several years to mature, and as a perennial can last up to twenty years producing its nutritious and tasty fruit. During the fall of the Roman Empire, the Arabs introduced asparagus to the Spaniards, Assyrians and Egyptians, and by the mid 15^th century the plant arrived in France, and a century later in England.