Properties and benefits of green asparagus, a vegetable with important virtues for health, and ideal in weight loss diets for its purifying qualities.
What is green asparagus and what are the differences from wild asparagus?
Also called black asparagus or bitter asparagus, it is a type of asparagus that grows in contact with sunlight. For this reason we find its exterior with its striking and characteristic green coloration, since chlorophyll develops in its external part. Tremendously rich in nutritional benefits and many health properties.
This is one of the main differences with white asparagus, since while green asparagus grow outdoors and come into direct contact with sunlight, white asparagus does not develop chlorophyll by not receiving light. Solar.
And what is chlorophyll? It basically consists of the pigment responsible for the green coloring of many vegetables and greens.
Although it is true that wild asparagus tend to be better known than green asparagus, and even habitually they tend to be confused and they come to think that both are synonyms and that they refer to the same food, the truth is that they are actually good different.
In fact, the difference is found in its way of cultivation. And it is that while wild asparagus are those that grow wild, green asparagus are cultivated asparagus that present precisely this color, this being one of its main characteristics.
Of course, both asparagus belong equally to the Asparagaceae family. Specifically, wild asparagus belongs to the Asparagus albus, Asparagus aphyllus or Aspaagus acutifolius species, while green asparagus is part of the Asparagus officinalis species.
What are the benefits of green asparagus?
The truth is that there are many benefits and properties that this class of asparagus offers us, although it is true that they have many of the qualities that other varieties give us, such as white asparagus or wild asparagus.
And what are those interesting benefits? Take good note:
- High nutritional content: Green asparagus provide ideal amounts of protein, fiber, vitamins (A, C, E, K, B1, B2, B3, B6 and B9), trace elements and minerals such as zinc or chromium.
- Unique purifying qualities: Like wild wheat, they have unique purifying and diuretic qualities, thanks to the fact that they are tremendously rich in water, and also contain asparagine, a compound that is eliminated in the urine and that favors the elimination of liquids.
- Excellent source of fiber: Green asparagus is rich in insoluble fiber, which has laxative qualities. For this reason they are useful in case of constipation, since they help to improve our intestinal transit.
- They help reduce cholesterol and triglycerides: Due to their fiber content, and also due to their cleansing qualities, green asparagus helps in a very positive way when it comes to reducing high levels of both cholesterol and triglycerides. In addition, it is also ideal in case of high blood pressure, by improving blood circulation.
- Ideal in pregnancy: As you surely know, folic acid or vitamin B9 is an essential nutrient in pregnancy. Since green asparagus provide good amounts of B9, they are an excellent option to add to a pregnant woman’s diet.
When is green asparagus season?
Although we can enjoy white asparagus practically throughout the year, especially and especially in the form of preserves, the truth is that in the season of green and wild asparagus it is also another of the differences that we find between these two foods that are usually very confused.
For example, while green asparagus can also be found on the market in any season of the year (regardless of whether it is spring, summer, autumn or winter), wild asparagus can only be found at the beginning of spring.
