Roasted Asparagus Tip!

Roasted Asparagus is one of our favorite veggies. If I don’t watch my plate, my daughter will sneak extra for herself!  My husband wants to eat his portion as well as everyone else’s and our son eats it right away….it is magical!

I break off the hard ends, drizzle a little avocado oil on them and sprinkle Trader Joe’s garlic salt. I stick them right on the top rack of the oven and broil at 500 for about 5 minutes. You have to watch them. I heard it said once, “You don’t actually cook asparagus-you just threaten to cook it.” ?  It really is the most simple meal.  We have roasted asparagus at least once a week, preferably two to three times per week.

There are some great vitamins in roasted asparagus, and if the kids like it, I’ll take it!  It is an excellent source of all kinds of vitamins and minerals.  I could try to explain them all to you, but I would rather have you hear it from the Nutritionist, Cheryl Forberg RD.  She is a New York Times best-selling author.  She is also the nutritionist for The Biggest Loser.  In an article “5 Powerful Health Benefits of Asparagus You Probably Didn’t Know”, she gives us a full breakdown of how great asparagus really is for us!

1. It’s loaded with nutrients: Asparagus is a very good source of fiber, folate, vitamins A, C, E and K, as well as chromium.  Chromium is a trace mineral that enhances the ability of insulin to transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells.
2. This herbaceous plant, along with avocado, kale and Brussels sprouts, is a particularly rich source of glutathione. This is a detoxifying compound that helps break down carcinogens and other harmful compounds like free radicals. This is why eating asparagus may help protect against and fight certain forms of cancer, such as bone, breast, colon, larynx and lung cancers.
3. Asparagus is packed with antioxidants, ranking among the top fruits and vegetables for its ability to neutralize cell-damaging free radicals. This, according to preliminary research, may help slow the aging process.
4. Another anti-aging property of this delicious spring veggie is that it may help our brains fight cognitive decline. Like leafy greens, asparagus delivers folate, which works with vitamin B12, found in fish, poultry, meat and dairy, to help prevent cognitive impairment. In a study from Tufts University, older adults with healthy levels of folate and B12 performed better on a test of response speed and mental flexibility. (If you’re 50-plus, be sure you’re getting enough B12: your ability to absorb it decreases with age.)
5. One more benefit of asparagus: It contains high levels of the amino acid asparagine, which serves as a natural diuretic, and increased urination not only releases fluid but helps rid the body of excess salts. This is especially beneficial for people who suffer from edema (an accumulation of fluids in the body’s tissues). It is also for those who have high blood pressure or other heart-related diseases.

So there you have it!  If you weren’t eating roasted asparagus, or having your kids eat it, you now know what you’re missing.  You now know how amazing it is for our bodies!  So go have some amazing roasted asparagus.  Put something in your body that will change you forever.  Become more healthy.  Roasted asparagus fit perfect in a green container if you are on the 21 Day Fix!