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No More Blood-Sugar Blues!
All Hail the Glorious Asparagus Spear!
by Alice Osborne
 Spring is just about here, and I cannot wait! Dont you just love the way you can actually see, hear, and smell the new life in the earth? I think one of the best signs of Spring is fresh asparagus. This is an especially important vegetable for those dealing with blood-sugar issues. For instance, just look at all the great health benefits it provides.
It is high in vitamin K and Folate
Eat asparagus when you are pregnant or thinking about conceiving because of it being high in folic acid it helps prevent birth defects such as spina bifida
Great for your heart
Helps menstrual cramps with fertility problems
Great for your gastrointestinal tract and your colon
Helps menstrual cramps
Great food to help treat depression
Has been known to increase the success rate of chemo therapy
Is considered a diuretic which means it is a good anti-inflammatory best for arthritis, asthma rheumatism, and even water retention.. PMS
Help get rid of warts
Helps detoxify your body
Add more asparagus to your diet to lover cholesterol
Great for nursing mothers stimulating milk production
Has antioxidant agents prevents the effects of aging
Has antifungal and antiviral qualities
Great for your kidneys cleansing your body by stimulating urination and preventing kidney stones
Helps prevent bladder and urinary tract infections
Use to be used as an a aphrodisiac increase sexual and comforting feelings
Helps with treating HIV
Helps prevent multiple sclerosis
Helps prevent scurvy
Asparagus has anti-cancer agents especially lung cancer
Helps fight chronic fatigue syndrome
Helps fight off high blood pressure
If you bruise easily eat more asparagus
Is considered a laxative eat an asparagus if you have diarrhea and constipation
Great for your capillaries eat more asparagus to avoid varicose veins
Great for your eyes preventing cataracts
If you are experiencing hair loss- eat more asparagus
Helps treat toothaches
All this said, do we any more convincing as to why we ought to include LOTS in our menu plans? To help us do just that, here are a couple recipes to get us started, courtesy of the April, 2010 Living the Country Life Magazine:
Roasted Asparagus
Serves 4
 1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place asparagus in a 2-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with pepper. Drizzle with olive oil. Roast, uncovered, about 15 min. or until crisp-tender, using tongs to lightly toss twice during roasting. Transfer asparagus to a warm serving platter. Sprinkle with cheese. Delicious!
 Download this recipe.
Angel Hair with Asparagus, Tomatoes & Fresh Basil
Makes 2 large servings
 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
Ό tsp pepper
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
6 medium Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped (2 Ό C)
Ό C dry white wine
Ό tsp salt
1 Tbsp butter
1 (9 oz) pkg angel hair pasta
Ό C finely chopped fresh basil
Snap off and discard woody bases from asparagus. Remove the tips; set aside. Bias-slice the remaining portions of asparagus spears into 1- to 1 ½-inch-long pieces; set aside. In large skillet, cook and stir garlic and pepper in hot oil over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes; cook for 2 min. more, stirring often. Add the asparagus pieces, wine, and salt to the mixture in the skillet. Cook, uncovered, for 3 min. Add the asparagus tips; cook, uncovered, for 1 min. more. Add butter and stir until melted.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to pkg directions. Drain pasta; return to pan. Add asparagus mixture and basil to pasta, tossing to coat. Amazing!
Download this recipe.
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