Asparagus will fill you up
WHETHER asparagus are green or white, smothered in Hollandaise or part of a salad, the best thing about this vegetable – apart from the taste – is that it’s the ultimate filler-upper.
That’s because even if you’re not eating them as a side to something heartier, asparagus will leave you feeling surprisingly full for a vegetable.
Nutrition expert Christina Esser says this is because asparagus remains in the stomach for a comparatively long time.
“That’s perfect for your figure and health,” says Esser, from the University of Applied Sciences for Health Management in Saarbruecken, Germany.
And yet despite being low in calories (due to its high water content) and at the same time rich in vitamins and minerals, asparagus is often most strongly associated with its most bizarre side-effect. Foul-smelling pee.
As far back as 1781, American statesman Benjamin Franklin had commented on this “disagreeable odour” caused by asparagus. Centuries later, little has changed, sadly.
To blame here is the asparagusic acid contained in the vegetable, which gives urine its typical asparagus smell. An enzyme releases sulphur-containing compounds, which are then excreted in the urine.
However, only about half of all people have this enzyme – which is why not everyone’s urine smells so strong after eating asparagus. There’s one important thing to note about eating asparagus for anyone with troublesome kidneys: Because it promotes urine excretion, they would be well advised to consult their doctor before taking part in any annual asparagus feasting.
The vegetable is also rich in purines, the compound which gout patients are generally to stay away from, or at least avoid consuming in large amounts.
Purines are broken down in the body to uric acid, which can lead to painful symptoms in those affected, says Esser. Nevertheless, gout patients do not have to do without asparagus altogether and they can easily enjoy some as a side dish from time to time – around 200g per serving, says Esser.