Asparagus Officinalis Fights Cancer

Asparagus has No Fat, contains No Cholesterol and is low in Sodium. Asparagus is a nutrient-dense food which in high in Folic Acid and is a good source of potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, vitamins A and C, and thiamin.

A biochemist have made an extensive study of all aspects of cancer, and all of the proposed cures. As a result, asparagus fits in better with the latest theories about cancer. Asparagus contains a good supply of protein called histones, which are believed to be active in controlling cell growth. For that reason, asparagus can be said to contain a substance that he call cell growth normalizer. That accounts for its action on cancer and inacting as a general body tonic.

It has been reported by the US National Cancer Institute that asparagus is the highest tested food containing glutathione, which is considered one of the body’s most potent anti carcinogens and antioxidants.

Asparagus Remedy for Curing Cancer

Asparagus has proven to be helpful in curing cancer of different kinds like Hodgkin’s disease which is cancer of the lymph glands, bladder cancer, lung cancer and skin cancer.

The biochemist and his wife also ate the pureed asparagus every day. Asparagus is harmless and been reported for 2000 years to be beneficial for curing cancer. “There are lots of advertisments about asparagus extracts. I have no proof whether the extracts are beneficial. Fresh asparagus are delicious to eat. We eat fresh asparagus and lemon grass frequently because of the reports of the benefits.”

Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S. discovered asparagus that might cure cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, asparagus is the highest tested food containing glutathione, one of the body’s most potent cancer fighters. Additionally, asparagus is high in rutin, which is valuable in strengthening the blood vessels. Avocado and walnuts are also particularly rich in dietary sources of glutathione.

Glutathione is a small protein composed of three amino acids; cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine. Glutathione is involved in detoxification. It binds to fat-soluble toxins, such as heavy metals, solvents, and pesticides.

Dietary glutathione intake from food sources such as asparagus has been associated with protection against certain forms of cancer in addition to potent anti-viral properties. Researchers at the Institute for Cancer Prevention found in preliminary studies that asparagus, the food with the highest glutathione concentration, is a potentially effective means of enhancing the body’s defense systems and preventing cancer development.

Tests conducted which indicate that asparagus from Washington contain 70mg/100g of glutathione, a small protein composed of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine which bind to fat-soluble toxins–more than twice the amount in any other common food.

Moreover, scientists have identified a number of antioxidant substances in asparagus that may play a role in combating malignancies. The most popular plant chemical in Asparagus officinalis is glutathione, a free radical fighter that is thought to interfere with the establishment and promotion of cancer.However, there are many other anti-cancer components in this super food as well.

• Ferulic Acid: The cell walls of asparagus spears contain this potent antioxidant that is chemically similar to curcumin, another phytochemical with a long track record of anti-cancer activity. Ferulic acid is believed to inhibit angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels that can spur tumor growth by shuttling nutrients and oxygen to malignancies and promote the spread of cancer to neighboring tissue.
• Quercetin and Rutin: Several laboratory tests have identified these flavonoids in asparagus. Preliminary research conducted mostly in animals and test tubes suggest that quercetin and rutin possess cytotoxic (cell destroying) properties in relation to a variety of cancers. Some scientists propose that these flavonoids may effectively slow the proliferation of abnormal (cancerous) cells and the death of existing malignant cells (apoptosis).
• Steroidal Saponins: A study published in the April 2009 issue of the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications reports that a steroidal saponin extracted from asparagus (asparanin A) is capable of halting the growth of liver (HepG2) cancer cells and promoting their selective death. The authors of that research concluded that, “These data indicate that asparanin A shows promise as a preventive and/or therapeutic agent against human hepatoma”. Previous studies have looked at numerous steroids from asparagus and determined similar cytotoxic activity versus other forms of cancer as well. It’s also important to note that a group of Chinese scientists recently discovered a new steroidal saponin in asparagus – yamogenin II. Only time will tell what this and future discoveries may hold in terms of the natural management of cancer.

Asparagus consumption has also been linked to a few key processes that may discourage the formation of cancer via:

• an antimutagenic effect: preventing genetic mutations which can directly precede the earliest stages of cancer development
• the promotion of “cellular phase II detoxifying enzymes” which “facilitate the removal of drugs and xenobiotic compounds” that are carcinogenic and supporting overall liver function
• synergistically enhancing the antioxidant activity of other plant foods
• the inhibition of chronic inflammation (cycooxygenase-2 suppression) which is thought to play a role in tumor development
• the promotion of healthier digestion and immune function thanks to its natural, prebiotic content

The color of asparagus may also play a role in its therapeutic potential. I would suggest sticking with the green or purple stalked varieties. A class of phytochemicals known as anthocyanins are what gives “purple passion asparagus” its distinctive color. These substances, similar to those found in berries and red wine, possess a potent oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and may play a role in protecting against many age related and chronic conditions ranging from arthritis to dementia. They’ve also been associated with considerable anti-cancer activity based on animal, human and test tube investigations. Green asparagus do not contain anthocyanins but they’re loaded with several varieties of carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Carotenoids have likewise been correlated with a reduced risk of cancer in population studies that have examined the dietary consumption of these plant pigments in relation to cancer incidence.

Asparagus Officinalis Health Benefits

• Helps prevent birth defects such as spina bifida because it is high in folic acid: Especially if you’re thinking about becoming pregnant or are in the early stages of pregnancy, make asparagus a frequent addition to your meals. A cup of asparagus supplies approximately 263 mcg of folate, a B-vitamin essential for proper cellular division because it is necessary in DNA synthesis.
• Great for your heart: Folate is essential for a healthy cardiovascular system.
• Helps menstrual cramps with fertility problems
• Great for your gastrointestinal tract and your colon
• Help treat depression
• Increase the success rate of chemo therapy
• Best for arthritis, asthma rheumatism, and even water retention, PMS: it is diuretic which is good anti-inflammatory
• Help get rid of warts
• Helps detoxify your body
• Lowers cholesterol
• Great for nursing mothers stimulating milk production
• Has antioxidant agents that prevents the effects of aging
• Has antifungal and antiviral qualities
• Great for your kidneys for 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 to 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: good for diarrhea and constipation
• Prevents varicose veins
• Great for your eyes preventing cataracts
• Good for hair loss
• Helps treat toothaches

Selecting Asparagus

• Asparagus stalks should be rounded, and neither fat nor twisted.
• Look for firm, thin stems with deep green or purplish closed tips.
• The cut ends should not be too woody, although a little woodiness at the base prevents the stalk from drying out.
• Once trimmed and cooked, asparagus loses about half its total weight.
• Occasionally, white asparagus that has a milder flavor than green asparagus is available. White asparagus is buried under soil to block chlorophyll production, thus resulting in a white plant. Some markets also offer purple asparagus, which has a fruitier flavor than green or white asparagus.
• Use asparagus within a day or two after purchasing for best flavor.
• Store in the refrigerator with the ends wrapped in a damp paper towel, and be sure to place the asparagus in the back of the refrigerator away from any light, since folate is destroyed by exposure to air, heat or light.

Asparagus Preparation

• To preserve the nutrients and offer the most glutathione addition for the body, asparagus is best served lightly steamed. Cooking the vegetable destroys many of the nutrients. Asparagus can be steamed in a steamer and served with a small amount of butter and lemon.
• Boiling to a tender crisp state is another serving option. Individuals consuming a low carbohydrate diet may find asparagus to be a filling vegetable for the low number of carbohydrates. A half cup of asparagus contains less than 3 carbs and a high portion of those are fiber.
• Place the cooked asparagus in a blender and liquefy to make a puree, and store in the refrigerator. Give the patient 4 full tablespoons twice daily, morning and evening.
• Patients usually show some improvement in 2-4 weeks. It can be diluted with water and used as a cold or hot drink. This suggested dosage is based on present experience, but certainly larger amounts can do no harm and may be needed in some cases.Healty Recipes