Asparagus: nutritional values, calories, health benefits, recipes & uses

You can absolutely eat raw asparagus. However, cooking softens their plant-based fibers, which are otherwise firm. So if you decided to eat raw asparagus, simply know that they will be harder to chew and digest. But, they are easier to eat when cut into thin slices or small pieces.

In fact, the stems are extremely fibrous and their texture is not so interesting in the mouth. That is why we remove the light bottom part and throw it away. To do so, simply snap off the stems with your fingers or cut them with a knife. Your asparagus are now ready to be cooked!

Asparagus do not usually cause stomach pain. However, they are rich in fiber and saponin. Besides, saponin is only found in plants with emulsifying properties. These components might cause some people flatulences, nausea, or increased abdominal pain. Consume asparagus with lots of water so the fibers are easier to digest.

Your urine’s smell may change after eating asparagus because of a natural phenomenon that occurs during digestion. In fact, asparagus contain asparagusic acid, which is a non-toxic substance with an odor similar to that of rotten cabbage. You might already know this molecule since it is associated with the unpleasant smells of rotten eggs and skunk. Actually, when you digest asparagusic acid, sulfur products find their way into urine. The latter are very volatile, which is why your pee ends up smelling. But don’t worry! Although unpleasant, this odor is completely normal!

Asparagus indeed have a diuretic action because of an amino acid they contain: asparagine. It’s this acid that give asparagus their distinctive taste. The potassium/sodium ratio as well as the high water content also promote diuresis (production of urine).