Professional paper

Healthy vegetables for healthy heart: asparagus.

Marina Palfi orcid.org/0000-0002-0401-9978 ; Podravka d.d., Koprivnica, Croatia
Helena Tomić-Obrdalj ; Podravka d.d., Koprivnica, Croatia
Dijana Horvat ; College of Agriculture at Križevci, Križevci, Croatia

Abstract

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) is a vegetable that is grown for tasty white or green shoots. It has exceptional nutritional and health value. One serving of cooked asparagus is an excellent source of vitamin K, folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin A. Concerning minerals, it is a rich source of selenium, copper and manganese. It is known for the composition of phytonutrients, carotenoids (capsanthin, caprorubin, zeaxanthin), steroidal saponins and flavonoids (rutin). It shows a more potent antioxidant activity than broccoli due to a larger portion of flavonoids. Owing to its more potent antioxidant capacity, it helps in the prevention of cardiovascular disease by reducing the formation of homocysteine, prevention of hypertension, dyslipidemias, etc. It potentially has an effect on stimulating the secretion of bile acids and the removal of excess cholesterol.

Keywords

asparagus; vegetables; nutritional and health value; antioxidant capacity; cardiovascular diseases

Hrčak ID:

146875

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/146875

Publication date:

26.3.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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