Asparagus!!!

  Im am always telling you guys it's 80% nutrition and 20% workout!!  What you do with me in the gym is nothing if you don't fuel it well!!  Here is just one vegetable that is not only yummy, but has such awesome health benefits!!

Asparagus is a nutritional powerhouse: It’s a good source of vitamin K (important for strong bones and blood clotting) and antioxidants, which repair damage done by free radicals and can help reduce risk of serious health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer 

With a very low calorie content — only 27 calories per cup, or about 12 small spears — asparagus is an ideal veggie to add to any plate. Plus, it’s high in folate, which is key during pregnancy, and can also help prevent cancer and anemia in adults and children. One study showed that low-folate diets can also increase the risk of chronic diseases for the elderly  So on the next trip over the river and through the woods, ditch the basket of muffins and bring Grandmother some asparagus!.....check out the rest of the article here!- http://www.greatist.com/health/superfood-asparagus-032012/#

Need an idea for how to use it??

Roasted Asparagus Recipe

• Cook time: 10 minutes

In place of the lemon juice, you can drizzle a little balsamic vinegar over the asparagus. Add a little freshly grated Parmesan cheese for an extra touch.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb asparagus spears (thick spears are best for roasting)
• 1-2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Kosher Salt
• Freshly grated black pepper
• Lemon juice

METHOD

1 Preheat oven to 400°F. Rinse clean the asparagus. Break the tough ends off of the asparagus and discard.

 

2 Lay the asparagus spears out in a single layer in a baking dish or a foil-covered roasting pan. Drizzle olive oil over the spears, roll the asparagus back and forth until they are all covered with a thin layer of olive oil. (Alternatively you can put the asparagus and oil in a plastic bag, and rub the bag so that the oil gets evenly distributed.) Sprinkle with minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Rub over the asparagus so that they are evenly distributed.

3 Place pan in oven and cook for approximately 8-10 minutes, depending on how thick your asparagus spears are, until lightly browned and tender when pierced with a fork. Drizzle with a little fresh lemon juice before serving.

Yield: Serves 4.

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/roasted_asparagus/