Someone recently asked on the site if I had any smoothies or other recipes using raw asparagus. Up til now… no. But this recipe here changes that.

Health Benefits of Asparagus

Asparagus has some significant health benefits. In particular, it contains a phytochemical called cochinchinensis which has apparently been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for its anti-inflammatory properties. Asparagus is also naturally very alkalizing (as are most Live Green Smoothies), which alone helps significantly with reducing inflammation. Asparagus also possesses an amino acid called asparagine, which helps the body detoxify. The antioxidants and glutathione in asparagus apparently help ward off cancer and cataracts, and its rich mineral content is supposed to help stabilize blood sugar.

Thing is, asparagus, uncooked, has a very strong flavor. I’ve juiced it, with beets and apples, and it is extremely potent! Not for those with delicate palates (hello).

So, the challenge here was to come up with a combination of ingredients that would enable a decent portion of fresh asparagus to be consumed pleasurably.

Making Fresh Asparagus Palatable

And so we have this very lightly flavored, velvety-textured Berry-Mango smoothie sweetened with red grapes (berries and mangos are both quite low on the sugar spectrum), and made into a Live Green Smoothie through the addition of a portion of fresh asparagus that, while still healthifying, is not large enough to overpower the fruit.

Son and Self drank this down lickety-split this morning. If I’d had more asparagus, I would’ve made a second batch!

So here we have Asparagus Smoothie Recipe Number One on the LGS site.

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Recipe for: Velvety Mango-Berry LGS With Fresh Asparagus

• 1 mango, peeled and pitted
• 1/3 cup raw asparagus, chopped for measuring purposes
• 1/3 heaping cup blueberries
• 1/3 cup red grapes
• spring water to 32 oz.
• 1 cup ice

Blend everything til nice and smooth… and drink up!

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