Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: neilep on 22/04/2008 16:04:57
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Sheesh !!
Now I know why asparagus is well expensive !!
It takes three years to grow/cultivate etc . (did ewe know that ?)
Look here's some !
[ Invalid Attachment ]
hmmmm...lightly fried/steamed with butter pepper/salt.....perhaps some olive oil..
and then the joy of Asparagus Wee 15 minutes later....I luff that !!
So, why is there not a turbo charged way to grow asparagus ?.
ta
neil
Asparagus Enquirer
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Asparagus
Several years ago, I had a man seeking asparagus for a friend who had cancer. He gave me a photocopied copy of an article, entitled, `Asparagus for cancer' printed in Cancer News Journal, December 1979. I will share it here, just as it was shared with me:
"I am a biochemist, and have specialised in the relation of diet to health for over 50 years. Several years ago, I learned of the discovery of Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S. that asparagus might cure cancer. Since then, I have worked with him on his project, and we have accumulated a number of favourable case histories. Here are a few examples.
Case No. 1, man with an almost hopeless case of Hodgkin's disease (cancer of the lymph glands) who was completely incapacitated. Within 1 year of starting the asparagus therapy, his doctors were unable to detect any signs of cancer, and he was back on a schedule of strenuous exercise.
Case No. 2, a successful businessman 68 years old who suffered from cancer of the bladder for 16 years. After years of medical treatments, including radiation without improvement, he went on asparagus. Within 3 months, examinations revealed that his bladder tumour had disappeared and that his kidneys were normal.
Case No. 3, a man who had lung cancer. On March 5th 1971 he was put on the operating table where they found lung cancer so widely spread that it was inoperable. The surgeon sewed him up and declared his case hopeless. On April 5th he heard about the asparagus therapy and immediately started taking it. By August, x-ray pictures revealed that all signs of the cancer had disappeared. He is back at his regular business routine.
Case No. 4, a woman who was troubled for a number of years with skin cancer. She finally developed different skin cancers which were diagnosed by a skin specialist as advanced. Within 3 months after starting on asparagus, her skin specialist said that her skin looked fine and no more skin lesions. This woman reported that the asparagus therapy also cured her kidney disease, which started in 1949. She had over 10 operations for kidney stones, and was receiving government disability payments for an inoperable, terminal, kidney condition. She attributes the cure of this kidney trouble entirely to the asparagus.
I was not surprised at this result, as `The elements of materia medica', edited in 1854 by a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, stated that asparagus was used as a popular remedy for kidney stones. He even referred to experiments, in 1739, on the power of asparagus in dissolving stones. We would have other case histories but the medical establishment has interfered with our obtaining some of the records. I am therefore appealing to readers to spread this good news and help us to gather a large number of case histories that will overwhelm the medical skeptics about this unbelievably simple and natural remedy.
For the treatment, asparagus should be cooked before using, and therefore canned asparagus is just as good as fresh. I have corresponded with the two leading canners of asparagus, Giant Giant and Stokely, and I am satisfied that these brands contain no pesticides or preservatives. 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 from 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.
As a biochemist I am convinced of the old saying that `what cures can prevent'. Based on this theory, my wife and I have been using asparagus puree as a beverage with our meals. We take 2 tablespoons diluted in water to suit our taste with breakfast and with dinner. I take mine hot and my wife prefers hers cold. For years we have made it a practice to have blood surveys taken as part of our regular checkups.
The last blood survey, taken by a medical doctor who specialises in the nutritional approach to health, showed substantial improvements in all categories over the last one, and we can attribute these improvements to nothing but the asparagus drink. As a biochemist, I have made an extensive study of all aspects of cancer, and all of the proposed cures. As a result, I am convinced that 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, I believe asparagus can be said to contain a substance that I call cell growth normaliser. That accounts for its action on cancer and in acting as a general body tonic. In any event, regardless of theory, asparagus used as we suggest, is a harmless substance. The FDA cannot prevent you from using it and it may do you much good." 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 anticarcinogens and antioxidants.
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Thank you for this Andrew !
Do you know if the asparagus has to be pureed ?...can it not just be eaten ' as is ' ?
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Do 4 anecdotes count as evidence given that cancers occasionally spontaneously regress?
"I have corresponded with the two leading canners of asparagus, Giant Giant and Stokely, and I am satisfied that these brands contain no pesticides or preservatives. "
I don't know what plannet these people are growing their asparagus on but the one I live on is sufficiently contaminated with pesticides (notably DDT) that I can measure it in many foods (even those certified as organically grown). I can't say I have tried canned asparagus but I don't see why it would be different.
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I agree there is a huge amount of pesticides on most crops including asparagus, but for the life of me I dont know why. I grow asparagus in my garden, it grows wild in devon by the roadsides with no chemicals added so why do they poison our food in this way?
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Its lovely as is. But if you put those tougher bits you struggle with in the juicer you get the best of both worlds
Thank you for this Andrew !
Do you know if the asparagus has to be pureed ?...can it not just be eaten ' as is ' ?
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Generally, you need more pesticides, weedkillers etc when you are trying to maintain a monoculture.
A few asparagus plants in a garden might get eaten by some "asparagus eating bug" but it's likely they won't because the bug would need to find them.
If that same bug finds a whole field full of the stuff then it will reproduce like mad because there's not a lot to stop it. It can breed fast enough to outpace most predators. eventually, there will come a time when the preedators arrive and the food runs out but by then the crop is ruined.
Of course another reason for the spraying is that people want their vegetables to look "perfect"- no marks, bugs or disease.
Does anyone know the answer to the original question?
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ISHS Acta Horticulturae 267: VI Symposium on the Timing of Field Production of Vegetables
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF FORCED ASPARAGUS
Authors: J. Poll, G. Kruistum
Abstract:
Experiments carried out in the Netherlands have shown that container forcing of asparagus is possible during the off-season in climate controlled rooms. The optimum temperature needed for maximum yield depends on the cultivar used and period of forcing but may not be the correct temperature to give maximum spear size and quality. Spear weight declines from start of harvest and the rate of decline depends on cultivar and temperature used. Maximum yield with two year old plantmaterial was 240 g per crown with cv. Geynlim ano an on average spearweight of 12.1 g.
Just googled this using forced asparagus as search term
I think your analogy to people wanting perfect vegetables and fruits is partly correct. However it is the supermarkets that insist on perfectly shaped vegetables and here in the UK we have taken it to the extreme. In Spain however, some of the most mouth watering an fragrant fruit and vegetables are to be found in the open markets. Massive apples and oranges bursting with juice and flavour. Knobbly tomatoes that are more green than orange yet taste better than any tomato you have had before. These markets are capitalizing on the crops that do not make the grade. Yet the Spanish people have no problem with enjoying them, and I am certain that if the UK crops went to the markets instead of the supermarkets the need for perfectly formed tasteless fruit and veg would become less attractive and the use of chemicals would drop off.
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Thanks for the reminder- the local farmers' market is in town this weekend.
The supermarkets will claim it's the consumers who want "perfection" and they are just supplying that. Frankly, I'm not a big fan of the supermarkets, and I question their honesty.
If I post that I wonder if there will be asparagus at the farmers' market does that mean I'm not totally off-topic?
Anyway, I understand from Wiki that it's a perennial plant so I guess it just takes a few years to grow big enough to be worth harvesting.
Does anyone else have any ideas about the "3 year" question?
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I had baby asparagus stir fry for dinner.. oooooooh it was good!
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I found this very interesting. When I lived in Kansas, we had asparagus that grew very rapidly. It took 3 days to become as big as the ones in the picture. I hated going to the garden because asparagus was everywhere. I love it now and miss the garden we had.
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YAYYYYYYYYYYYYY! Hi LO!!!!!
Wow how did you all get it growing like that?
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I had baby asparagus stir fry for dinner.. oooooooh it was good!
Did ewe have ' asparagus wee ' ?
(I luff that.....did I mention it ?)
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Well I must say it was delicious but I really did not investigate the wee smell afterwards,although the next day it occurred to me how YOU LOVE IT SO, and I thought to myself.. Oh shucks I forgot to smell my asparagus wee! Shucky darn! LOL LOL!
Yes ...Yes.. I do recall you telling us many times of your love of the pungent Asparagus wee smell! LOL!
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Well I must say it was delicious but I really did not investigate the wee smell afterwards,although the next day it occurred to me how YOU LOVE IT SO, and I thought to myself.. Oh shucks I forgot to smell my asparagus wee! Shucky darn! LOL LOL!
Yes ...Yes.. I do recall you telling us many times of your love of the pungent Asparagus wee smell! LOL!
....Believe me....if you had ' asparagus wee ' you'd know about it !!...ewe do not need to seek out the the special essence !!..it finds your olfactory senses and knocks on them with a sledgehammer !!
Glad ewe enjoyed the asparagus though !
Hmmmmmmmmmmm.........asparagus weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !!!!
This entry from Wiki in interesting :
Asparagus and urine
The effect of eating asparagus on one's urine has long been known. Marcel Proust claimed that asparagus "...transforms my chamber-pot into a flask of perfume." Certain constituents of asparagus are metabolized giving urine a distinctive smell due to various sulfur-containing degradation products, including various thiols, thioesters, and ammonia.[16] Derivatives of asparagusic acid are also found in urine. The speed of onset of urine smell has been estimated to occur within 15-30 minutes of ingestion. All individuals produce the odorous compounds after eating asparagus, but only about 40% of the population have the autosomal genes required to smell them
I consider myself really lucky then !!..YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY !!!!
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Well I must say it was delicious but I really did not investigate the wee smell afterwards,although the next day it occurred to me how YOU LOVE IT SO, and I thought to myself.. Oh shucks I forgot to smell my asparagus wee! Shucky darn! LOL LOL!
Yes ...Yes.. I do recall you telling us many times of your love of the pungent Asparagus wee smell! LOL!
....Believe me....if you had ' asparagus wee ' you'd know about it !!...ewe do not need to seek out the the special essence !!..it finds your olfactory senses and knocks on them with a sledgehammer !!
Glad ewe enjoyed the asparagus though !
Hmmmmmmmmmmm.........asparagus weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !!!!
This entry from Wiki in interesting :
Asparagus and urine
The effect of eating asparagus on one's urine has long been known. Marcel Proust claimed that asparagus "...transforms my chamber-pot into a flask of perfume." Certain constituents of asparagus are metabolized giving urine a distinctive smell due to various sulfur-containing degradation products, including various thiols, thioesters, and ammonia.[16] Derivatives of asparagusic acid are also found in urine. The speed of onset of urine smell has been estimated to occur within 15-30 minutes of ingestion. All individuals produce the odorous compounds after eating asparagus, but only about 40% of the population have the autosomal genes required to smell them
I consider myself really lucky then !!..YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY !!!!
Well I am sure it was there but My urine with all my medications and junk smells terrible anyway very strong ! LOL OH joy ! I stink!
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Did you know that if you eat too much Beetroot it makes your Pee
go Bright Red. I don't like Beetroot but I love asparagus. mm
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I hate beets! YUCKKKKK!
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Hi Karen!
I don't know? It was wild! Maybe the combination of the soil/sand/temperature/and more? It was irritating then.
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYY! Hi LO!!!!!
Wow how did you all get it growing like that?
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Did you know that if you eat too much Beetroot it makes your Pee
go Bright Red. I don't like Beetroot but I love asparagus. mm
No..I did not know that but I am eager to try....thing is...I hate beetroot too......I wonder if a purple crayon will be a good substitute ?
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As long as you have a colouring book, you should see (not wee) the colour just fine!
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Hi Andrew, Are you the same Andrew K., living in Paignton, Devon? I am trying to clarify an answer, apparently quoted from this Forum by Snopes.com (Ref: http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/asparagus.asp) in response to forwardings on the Internet called: "Asparagus - Who New?". If so, I would like to email you directly at the "Currantbun" ISP. Thanks, Gary
Asparagus
Several years ago, I had a man seeking asparagus for a friend who had cancer. He gave me a photocopied copy of an article, entitled, `Asparagus for cancer' printed in Cancer News Journal, December 1979. I will share it here, just as it was shared with me:
"I am a biochemist, and have specialised in the relation of diet to health for over 50 years. Several years ago, I learned of the discovery of Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S. that asparagus might cure cancer. Since then, I have worked with him on his project, and we have accumulated a number of favourable case histories. Here are a few examples.
Case No. 1, man with an almost hopeless case of Hodgkin's disease (cancer of the lymph glands) who was completely incapacitated. Within 1 year of starting the asparagus therapy, his doctors were unable to detect any signs of cancer, and he was back on a schedule of strenuous exercise.
Case No. 2, a successful businessman 68 years old who suffered from cancer of the bladder for 16 years. After years of medical treatments, including radiation without improvement, he went on asparagus. Within 3 months, examinations revealed that his bladder tumour had disappeared and that his kidneys were normal.
Case No. 3, a man who had lung cancer. On March 5th 1971 he was put on the operating table where they found lung cancer so widely spread that it was inoperable. The surgeon sewed him up and declared his case hopeless. On April 5th he heard about the asparagus therapy and immediately started taking it. By August, x-ray pictures revealed that all signs of the cancer had disappeared. He is back at his regular business routine.
Case No. 4, a woman who was troubled for a number of years with skin cancer. She finally developed different skin cancers which were diagnosed by a skin specialist as advanced. Within 3 months after starting on asparagus, her skin specialist said that her skin looked fine and no more skin lesions. This woman reported that the asparagus therapy also cured her kidney disease, which started in 1949. She had over 10 operations for kidney stones, and was receiving government disability payments for an inoperable, terminal, kidney condition. She attributes the cure of this kidney trouble entirely to the asparagus.
I was not surprised at this result, as `The elements of materia medica', edited in 1854 by a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, stated that asparagus was used as a popular remedy for kidney stones. He even referred to experiments, in 1739, on the power of asparagus in dissolving stones. We would have other case histories but the medical establishment has interfered with our obtaining some of the records. I am therefore appealing to readers to spread this good news and help us to gather a large number of case histories that will overwhelm the medical skeptics about this unbelievably simple and natural remedy.
For the treatment, asparagus should be cooked before using, and therefore canned asparagus is just as good as fresh. I have corresponded with the two leading canners of asparagus, Giant Giant and Stokely, and I am satisfied that these brands contain no pesticides or preservatives. 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 from 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.
As a biochemist I am convinced of the old saying that `what cures can prevent'. Based on this theory, my wife and I have been using asparagus puree as a beverage with our meals. We take 2 tablespoons diluted in water to suit our taste with breakfast and with dinner. I take mine hot and my wife prefers hers cold. For years we have made it a practice to have blood surveys taken as part of our regular checkups.
The last blood survey, taken by a medical doctor who specialises in the nutritional approach to health, showed substantial improvements in all categories over the last one, and we can attribute these improvements to nothing but the asparagus drink. As a biochemist, I have made an extensive study of all aspects of cancer, and all of the proposed cures. As a result, I am convinced that 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, I believe asparagus can be said to contain a substance that I call cell growth normaliser. That accounts for its action on cancer and in acting as a general body tonic. In any event, regardless of theory, asparagus used as we suggest, is a harmless substance. The FDA cannot prevent you from using it and it may do you much good." 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 anticarcinogens and antioxidants.
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Hi Andrew, Are you the same Andrew K., living in Paignton, Devon? I am trying to clarify an answer, apparently quoted from this Forum by Snopes.com (Ref: http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/asparagus.asp) in response to forwardings on the Internet called: "Asparagus - Who New?". If so, I would like to email you directly at the "Currantbun" ISP. Thanks, Gary
Hi Gary,
I don't think I've seen Andrew around for a while, but if you send him a private message it may get through to him.
I'm not sure he will be able to help with regards this article though, I had a quick google around and have found it posted by someone called "Rudenski" on a different forum back in 2006, then quoted verbatim by Andrew here 2 years later.