cancer prevention combats inflamation fights carcinogens and free radicals through its antioxidants also good for enhancing energy production helping anchor calcium molecules inside the bone promoting sleep due to trptophan building muscles helping lose weight as they grow older, asparagus stalks become woody and begin to dry out this. starts when the buds begin to open choose stalks with close buds asparagus contains purins which the body breaks down into uric acid when eaten in large amounts this vegetable can increase levels of uric acid leading to joint inflammation and kidney stone formaion eat in moderation the stalks are famous for causing a powerful and disagreeable smell in the urine in alot of people the smell is detectable within 30 minutes after eting asparagus, disappearing after about four hours some people especially those with prior reactions to onions leeks and other members of the lily family may be allergic to asparagus asparagus is highly perishable the shoots must be consumed 48 hours or 2 days after purchase to prolong shelf lfe a typical appetizer or vegetable side dish asparagus is best cooked using no water grilled or roasted with lemon juice before grilling and olive oil when cooked stir fried with potatoes and carrots or with mushroom or tofu tossed into pasta eaten raw added to salads included in omeletes made into soups pickled