I always liked it’s taste, but I never thought about the health benefits of parsley until I started looking it up on the Internet. Parsley brings back memories back to when I was just a kid watching as my Mom baked in her kitchen. I still miss watching her as she put in all those ingredients that always resulted in a most delicious meal.
Unless she was making dessert, one of Mom’s favorite ingredients was parsley. Did you know that Parsley is the worlds most popular herb. I can understand it. Although parsley has a strong vibrant tangy taste, I think it is quite delicious but I think there will always be those who disagree. Chances are really really good that most of them treat parsley as a side garnish. Go to a restaurant and order a meal. The odds favor that the dish will also contain a little sprig of parsley.
But there’s method to the chef’s madness. Parsley helps to settle the stomach, improve your appetite (so you eat and spend more money), and to help improve digestion of your food so you can absorb more of its nutrients. Oh yeah, it also doubles as a breath freshener. Did I mention that I think it’s also delicious, healthy and nice to look at?
So now that we know that parsley has great taste and good looks, what about the health benefits of parsley? Why is it so good for you, and why should you start asking for extra parsley the next time you go out to your favorite restaurant?
Where certain fruits, vegetables and even herbs can be found only during certain seasons, you can easily find parsley at any time of year at the supermarket. Once established in my Mom’s garden, parsley was always available without any further planting. This is one super health food that can be available to you all the time.
Here’s a great video on how to use parsley in your cooking adventures.
Did you know that over 80 nutrients have been found in Parsley. Below are just some of the most notable along with how these nutrients can benefit your health:
1. – Parsley is an excellent source of Vitamin K – Just 7.5 grams (about 2 tablespoons) of parsley provides you with 1 1/2 times the recommend daily amount you should take. Vitamin K helps to aid in blood clotting if you get injured.
The vitamin K in parsley may also play a roll if you suffer from osteoporosis. Some newer studies say that vitamin K may help the body to absorb calcium into the bloodstream. If other members of your family have a history of osteoporosis, it is probably a good idea to eat more parsley to keep your vitamin K levels up.
Read more about vitamins at www.Vitamin-World.org.
2. – Although vitamin K may also one day prove its worthiness in the prevention of cancer, it has shown it’s might in the fight against heart disease by preventing hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
3. – Parsley is also a super source of Vitamin C – Did you know that ounce for ounce, parsley contains between 2 and 3 times as much vitamin C as oranges. Where oranges average about 53 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams (about 4 oz.), parsley delivers about 166 mg. for the same amount.
Just 2 tablespoons (7.5 grams) will still give you between 15 and 20 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin C. Eating an orange or other vitamin C laden fruits and vegetables along with a little parsley will ensure you get you vitamin C from a variety of food sources.
4. – You will also get a rich dose of vitamin A from parsley as well. Vitamin A is good for its positive effects on vision. Not to be outdone, parsley will also give you some manganese, calcium and potassium. Other nutrients found in parsley include folate ( a water soluble B vitamin) as well as a rich supply of iron. Building iron levels up becomes important for those suffering from anemia.
5. – Parsley also helps to cleanse the blood.
6. – People that suffer from kidney or gallbladder problems may also benefit from including parsley in their diet as the parsley seems to help with the removal of kidney stones and gallstones.
CAUTION: – If you are already suffering from kidney or gallbladder problems, you may want to do some research on this first. Parsley is one of those foods that contain oxalates. If these oxalates become too concentrated they can crystallize and compromise an otherwise healthy body. So, if you are already experiencing kidney or gallbladder problems, avoid parsley until you are more informed of its risks and benefits in this area.
7. – Parsley is also a natural diuretic. By making it into a tea, parsley helps to stimulate urination thereby flushing the kidneys. As mentioned above, beware of any health cautions of using parsley if afflicted with kidney or gallbladder problems.
Parsley has been used as a medicine for thousands of years to aid in digestion and urinary tract problems. At the other end, it’s all very good for bad breath. : )
Very little of this wonderful herbal plant can provide you with such huge health benefits with the bonus being that it can make your meals so much more delicious. So don’t put it aside. It is more than just a decoration to put on your plate. Give it the attention it deserves. Parsley should be front and center in your quest for health…and good taste.
Now that you’ve learned a whole bunch about the health benefits of parsley, let’s put it to some good use in this delicious looking recipe, I just couldn’t resist showing you.
Final thoughts:
Parsley is a super food that we should stop ignoring and start cherishing for the powerhouse it really is. It enhances your immune system and provides you with essential multiple vitamins and minerals. When it comes to the health benefits of parsley, it is one of the most important herbs you can take to provide you with the nutrients you you need.
By Joseph Nykoluk