Several are the parsley benefits for health: prevents cancer, improves digestion, is diuretic, prevents infections, fights bad breath, improves heart and immune system health, prevents anemia, reduces blood pressure and others that we will explain below.
Parsley is an herb that brings much more than the typical flavor to garnishes. Its health-related properties are often ignored, despite its valuable role as a herb or condiment..
Parsley is the most popular herb in the world. Its name is derived from the Greek word for "rock celery" and it is a biennial plant that grows in the garden year after year, once it has been planted..
The first type of components are essential oils such as myristicin, limonene, eugenol and alpha-thujene. The second type are flavonoids, including apiin, apigenin, chrysoeriol, and luteolin..
The very prominent health benefits of parsley are derived from active ingredients, which include phenolic compounds, antioxidant flavonoids, essential oils, and various nutrients such as vitamins K, C and A. This makes parsley a totally natural plant and essential for include in your diet.
It has the ability to act as a free radical neutralizing agent, heart protector, brain protector, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antifungal, and even a digestion enhancer due to its ability to help regulate bowel movements and decrease bloating.
Parsley contains a variety of protective antioxidant flavonoids, which are responsible for many of the benefits of parsley and which fight disease processes according to current research. These antioxidants include luteolin, apigenin, lycopene, beta carotene, and alpha carotene..
Antioxidants help slow the aging process, neutralizing the action of free radicals or oxidative stress, along with inflammation in the body.
This is important because the formation of free radicals is known to contribute to the development of almost all age-related diseases, including cancer, heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and eye disorders..
In a study carried out by the Institute of Food Safety and Toxicology (1999), a series of adults were given large amounts of parsley, showing a significant improvement in the reduction of oxidative stress levels compared to those who did not they consumed parsley.
The researchers noted that when the subjects followed a restricted diet, their oxidative stress markers increased, but when parsley was added to their diet during the second half of the study, the parsley reversed the signs of oxidative stress..
Parsley contains unique elements in its oil known as volatile components, including myristicin, limonene, eugenol, and alpha-thujene..
These components of the oil benefit the immune system and help fight the development of cancerous processes. In particular, it reduces tumor growth, neutralizes oxidative stress and fights carcinogens that damage the body..
Parsley is sometimes called a "chemoprotective" plant because it helps protect DNA from chemical damage, stops cell mutation, and helps induce apoptosis or the death of harmful cells..
One of the beneficial compounds in parsley called apigenin has been shown to inhibit progestin-dependent synthesis of breast tumor cells, significantly delaying the development, incidence, and multiplicity of breast tumors, according to 2013 research by the American Association of Cancer.
There is strong evidence that parsley can be used as a natural diuretic to help relieve fluid retention and relieve bloating, according to a 2002 review study by the American University of Beirut..
In the study, rats treated with parsley seed extract showed a significant increase in the volume of urine they produced over the next 24 hours. Parsley benefits digestive health as it helps stimulate urine production in the kidney and draws excess water from the abdomen, where it can cause discomfort and indigestion..
According to Dr. John Christopher of the Herbal Legacy Group, parsley is used for inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, stones, and urinary retention. In case of jaundice and venereal diseases, the root and leaves of parsley are an excellent tonic for the liver and spleen.
When all other remedies fail, parsley can also help reduce edema, according to Dr. Christopher. In addition, parsley juice can reduce the contraction of blood vessels, particularly capillaries and arterioles..
Parsley stands out for its ability to expel water-soluble toxic substances, excess mucoid material, and even flatulence, reducing swollen and dilated glands..
Dr. Christopher recommends parsley tea to help the body detoxify and fight kidney and bladder stones, as well as edema problems. To treat these ailments, you should drink at least two liters of strong parsley tea and drink slowly throughout the day. Drink a half cup to a full cup every hour.
Parsley and parsley essential oil are used to cure a number of gastrointestinal symptoms and disorders, including gas, constipation, bloating, indigestion and nausea..
According to Ayurvedic practices, parsley benefits digestion since parsley essential oil can help increase the production of bile and beneficial gastric juices that are necessary in the enzymatic functions involved in feeding and the absorption of nutrients..
Parsley essential oil can be added to bath water or diluted and rubbed into the stomach area for relief..
Parsley benefits skin and dental health by fighting infection and bacteria. Parsley essential oils are believed to be effective in removing fungi, as well as lightening spots caused by bacteria on the skin..
The parsley oil found in the leaves, roots and seeds of the plant is considered to have antimicrobial properties; used in soaps, detergents, perfumes and other hygiene products for its ability to kill bacteria and odors.
Parsley oil is very strong and can cause a skin reaction or topical burns. Therefore, it should not be applied directly to the skin, but instead mixed with a carrier oil such as coconut, olive or almond oil and then applied to the skin in order to avoid any reaction..
Another health benefit of parsley is to naturally reduce bad breath. Parsley is a natural breath freshener as it kills odor-causing bacteria in the mouth.
Parsley provides high levels of vitamin K, an essential nutrient for maintaining bone density, preventing spontaneous fractures and reducing bone mineral density.
Vitamin K works in conjunction with other nutrients that promote bone formation and that are also found in parsley such as calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and magnesium.
Parsley benefits the immune defenses due to its high levels of antioxidants, including vitamin C and vitamin A. Vitamin C helps maintain a healthy intestinal environment, where the local immune system associated with the mucosa is located..
High intake of vitamin C is correlated with lower levels of inflammation and helps prevent diseases such as atherosclerosis (plaque formation in the arteries), arthritis, colon cancer, diabetes, and asthma.
In this article you can learn about other foods with vitamin C.
Parsley is a great source of vitamin A, which includes two antioxidants: pro-vitamin A carotenoids and beta-carotenes used by the body and which can improve eye health.
These antioxidants protect the retina and cornea from damage associated with aging, helping to prevent eye disorders such as macular degeneration and cataracts..
Vitamin A also fights the signs of aging in the skin and eyes and protects the skin from damage caused by UV light, and may be able to help prevent skin cancer.
In this article you can learn about other foods with vitamin A.
Because folate is an essential B vitamin that plays a critical role in protecting the heart, folate deficiency is very dangerous. Parsley is beneficial for cardiovascular health, as folate converts homocysteine, a type of amino acid found in the blood.
Homocysteine is a potentially problematic molecule that can cause damage to blood vessels when uncontrolled and increased in the blood, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke..
In this article you can learn about other foods with folic acid.
Since it helps prevent neural tube defects that can result from folate deficiency, parsley is also important for a healthy pregnancy..
Another benefit of parsley is that it helps balance hormones related to fertility and the prevention of PMS symptoms..
The chlorophyll in parsley helps alkalize the body, form new red blood cells, and purify the blood. The polyacetylene found in parsley contains antiplatelet properties.
This prevents blood platelets from aggregating, which helps prevent cardiovascular disease and stroke. It also contains a large number of beneficial flavonoids that neutralize free radicals and strengthen the heart..
Parsley contains twice the amount of iron found in spinach. Iron is the oxygen-carrying component in red blood cells, which helps prevent iron deficiency anemia. Just 1 cup of parsley provides 21% of the recommended daily intake.
The diuretic effects of this herb are due to the fact that it is capable of reducing sodium levels and therefore helps lower high blood pressure.
Although more research is needed, there is strong evidence for many more benefits of parsley..
Among them, parsley and parsley essential oil are believed to help combat:
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