Parsley Health Benefits

Parsley is a herb, that has been cultivated and used by humans for over 2,000 years. Studies show that this herbs has been popular for its medicinal properties from the middle ages itself. The word parsley is derived from a Greek word that means 'rock-celery', as it is related to celery. It is believed that parsley was used by the ancient Greeks to decorate tombs, as they considered this herb as sacred and were also aware of parsley's healing properties. It was the Romans, who started using parsley for garnishing food items. However, nowadays, people consider it only as a garnish and often discard it after use, as they are unaware of the parsley health benefits and its nutritional value.

Types of Parsley
There are many varieties of parsley and among them, two types are the most popular ones. They are, flat leaf parsley and curly leaf parsley. While the former is tightly curled with a green mossy look, the latter has deeply divided, flat leaves (like celery) and is otherwise known as Italian parsley. Health benefits of this variety are also well recognized and it is very widely used for medicinal purposes. There is one more variety that is used in the Central and Eastern European cuisine. This variety, known as Hamburg parsley, has large, white, turnip-like roots and also sports tall, fern-like leaves. The leaves have a celery-like flavor and the roots are used in salads and soups. Among all the varieties, Italian parsley has a much stronger flavor and is more widely used.

Nutritional Value of Parsley
Parsley is a very rich source of vitamin K, vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C, iron and folate. Apart from these, it contains a fair amount of other vitamins and minerals and is also very low in calories. The volatile oil compounds in parsley include myristicin, limonene, eugenol, and alpha-thujene. Flavonoids like apiin, apigenin, crisoeriol, and luteolin are also present in parsley. These compounds in parsley offer unique health benefits, which will be discussed in the next few paragraphs.

Parsley Health Benefits
Apart from garnishing soups, meats and a wide range of dishes, parsley, which is full of various nutrients and other beneficial compounds can offer numerous health benefits too. This herb was used in ancient Greek medicine and in Ayurveda, to treat flatulence, dyspepsia, and menstrual disorders. Almost all parts of this plant are used for medicinal purposes, especially the leaves, roots and seeds. It has also been observed that usually, it is the Italian parsley that is used for medicinal purposes. The following are some of the important parsley heath benefits.

• Parsley is good for the heart, as it contains folic acid, which promotes cardiovascular health. Folic acid is useful in converting homocysteine (a dangerous molecule, which at high levels can damage the blood vessels) into harmless molecules and for reducing the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
• Regular consumption of parsley is beneficial for lowering blood pressure and it thereby lessens the risks of diseases that can be caused by this condition.
• One of the important parsley health benefits is that it is good for the healthy functioning of the kidneys and aids the excretion of sodium and water through these organs, thereby preventing the retention of water and salt in the body and the constriction of blood vessels. Parsley is also good for strengthening the urinary bladder and preventing kidney stones.
• Parsley health benefits include the cleansing of blood vessels, as it can dissolve the sticky deposits in the veins. It is also good for maintaining the elasticity of the blood vessels.
• The high levels of vitamin C in parsley prevent the occurrence of osteoarthritis and inflammatory polyarthritis, a type of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Enhancing the sexual functioning is also one of the parsley health benefits. It is also used as a herbal medicine for treating menstrual problems.
• Parsley intake is useful in preventing tumor, as the folic acid in this herb plays an important role in the proper cell division. So, it prevents the abnormal and rapid cell division that causes cancer, especially in the colon and cervix. The antioxidants and flavonoids in parsley are also beneficial in preventing tumor and cancer.
• Parsley can also ward off bad breath or halitosis. The chlorophyll content in parsley is responsible for counterbalancing the breath odor.
• Parsley is also used to treat deafness, ear infections, bruises, digestive problems, anemia, diarrhea, gallstones, gout, insect bites, liver congestion, for strengthening the teeth and also for achieving weight loss.

Apart from the fresh parsley health benefits, the dried form of this herb is also used to treat various health problems. Dried parsley health benefits include its use to treat gastrointestinal disorders and urinary tract infections. Now that you know the parsley health benefits and its nutritional value, don't throw away any part this herb, the next time you use it for garnishing.