Benefits Of Parsley
The Many Benefits of Parsley
Healing properties are the benefits of parsley that are often overlooked. People see it as simply a garnish, when in fact it is very nutritious, and is easily found at grocery stores year-round.
Parsley is one of the world's favorite herbs. Its name comes from a work in Greek that means “rock celery”, and in fact the two plants are related.
A sprig of parsley is not just a dinner decoration. It contains at least two types of components that help your body reap health benefits. The main type includes alpha-thujene, eugenol, limonene and myristicin. The other type is flavonoids – luteolin, crisoeriol and myristicin.
One of the most significant health benefits of parsley is its content of myristicin, which has been shown to slow the formation of tumors in studies on animals, especially tumors in the lungs. Myristicin can also activate glutathione-S-transferase, which is an enzyme that helps counteract molecules that may otherwise harm your body. The oil in parsley is called a “chemoprotective” food, which means that it can help neutralize some carcinogens, such as those found in cigarette smoke.
Parsley is also rich in anti-oxidants that combine with oxygen radicals and help to inhibit damage to cells. Parsley extracts have also shown to help raise the antioxidant capacity of blood, in animal studies.
Vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene) and Vitamin C are two other nutrients that are abundant in parsley. These are vital in the prevention of disease. Vitamin C is your body's main antioxidant, and it takes free radicals and makes them harmless. Without adequate vitamin C, your body's free radicals contribute to asthma, diabetes, colon cancer and atherosclerosis. People who have a high daily intake of vitamin C are at lower risk for these diseases. Vitamin C's anti-inflammatory properties are another of the benefits of parsley. It helps reduce swelling from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Vitamin C has also long been believed to aid in reduction of the number of colds or flu's that you may develop.
Another antioxidant found in parsley is beta-carotene, which has been shown to help your body become at a lower risk for developing colon cancer, diabetes and atherosclerosis. Beta-carotene may also be of help in reducing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and asthma.
Folic acid, and its ability to promote cardiovascular health, is another of the many benefits of parsley. This acid assists the body in converting homocysteine into molecules that are benign. Otherwise, homocysteine can damage blood vessels. People with levels of homocysteine that are too high are at greater risk for diabetic heart disease or atherosclerosis. Folic acid helps in proper cell division as well, which may help prevent cancer of the colon and cervix.
Parsley is tasty and can help your body in so many ways – it's not just a garnish anymore.