For decades and counting, parsley leaf has long been used to treat ailments such as high blood pressure, allergies, and inflammatory disorders.
The parsley leaf is a flowering plant endemic to the Mediterranean. The two most common types in that region are French curly-leaf and Italian flat-leaf.
It is now commonly used as a fresh culinary herb or dried spice. It has a rich green color and a slight, bitter flavor that compliments many dishes.
Parsley Leaf is often referred to be one of the most effective disease-fighting herbs and has a high nutritional content and a variety of possible health advantages.
Here are 6 proven health benefits and uses of parsley leaf
1. Contains a variety of essential nutrients
Do you know that the parsley leaf has far more nutrients than most people realize?
A half-cup (30 grams) of freshly chopped parsley leaf offers the following [1]
- calorie count: 11
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- 1 gram protein
- Less than 1 gram of fat
- 1 gram fiber
- Vitamin A: 108 percent of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDI)
- 53 percent of the RDI for vitamin C
- 547 percent of the RDI for vitamin K
- 11 percent of the RDI for folate
- 4% of the RDI for potassium
The parsley plant is very high in vitamins, especially vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting and bone health. [1]
Additionally, It is highly nutritious in taste, making it an excellent low-calorie ingredient for a variety of cuisines. The parsley leaf is particularly high in vitamins A and C, which are key antioxidant minerals.
2. Great source of Antioxidants
Parsley is packed with a lot of antioxidants that are beneficial and vital for the general wellness of the body.
Antioxidants are chemicals that protect cells in the body from free radical damage. To function properly, your body requires a healthy combination of antioxidants and free radicals.
Parsley’s principal antioxidants include flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamin C.
This aromatic plant is particularly high in flavonoids, a rare and important kind of antioxidant. Myricetin and apigenin are the two most important flavonoids.
Flavonoids-rich diets may reduce the risk of illnesses such as colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, according to research. [2]
Additionally, there are two antioxidants known as carotenoids include beta carotene and lutein. Some studies link increased carotene intake to a lower risk of various illnesses, including lung cancer.
Do you also know that dried parsley may have more antioxidants than fresh leaves? According to one research, the dried plant has 17 times the antioxidant capacity of its fresh counterparts. – This is because antioxidant properties deplete between the time fresh herbs are harvested and when they are used.
3. Promotes Bone Health
To be healthy and strong, our bones require varying levels of vitamins and minerals. Consumption of parsley leaf can be used to boost bone health.
Parsley leaf is high in vitamin K – which is very necessary for bone health. A half-cup (30 grams) contains 547 percent of the RDI [3]
Vitamin K promotes bone health by supporting bone-building cells known as osteoblasts. This vitamin also activates proteins that improve bone mineral density, which is a measurement of the number of minerals in your bones.
4. Contains nutrients that protect your eyes.
Parsley comprises lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta carotene, which are plant chemicals that safeguard eyesight and may lessen the risk of age-related ocular diseases such as AMD.
Lutein and zeaxanthin have been shown to help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an incurable eye condition that is the primary cause of blindness worldwide. [4]
Consuming lutein and zeaxanthin-rich foods may lessen the risk of late AMD by up to 26%.
5. Boost heart health performance
Parsley contains a high concentration of folate, a B vitamin that protects your heart and may lower your risk of heart disease. [5]
Parsley is a nutritional plant that may benefit the overall performance of cardiovascular health. It’s a strong source of the B vitamin folate, for example, with 1/2 cup (30 grams) supplying 11% of the RDI
In certain groups, high dietary folate consumption may minimize the risk of heart disease. A comprehensive research of over 58,000 adults discovered that the greatest folate consumption was related to a 38% lower risk of heart disease.
6. Great Antibacterial properties
In vitro investigations have revealed that parsley extract possesses antibacterial capabilities. More research is still needed to prove this claim.
The extract may help inhibit bacterial development in food. A test-tube investigation discovered that it inhibited the development of potentially hazardous bacteria such as Listeria and Salmonella, both of which are known to cause food poisoning. [6]
