Parsley  Health  benefits 

Parsley is often used  in cooking to boost flavor and look of a dish without adding sodium, but also a way to provide additional nutrients and health benefits at the same time.

 Health  benefits of Parsley

A natural chemical found in parsley, celery and other plants known as apigenin has been found to decrease tumor size in an aggressive form of breast cancer .
In a recent study Researchers say that this shows apigenin to be a promising non-toxic treatment for cancer in the future.

Diabetes prevention

Myricetin has also been evaluated for its effectiveness in the treatment and prevention of diabetes. Myricetin may lower blood sugars as well as decrease insulin resistance and provide anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperlipidemia effects.

 bone health

Low intakes of vitamin K2 have been associated with a higher risk for bone fracture. Adequate vitamin K consumption (which parsley provides in just 10 sprigs) improves bone health by acting as a modifier of bone matrix proteins, improving calcium absorption and reducing urinary excretion of calcium.⁴

Nutritional breakdown of parsley

just 10 sprigs of parsley contains 4 calories, 0.3 grams of protein, 0.1 grams of fat, 0.6 grams of carbohydrate, 0.3 grams of fiber and 0.1 grams of sugar. Just 10 sprigs provide 205% of vitamin K needs for the day, as well as 22% of vitamin C and 17% of vitamin A.

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How to incorporate more parsley into your diet

Fresh chopped parsley pairs well with potatoes, tomato-based sauces, poultry dishes, salads, seafood and eggs.

Quick tips:

• Throw a few sprigs of parsley into your favorite green juice
• Finish off an omelet, quiche or frittata with a handful of chopped parsley
• Add chopped parsley to any homemade salad dressing.

Try some of these delicious recipes using parsley:

• Cauliflower crust pizza
• Moroccan fish over whole grain couscous
• Balsamic black-eyed pea salad
• Citrus shrimp salad with white beans and arugula

Potential health risks of consuming parsley

If you are taking blood-thinners such as Coumadin (warfarin) it is important that you do not suddenly begin to eat more or fewer foods containing vitamin K, which plays a large role in blood clotting.

It is the total diet or overall eating pattern that is most important in disease prevention and achieving good health. It is better to eat a diet with a variety than to concentrate on individual foods as the key to good health.