7 Reasons to Add More Parsley to Your Meals

Feb 10, 2017

Parsley has been around for over 2,000 years. Despite this, though, few people think of it as more than just a pretty garnish. Parsley has some fantastic health benefits. It is time to move it off the garnish sideline and mainline it right into your meals. Here is why.

1 It is full of vitamins

In just two tablespoons of fresh parsley, you will get calcium, iron, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin K and vitamin C. If you regularly add it to your cooking, add more for amped up flavor and health benefits.

2 Keep bones healthy

We do not eat enough foods with vitamin K in them. The amount of vitamin K in just a teensy bit of parsley is over 150% of your daily intake requirements. Vitamin K keeps your bones healthy.

3 It contains antioxidants and immunity boosters

You will get plenty of immunity-boosting vitamin C in parsley, plus beta carotene too. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant and it chases away those pesky free radicals that cause premature aging.

Read also – 7 Seriously Great Reasons to Eat More Asparagus

4 Relieve joint pain

Thanks to anti-inflammatory properties contained in parsley, this herb is healing for people with joint pain. If you suffer from joint pain you should definitely add more to your diet. Whether it is from aging or intensive exercise, parsley can help relieve the aches in your joints and your muscles too.

5 Parsley aids in digestion

Make a tea from parsley and you will enjoy better digestive health. If your stomach has been causing you gastrointestinal distress, add more parsley to your diet to help naturally quell it.

6 High in iron

If you suffer from anemia, parsley helps give you more iron. Add parsley to all your dishes to get in that necessary iron intake. A cup of chopped parsley contains 20% of your daily recommended intake of iron.

7 Fight off cancer

Parsley contains many cancer-fighting agents. Some studies have even shown that these compounds found in parsley are able to stop the growth of tumors. Plus, it is an excellent source of antioxidants that keep your immune system strong.

Parsley is easy to use in just about anything you can think of. You can top off any dish with it. Add it to salads, mix it into your pastas, and even make sauces with it. Pesto sauce is primarily made from fresh basil leaves which are also good for you. By adding parsley to the mix, you will give it even more of a heavenly flavor while adding more healthful benefits.

Read also – 8 Vegan Foods to Help You Shed More Pounds

You can also jazz up rice with parsley, create grain salads with quinoa and parsley, or even mix it into smoothies for an ultimate healthful blast. Mix it with kale, olive oil, and your favorite seasonings to bake in the oven for kale and parsley chips.

There is no end to what you can come up with for incorporating parsley into your daily dishes. How will you add more parsley to your diet?