Parsley is one of my favourite herbs. It adds a fresh, crisp flavour to many dishes. I usually always have some in my home and I sprinkle it over omelettes, add it to my salads, and tuna mayo and even add it as a garnish to my soups. I prefer fresh parsley, but dried parsley is easy to add to dishes and it has been said that it can increase its potential to fight cancer.
Here are some of the benefits of eating parsley:
Parsley can improve bone health
Parsley is packed with Vitamin K, which is linked to bone health. Just one tablespoon of freshly chopped will give you 70% of the recommended daily intake.
Parsley can reduce bloating
As parsley is a natural diuretic and helps the body flush out toxins, as a result eating parsley can also help to reduce blood pressure.
Parsley can improve eye health
Parsley contains lutein, beta carotene, and zeaxanthin which are three carotenoids present in parsley that helps to protect your eyes and will promote healthy vision.
Parsley can reduce your risk of heart disease
As parsley contains B vitamin folate, which has been found to reduce the risk of heart disease by 38%. It was found that men who had a lower intake of folate in their diets had a 55% risk of suffering from heart disease. Just a half cup of parsley contains 11% of the recommended dietary intake.
Parsley is rich in antioxidants
Parsley contains antioxidants such as flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamin C. Diets that are rich in flavonoids have been proven to lower the risk of diseases such as colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Dried parsley is proven to contain 17 times more antioxidants as opposed to fresh herbs.
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Pick farm fresh fare at at Boschendal’s Citrus Festival Market
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Originally published in Garden&Home Magazine
