Published: 08/21/2018 - Updated: 03/08/2020
Author: Prof. Dr. Luis Ruiz-Garcia, PhD
Parsley is originally from the oriental Mediterranean, this herb is extremely well-known and popular in cooking and medicinal uses. This herbaceous plant lives for 2 years, is bright green in color, and has an unmistakable aroma. Its leaves divide into wedge-shaped stems. It creates small green-yellow flowers that are arranged in clusters, with a smooth and cylindrical stalk.
Properties and nutritional elements of Parsley
- A potent antioxidant: rejuvenates the skin.
- Contains beta carotene
- Rich in minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron, and sulfur
- Rich in chlorophyll: fights bad breath, helps cleanse the body of toxins and excess fat.
- Rich in vitamin C: prevents cancer, cardiac problems, cataracts and infections, and helps strengthen the body’s immune system.
- Is very appropriate in diets for menopause and to treat and prevents osteoporosis, because it is rich in calcium. It is very beneficial for children and athletes.
- It is a diuretic: Helps naturally eliminate liquids. Because of this, it is used in diets to treat hypertension, and for kidney health.
- Its high vitamins and minerals content makes it perfect for fighting and preventing anemia, anorexia, general weakness, fatigue, and mental and physical tiredness.
- Perfect for strengthening hair and nails.
- Useful against ulcers.
- An oily liquid called Apiol can be extracted from parsley, which is used to treat intermittent fevers and neuralgia.
Cooking with parsley
Parsley can be consumed from the stalks to the leaves and flowers. Dried parsley is perfect for cooking and flavoring all sorts of dishes, sauces, soups, salads, and even beverages. But you should definitely try to eat parsley fresh, if possible.
Parsley tea is excellent for strengthening overall health, and is a good aperitif (appetite stimulus). When using the leaves in an infusion, the recommended dose is 15 to 20 grams per liter of water.
Other uses:
- Applying crushed parsley leaves to bee stings or mosquito bites can dissipate the pain and inflammation.
- Applying crushed parsley with a few lemon drops and 1 tsp. of olive oil on the skin helps eliminate marks on the skin, and to produce an even color.
- The previous remedy, with a bit of salt, is good for treating molar pain.
- Parsley juice can be used as an emollient, and possesses indisputable fever-reducing properties.
Revised by: Dra. Loredana Lunadei on 03/08/2020
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