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Our team includes licensed nutritionists and dietitians, certified health education specialists, as well as certified strength and conditioning specialists, personal trainers and corrective exercise specialists. Our team aims to be not only thorough with its research, but also objective and unbiased. You probably recognize parsley as a familiar fresh or dried herb, but you may not know that it can prove to be a boon to your health. Many cultures use it not only to add flavor to dishes, but also for the high nutrient value and the number of parsley benefits. What are the health benefits of parsley?

It’s packed with essential oils and antioxidants, to the point that it’s often called a superfood. Parsley benefits the body in many ways and is considered a naturally effective treatment for a wide range of symptoms and diseases. This herb has long been considered an all-natural free radical scavenger, heart protector, brain protector, antidiabetic, antibacterial and digestive aid. As a digestive soother, it’s probably best known for its ability to help regulate bowel movements and decrease bloating — but that’s not all.

Parsley, which has the scientific name petroselinum crispum, is a species of Petroselinum, a member of the family of Apiaceae plants. Other plants in the Apiaceae family include carrots, celery and other herbs, like cumin, dill and anise. It is originally native to the central Mediterranean region, where even today it’s still the highlight of many of the area’s regional recipes. Parsley herb and parsley essential oil have been used as natural detox remedies, diuretics, and antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agents for centuries in folk medicine. Countries and regions such as southern Italy, Algeria and Tunisia were some of the first growers of this healing herb.

Flat-leaf Italian parsley is more closely related to the wild parsley species that was first grown in the Mediterranean. Compared to curly parsley, it also has a stronger flavor and is easier to grow. However, some people prefer the curly-leaf variety because of its decorative appearance when it’s used on top of recipes. Both types taste very similar to someone who is not extremely familiar with them, and both offer similar health benefits. Although it’s not seen very much in the U. Hamburg root parsley, which looks similar to its relative the parsnip.

This root vegetable plant is grown and used in parts of the world like the Middle East. Root parsley is also used in some European cuisines, where it’s added to dishes like soups and stews, or eaten raw. These two green herbs have a similar appearance and even related health benefits, however parsley is usually described as having a more delicate flavor. You can tell them apart by smelling them and looking for parsley’s pointed leaves.

Cilantro has more rounded and curved leaves. It also has a stronger smell that is similar to lime, while parsley is more subtle and almost bitter. Cilantro is popular in Mexican, Thai and Indian-inspired dishes, while parsley has uses in various cuisines. For example, cilantro has beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin, which help account for the many cilantro benefits.

High Source of Flavonoid Antioxidants What is parsley good for in terms of anti-aging and immune-boosting benefits? It contains a range of protective vitamins and flavonoid antioxidants that are responsible for many of the disease-fighting parsley benefits being researched today. Antioxidants help slow the aging process by fighting free radical damage, or oxidative stress, along with inflammation within the body. This is important because free radical formation is known to contribute to almost every age-related disease, including cancer, heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases and eye disorders. When adults were given high quantities of the herb, they showed a significant improvement in lowering oxidative stress levels compared to those who didn’t receive it, according to a study done by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration’s Institute of Food Safety and Toxicology in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The researchers noticed that when the subjects were on the restricted diet, their oxidative stress markers rose, but when parsley was added to their diets during the second half of the study, it was found to help reverse the signs of oxidative stress thanks to its status as a high-antioxidant food. Provides Beneficial Essential Oils that Fight Cancer Parsley contains unique elements in its oil known as volatile oil components — myristicin, limonene, eugenol and alpha-thujene. DNA from damage, stops cell mutation and helps induce apoptosis, or the death of harmful cells. Acts as Natural Diuretic and Helps Relieve Bloating Strong evidence exists that parsley can be used as a natural diuretic to help relieve water retention and ease bloating, according to a 2002 review done at the American University of Beirut. In the study, rats given parsley seed extract showed a significant increase in the volume of urine they produced over the 24 hours following. Parsley benefits digestive health because it helps stimulate kidney production of urine and draws excess water out of the abdomen, where it can cause discomfort and indigestion.