Parsley: The small herb with big benefits

Parsley is highly flexible as it has many uses when cooking and preparing any hot or cold meals.

It supplies the body with antioxidants that can help reduce stress and anxiety levels.

parsley benefits

Parsley contains many antioxidants that are beneficial for the health of the body, such as flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamin C They are compounds that reduce the risk of cell damage caused by free radicals, in addition to reducing the risk of certain diseases, Such as type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, and heart disease.

In addition, parsley contains lutein, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin.; It is one of the types of antioxidants that help promote vision health and reduce the risk of eye diseases such as age-related ocular degeneration. It should be noted that beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A in the body; This explains the high content of parsley of this vitamin, which is essential for eye health.

• A good source of vitamin A: Half a cup of fresh and chopped parsley, or the equivalent of 30 grams, contains 108% of the recommended amount of vitamin A, and this vitamin contributes to maintaining the retina and the conjunctival layer and is also necessary for the growth and health of the immune system. [2] [1] A rich
• source of vitamin K: one cup of fresh and chopped parsley contains 1,230% of the recommended amount of this vitamin, and eating 10 sprigs of parsley is enough to get the recommended daily amount of vitamin K, which can improve bone health by enhancing calcium absorption and reducing its excretion in the urine. It should be noted that vitamin K deficiency is associated with an increased risk of bone fractures. On the other hand, it is worth noting that vitamin K interferes with blood-thinning medications such as warfarin due to its effect on coagulation. the blood. [3]
• A good source of many minerals: Parsley contains potassium, which helps to regulate the level of blood pressure, and manganese, which contributes to the regulation of brain and nerve functions, in addition to magnesium, which is involved in regulating the functions of the heart, muscles, and nerves, as well as maintaining bone health and strength.

Benefits of parsley, according to the degree of effectiveness Benefits There is insufficient evidence for its effectiveness

It should be noted that these benefits are not confirmed, and still need more studies to prove their effectiveness, including:

• Reduced risk of cancer: Parsley is a source of flavanones and plant-based compounds that have been linked to a reduced risk of this disease, including apigenin, which is a natural chemical compound. A 2015 review published in Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry found that it reduced tumor size in a severe case of breast cancer. This is due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties.
• Regulating menstruation: According to a 2014 review published in the Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, it is believed that parsley stimulates menstrual flow, [5] as the infusion of parsley contains the compounds myristicin and label, which affect the production of estrogen to contribute to the maintenance of hormone balance, but It is worth noting that the consumption of large quantities of it is associated with stimulating the contraction of the uterus, which may cause miscarriage during pregnancy, and it is also used by nursing mothers to inhibit the production of breast milk.
• Other benefits. There is not enough evidence of its effectiveness: Parsley can contribute to alleviating some conditions, of which we mention the following: Alleviating asthma.
• Alleviation of cough.
• Reduce bruising or bruising.
• Reducing cracked skin.
• Reduce fluid retention or edema.

Benefits of parsley for inflammation

Parsley has anti-inflammatory properties due to its antioxidant content. such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and vitamin C, [9] A preliminary study conducted on mice and published in the Journal of Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology in 2012 found that the essential oils extracted from parsley can help inhibit inflammation, one of the types of immunity, and pharyngeal cells.

Dried parsley benefits

Dried parsley can contain a higher amount of antioxidants than fresh parsley. A 2014 review published in the International Journal of Medicine found that 100 grams of dried parsley contained 1,584 milligrams of antioxidant phenols, which is more than 17 times the antioxidants. Available in the same amount of fresh parsley

Benefits of parsley for anemia

Parsley is one of the plant food sources rich in iron, whose consumption in larger quantities helps reduce the risk of anemia, which usually occurs as a result of lack of iron levels in the blood, but it should be noted that the body absorbs greater amounts of iron found in animal sources, and therefore it is recommended for people who They don’t eat meat by increasing the intake of iron-rich plant foods to ensure they get enough of it.

Benefits of cold parsley juice

A laboratory study published in Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science in 2016 found that parsley juice is rich in health-friendly antioxidants, polyphenols, and nitrites, which in turn contribute to fighting free radicals. [15] A preliminary study conducted on mice and published in the journal Behavioral and Brain Functions in 2016, indicated that this juice can contribute to improving the condition of people with cadmium poisoning, in addition to their behavior, the level of neurotransmitters and neurons and the level of glutathione; It is an antioxidant in their brain, in addition to reducing oxidative stress, as the occurrence of this poisoning is associated with behavioral disorders, changes in blood parameters, and other tissue-related diseases.

Benefits of boiled parsley

Boiled parsley is one of the ways in which parsley can be consumed to obtain its health benefits. Eating boiled parsley can provide many health benefits for the body, Such as improving breath smell, and other benefits mentioned above for parsley.

Benefits of parsley for the liver

A preliminary study in mice published in the Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology in 2016 indicated that parsley extract can contribute to maintaining a healthy liver. It has been observed that it reduces the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and the levels of one of the byproducts of lipid peroxidation, among others, due to the antioxidants it contains. [18] But it should be cautioned here that excessive consumption of parsley, or eating it in medicinal quantities, may be harmful to the liver, and you can read more about that in the section on parsley damage.

Can the liver be cleaned with parsley?

As mentioned previously, the antioxidant content of parsley may contribute to maintaining the health of the liver [18], but there is no information that its use may help clean the liver, and there is no specific way to consume parsley for this. What is known as parsley tea can be prepared. By placing the leaves in a cup, add boiling water to them, soaking them for about 4 minutes, and then remove the leaves and drink the liquid.

Parsley and weight loss

A preliminary study published in the Journal of Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin in 2003, which was conducted on diabetic rats, indicated that giving them parsley extract reduced the weight of diabetic animals and maintained their blood sugar level.

Parsley side effects

Parsley is often considered safe when used in food quantities, while taking it in medicinal quantities and for a short period is potentially safe for most adults, but at the same time, it can cause allergic reactions in the skin in some people. As for taking pharmacological or very large quantities of parsley, it is often considered unsafe, as it may lead to some side effects, Such as anemia, and kidney or liver problems.

In addition, parsley can be eaten in nutritional quantities during pregnancy, but it is considered unsafe to eat it in large quantities during this period. As it may cause miscarriage, as some evidence indicated that eating a product containing a mixture of herbs; Including parsley during the first three months of pregnancy increases the chances of severe birth defects, therefore it is advised to avoid eating large quantities of it during this period, and it should be noted that there is insufficient information about the degree of safety of parsley during breastfeeding, and therefore it is recommended to eat it in nutritional quantities Just.

Disadvantages of using parsley

Parsley can lead to the body retaining sodium and salts, which leads to an increase in water retention in the body. There are some cases that should be careful when eating parsley, among which we mention the following:

• Diabetics: Parsley can reduce blood sugar levels, and therefore, diabetics are advised to monitor low blood sugar indicators and levels when eating parsley.
• People with high blood pressure: Parsley can cause the body to retain sodium and salts, which may further exacerbate high blood pressure.
• Kidney patients: Parsley contains some chemicals that can worsen the condition of the kidney patient, and therefore, these people are advised to avoid eating it.
• Surgical patients: Eating parsley can reduce blood glucose levels, and it can also interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery, so it is recommended to stop eating parsley at least two weeks before the scheduled surgery date.

Parsley drug interactions

Parsley consumption with some medications is associated with interactions.

• Diabetes medications: Eating large quantities of parsley with diabetes medications can lower blood sugar levels, and therefore, it is recommended to monitor their levels, in addition to consulting a doctor. Examples of these drugs are: glimepiride, glyburide, and insulin, and the level of interaction in this case is moderate.
• Pentobarbital: Parsley juice can increase the duration of this drug’s stay in the body, which may lead to an increase in its effect and side effects, and the level of interaction in this case is moderate.
• Warfarin: It is a blood-thinning drug, where eating large quantities of parsley leaves can increase blood clotting, which may reduce the effect of this drug in the body, and the level of interference in this case is moderate.

• Diuretics: Parsley can be taken with these medicines. Chlorothiazide, furosemide, and chlorthalidone can cause the body to lose water in large quantities, which may lead to a feeling of dizziness and a significant drop in blood pressure, and the level of interference, in this case, is moderate.
• Aspirin: Taking this drug can worsen the condition of some people who are allergic to parsley, and therefore, it is recommended to avoid taking it together at the same time, and the level of interaction in this case is simple.

An overview of parsley

Parsley (scientific name: Petroselinum crispum) belongs to the Apiaceae family. It is considered a perennial herbaceous plant that lives for only two years. It is cultivated for the use of its fresh leaves to decorate some dishes, Such as meat, fish, and vegetables, in addition to the use of dried leaves to flavor salads, sauces, soups, broth, eggs, and processed foods. They appear on newly grown plants, and in addition to this, the plant produces small yellow flowers.