Juicing For Health - Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Name
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Parts Used
Fruit, Leaves, Roots, Stems.
Information
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a bright green biennial herb, often used as spice and dish garnish. It is common in Middle Eastern, European, and American cooking.
Parsley is the world's most popular herb and for good reason not only is it a great garnish, parsley has an impressive nutritional profile.
Parsley contains two types of unusual components that provide unique health benefits. The first type is volatile oil components-including myristicin, limonene, eugenol, and alpha-thujene. The second type is flavonoids-including apiin, apigenin, crisoeriol, and luteolin.
Traditionally parsley was used for the treatment of anemia, adrenal fatigue, arthritis, as an antispasmodic, bladder problems, breathing disorders, bronchitis, cardiovascular disorders, coughs, colic, expectorant, flatulence, diuretic, dyspepsia, gastrointestinal disorders, high blood pressure, menstrual disorder, myalgia, thyroid problems, obesity, urinary tract infections.
Benefits
- Antioxident
- Cancer
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Parsley is an antioxident powerhouse. The flavonoids in parsley-especially luteolin-have been shown to function as antioxidants. Apart from parsleys volatile oil and flavinoid content, parsley is also rich in the antioxidents vitamin C and A.
Parsley's volatile oils particularly myristicin have been shown to inhibit tumor formation in animal studies, and particularly tumor formation in the lungs. The volatile oils help neutralize particular types of carcinogens which qualifies parsley as a "chemoprotective" food.
Parsley is rich in vitamin C which provides protection against inflammatory polyarthritis, a form of rheumatoid arthritis involving two or more joints. Studies have shown those who consumed the lowest amounts of vitamin C-rich foods were more than three times more likely to develop arthritis than those who consumed the highest amounts.
Side Effects/Precautions
Parsley should not be consumed as a supplement by pregnant women. Parsley as an oil, root, leaf, or seed could lead to uterine stimulation and preterm labor.
Parsley is high in oxalic acid, a compound involved in the formation of kidney stones and nutrient deficiencies so if you suffer from kidney or gallbladder disease its best to avoid foods/herbs high in this compound.
Buying Information
Good product sources can be purchased from the links below.
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