Why Parsley Should be More Than a Garnish

You see it on your plate at restaurants and just push it to the side. You walk right by it in the produce department of your local grocery store. You have never even thought of growing it in your garden. But parsley is a wonderfully healthy, tasty, and pretty plant that not only adds flavor to dishes but benefits your health.

Parsley is rich in antioxidants which helps fight those nasty free radicals that cause illness. One of the antioxidants is luteolin which is a powerful anti-inflammatory (think arthritis help).

Parsley is chock full of Vitamin C and iron. It helps with warding off colds, and helps with fatigue and anemia. It is also rich in Vitamins B12, K, A, folic acid and Beta-Carotene.

Parsley, being nice and green, is loaded with chlorophyll which helps to oxygenate the blood. It also acts as a diuretic making all our insides (liver, kidney, bladder, thyroid, stomach, and digestive system) work properly.

Nutrients in Parsley 2.00 tbs (7.60 grams)

Nutrient %Daily Value

vitamin K 155.8%

vitamin C 16.8%

vitamin A 12.8%

folate 2.8%

iron 2.6%

Calories (2) 0%

If all that isn’t enough, parsley also helps to stop the growth of bad bacteria and helps to freshen your breath. Not sure what to do with parsley? Add it to all kinds of dishes like soups, stir fry, pasta, tabbouleh, hummus, even smoothies. At the end of dinner, when you are staring at that little leafy green thing on your plate, I dare you to munch away.

Go ahead and eat the parsley…don’t let the waitress throw it away. It may possibly be the healthiest thing you consume while eating out.