Parsley Health Benefits: Better Metabolism, Faster Weight Loss, and More!

Parsley is a popular species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. Native to the Mediterranean regions, it is widely cultivated as an herb and a vegetable. There are a lot of health benefits that you can derive from it and it starts from something as simple as a garnish. You can expect this herbal nutrient to help you with your blood sugar, kidney-related and heart-related issues.

Those flat or curly parsley leaves that you normally mince and use as a garnish to enhance the flavors of your food can do a lot more to help you stay in shape and healthy. As a herbal powerhouse, it is extremely rich in nutrients (like fiber and vitamins) and low in calories- and they help it boost your metabolism rate and reduce your belly fat.

There are only 22 calories and zero fats per packed cup of this herb. It is a vegan source of protein that can cut your hunger pangs and keep you feeling well while you are on a diet. It is also very rich in homocysteine, an amino acid that reduces the risk of additional weight gain, stroke, and elevated cholesterol in people with diabetic heart disease.

Parsley Nutrition Facts

It is rich in vitamins (like A, C, B9, and K) that support the health of the entire endocrine system. One cup of chopped fresh parsley contains 133 mg of Vitamin C, which supports the health of the entire body, but especially the endocrine system that supports metabolism.

The high percentage of vitamin K lowers cholesterol, thins the blood, and improves its circulation. The high iron content is beneficial to stop hair loss, even when people are on a diet that restricts protein and fat. Vitamins A and C help in maintaining proper biological functions.

Also read: 9 Indian Spices That Help You Lose Weight At Home Faster!

Parsley Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz.)

The above values are taken from Wikipedia and are verified by USDA.

This garnishing agent is very high in folate, a nutrient that helps your body convert carbohydrates into fuel instead of when you are on a low-calorie diet. It also has a high concentration of quercetin, which improves blood pressure and good cholesterol levels. You can also expect parsley’s high potassium content to keep you energetic and well enough to exercise.

Health Benefits of Parsley

Low in Calories

1 cup of parsley has only 22 calories, 0.47g of total fat, and 34mg of sodium. This fact indicates that this green herb can enhance your food’s flavor without any extra calories or fats. These facts make it a major ingredient in many cuisines like the Mediterranean. You may also use parsley in place of olive oil to garnish your food, this would make your food tasty and healthy.

High Fiber Content

Fiber, an essential nutrient in all weight-loss diets, is found in abundance in these green leaves. Parsley’s chopped leaves contain about 2 grams of fiber per 1-cup serving. Every serving of parsley you can fulfill about 5-8% of the daily recommendation for dietary fiber. This can help you feel fuller with less food, thus reducing the chances of overeating and helping you lose weight faster.

Did you know? Parsley’s high fiber content helps to clean waste out of the colon for a flatter tummy. It supports faster weight loss by eliminating fat cells from the liver, thus also reducing the risk of fatty liver disease.

Iron and antioxidants

Apart from being rich in fiber, parsley has a high amount of iron (1 cup has 3.7 mg iron), which helps your body produce red blood cells. Parsley is also rich in vitamins A, C, E, and K that together help with skin-related issues and also help in blood coagulation.

Parsley also contains natural antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect your body’s cells from damage from environmental toxins and free radicals, the side products of metabolism. While these nutrients do not directly aid in weight loss, they do help you stay healthy.

Supports bone health

Not too many people know that parsley is an excellent source of calcium too. Every 100gm of this green leafy vegetable can offer up to 138 mg of calcium that makes up for about 15% of our daily diet. These health benefits translate into stronger bones and skeletal structures. It also helps in metabolism by storing up calcium in our digestive system.

Improves eyesight

Parsley is rich in three carotenoids, namely, lutein, beta carotene, and zeaxanthin. This translates into a health benefit of having better eyesight. Eating it for an extended period could help you see an appreciable difference too, especially if you wear spectacles.

Also read: Ayurvedic Immunity-Boosters That Actually Work!

Improves the strength of the heart

Parsley is rich in vitamin C. This nutrient improves the strength of cardiac muscles, thus protecting against issues created by bad cholesterol. Vitamin C also builds immunity and helps in the control of free radicals in our bloodstream, thus helping us feel younger and fresher.

How to Make a Belly Fat-Burning Juice?

Apart from using this vegetable for garnish, there are several ways in which you can use it and let it contribute towards weight loss. Add ½ to 1 cup of parsley to every serving of salad, use it in smoothies, double its quantity while using it as a garnish- these are some of the most common options.

Parsley juice makes a very good belly fat-burning juice. It is a wonderful diuretic that works with your body to flush all those unwanted fluids out of your system. It has a high concentration of antioxidants and is also rich in Vitamin A, B, and K.

Many people like to drink parsley tea for weight loss which could easily have lemon juice added to it and still taste good.

Ingredients:

• Parsley - a fistful

• Lemon - ½

• Water - 3/4 cup

Method:

• Clean the parsley and remove the stem part.

• Take it in a blender and grind it for 30 seconds.

• Add lemon juice and water and process at high speed for 2 mins.

• Serve immediately.

The Best Way to Get These Health Benefits Is to Include Parsley in the Regular Diet

Parsley’s health benefits are immense and they are not limited to just weight loss or like a detox agent. Its high count of antioxidants and minerals help us feel younger and more energetic, besides optimizing the biological processes in our body.

It thus makes proper sense to know and stick with a nutritionist to know of more and healthier ways in which we can use this nutritious herb for the best results. We also recommend that you back it up with supportive diet and fitness plans for the best results.

What does parsley taste like?

It tastes a bit pungent, bitter, or pepper-like in most cases. Some of its variants may also have a “damp earthy” flavor.

How much parsley can I eat in a day?

You may eat up to twelve sprigs of parsley to cover your daily recommended intake.

What benefits does parsley have for kidneys?

Parsley has anti-inflammatory properties. It is rich in oxalates that drive out toxins and kidney stones.

What is the side-effect of eating too much parsley?

An excess of anything is bad. Having too much parsley can cause anemia, and issues with the liver and kidneys. It may also cause indigestion and nausea.

How to store fresh parsley?

Our wellness experts suggest that you should store this green leafy vegetable just as you would keep flowers. You may trim their drooping or dried leaves, and keep the remaining bundle of leaves together in a glass container with little water.

Alternatively, you may also pack them in moist paper bags and then seal them in plastic bags. If they are kept in the open, it is important to keep sprinkling some water on them regularly.

Can you freeze it?

You can also refrigerate it if you loosely pack the leaves in a plastic bag and leave it open from the top. Try not to keep the leaves stored for too long or else they will dehydrate and turn brown. Make sure to use them within three days.

Looking for a Faster Weight Loss Diet Plan? Try an Online Wellness Expert

Weight loss is a holistic process and it takes a lot of time and patience to get going with it. It is thus recommended that you should go for a wellness expert for a more calculated approach. She can help you with a personalized 7-day diet plan to help you prepare physically and mentally for the bigger changes coming your way.

There is no good trying to go on a mindless dieting spree or just cutting out everything that you love to eat. We thus recommend consulting an online wellness expert first. You may try these on-demand services from your smartphone. They do not require any paperwork or waiting times, at a fraction of the cost of your local healthcare service providers.

These consultations are offered by some of the world’s best professionals, and you can ring them up at a time and place of your choice. These live sessions are offered through audio or video conferencing.