Anti-Cancer
Studies
show that myristicin, an organic compound found in the essential oil of
parsley, not only inhibits tumor formation (especially in the lungs), but also activates the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase, which helps the molecule
glutathione attach to, and fight against, oxidized molecules. Myristicin can
also neutralize carcinogens like benzopyrene in cigarette smoke that can pass
through the body, consequently fighting against colon and prostate cancer.
Antioxidants
Parsley is rich with an antioxidant arsenal that includes luteolin, a
flavonoid that searches out and eradicates free radicals in the body that cause
oxidative stress in cells. Luteolin also promotes carbohydrate metabolism and
serves the body as an anti-inflammatory agent. Furthermore, two tablespoons of
parsley contain 16% of the RDA of vitamin C and over 12% of the RDA of vitamin
A - two powerful antioxidants.
Anti-Inflammatory
Along with luteolin, the vitamin C found in parsley serves as an
effective anti-inflammatory agent within the body. When consumed regularly, they
combat the onset of inflammatory disorders, such as osteoarthritis (the
degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone) and rheumatoid
arthritis (a disease causing inflammation in the joints).
Healthy Immune System
The vitamin C and vitamin A found in parsley serve to strengthen the
body's immune system,
though in different ways. Vitamin C is necessary for collagen, the main structural
protein found in connective tissue. This essential nutrient will not only
accelerate the
body's ability to repair wounds, but also maintain healthy bones and teeth.
Vitamin A, on the other hand, fortifies the entry points into the human
body, such as mucous
membranes,
the lining of the eyes, and respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts.
Moreover, lymphocytes, or white blood cells, rely on vitamin A to fight
infection in the body.
A Healthy Heart
Homocysteine, an amino acid that occurs in the body, threatens the body's
blood vessels when its levels become too high. Luckily, the folate (or vitamin
B9) found in parsley helps convert homocysteine into harmless molecules. A
regular garnish of parsley can help ward off cardiovascular diseases, such as
heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis.
Vitamin K
Two tablespoons of parsley have a whopping 153% of the RDA of vitamin K,
which is necessary for the synthesis of osteocalcin, a protein that strengthens
the composition of our bones. Vitamin K also prevents calcium build-up in our
tissue that can lead to atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Finally, the vitamin K found in parsley is essential for synthesizing
sphingolipid, the fat needed to maintain the myelin sheath around our nerves,
and therefore our nervous system as a whole.
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