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What are the health benefits of parsley?
Eating parsley can reduce the risk of cancers such as breast, digestive tract, skin and prostate. Parsley contains high levels of a flavonoid called apigenin. Not only does apigenin possesses remarkable anti-cancer properties, it's also a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Parsley. Parsley can be grown in a grow box.
Parsley is a biennial plant with bright green, feather-like leaves and is in the same family as dill. Here’s how to grow parsley in your own garden.
This popular herb is used in sauces, salads, and especially soups, as it lessens the need for salt. Not only is parsley the perfect garnish, it’s also good for you; it’s rich in iron and vitamins A and C.
For a head start, plant seeds in individual pots indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last spring frost. For better germination, you can soak the seeds overnight.
Plant the seeds 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost because parsley is a slow starter. (The plants can handle the cold weather.) It can take up to 3 weeks for the plants to sprout.
Plant the seeds in moist, rich soil about 6 to 8 inches apart. For thinner plants, plant about 6 to 10 inches apart. Try to pick an area that is weed-free; that way, you’ll be able to see the parsley sprouting after about 3 weeks.
You can use a fluorescent light to help the seedlings grow. Make sure it remains at least two inches above the leaves at all times.
To ensure the best growth, the soil should be around 70ºF.
Plant parsley near asparagus, corn, and tomatoes in your garden.
Be sure to water the seeds often while they germinate so that they don’t dry out.
Throughout the summer, be sure to water the plants evenly.
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When the leaf stems have three segments, parsley is ready to be harvested.
Cut leaves from the outer portions of the plant whenever you need them. Leave the inner portions of the plant to mature.
One method of storing the parsley fresh is to put the leaf stalks in water and keep them in the refrigerator.
Another method of storage is drying the parsley. Cut the parsley at the base and hang it in a well-ventilated, shady, and warm place. Once it’s completely dry, crumble it up and store it in an airtight container.
If you want fresh parsley throughout the winter, replant a parsley plant in a pot and keep it in a sunny window.
Flat-leaf varieties: Use in cooking because they have better flavor and are easier to work with than curly-leaf parsley
Curly-leaf varieties: Use when you want a fancier garnish
How to Make Parsley Tea
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Parsley tea is an herbal solution often used to treat muscle spasms, improve digestion, enhance urine production, and increase menstrual flow.
You can make parsley tea using fresh or dried leaves, roots, or seeds.
Benefits of parsley have been known to all, after a lot of experience and research.
It was a much underestimated herb which had found its place only in dishes, but now, it is widely used in curing various ailments and in beauty.
People who suffer from acne, you are at the right place! Parsley tea is a wonder drink and works like a charm in clearing the acne.
Here are the top benefits of consuming parsley tea for health:
Parsley has been found to be effective for all kidney and urinary conditions except severe kidney inflammation. Drinking parsley tea helps to prevent salt from being reabsorbed into the body tissues.
In other words, parsley literally forces debris out of the kidneys, liver and bladder.
Parsley and lemon work together to clean the body from within and clear out acne!
It makes a wonderful cleansing tea because Parsley is rich in vitamins A, C and E and minerals, acting as an antioxidant.
Parsley tea can be used for calming the gut, improving digestion and removal of gases.
Parsley tea prevents absorption of salt in the tissues, thereby protecting the kidney and liver in performing their cleaning. As it is a uterine tonic, it helps you with irregular and painful menstruation.
It is a mild emmenagogue, meaning that it will stimulate menstruation (note that it is expected to work when your period is late and not when you are pregnant).
Fresh Parsley Leaf Tea
Boil the water. Bring 1 cup (250 ml) of purified water to a boil using a tea kettle or small saucepan.
Rinse the parsley leaves. Rinse 1/4 cup (60 ml) of fresh parsley leaves under cool, running water. Pat the leaves dry using clean paper towels.
Use either curly or flat leaf parsley. Both varieties should have similar tastes and health benefits.
Either roughly chop the parsley or leave it whole. Chopping or gently crushing the parsley in your hand can help release some of its natural oils, so it may result in stronger tea.
Steep the parsley for 5 to 10 minutes. Place the parsley leaves in the bottom of one teacup. Pour the hot water over the leaves, then allow the tea to steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
Alter the steep time according to personal taste. Parsley tea can seem very bitter, and the flavor becomes stronger as you steep it longer.
Strain the leaves. Pour the tea through a fine mesh tea strainer. Collect the liquid tea in a separate teacup and discard the leaves.
Enjoy. Drink the parsley tea immediately to enjoy the best flavor. You can sweeten the tea or leave it unsweetened.
Consider using raw sugar or locally sourced honey if you choose to sweeten the tea.
Parsley Seed Tea
Boil the water. Bring at least 1 cup (250 ml) of purified water to a steady boil using a tea kettle or small saucepan.
Steep the parsley seeds for 5 minutes. Measure out 2 tsp (10 ml) of parsley seeds into the bottom of a teacup. Pour the boiling water over the seeds, then allow the tea to steep for about 5 minutes.
Parsley seeds can be slightly more bitter than parsley leaves, so the steep time is usually restricted to 5 minutes. You can increase this time if you prefer very strong tea, however.
Strain the seeds. Pass the concoction through a fine mesh tea strainer, collecting the seeds in the strainer as you do. Allow the liquid tea to drip into a second teacup placed beneath the strainer.
Enjoy. To enjoy the best flavor, drink the parsley seed tea while it's fresh and hot. You can sweeten it or leave it unsweetened.
While you can use any standard sweetener, using raw sugar or local honey may offer more health benefits than many other sweeteners can.