I planted parsley seeds in my garden this morning. My Italian friends always use parsley in Italian cooking, but this is an herb that I often overlook. It’s readily available in the grocery store year-round but is also super easy to grow in your garden or in a pot on your windowsill. It is a biennial plant which means you plant it once and it will return to the garden year after year.

Health benefits of parsley:

A fresh, natural breath freshener! Just chew on fresh parsley after eating garlic to eliminate bad breath

Promotes healthy digestion by flushing out excess water and reducing bloating

This plant is a super low calorie food with some of the most nutrient dense leafs but contains zero cholesterol or fat! Just 10 sprigs of fresh parsley can provide 205% of vitamin K needs for the day, as well as 22% of vitamin C and 17% of vitamin A with only 4 calories.

Awesome source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) – humans, unlike most animals, don’t synthesize Vitamin C so it is an essential part of our diet. Vitamin C helps heal tissue, plays an important role in immune function and its antioxidant properties helps to reduce the damaging effects of free radicals in the body

Great for healthy skin because of its high levels of Vitamin C – essential for collagen production, wound healing or clearing up blemishes and Vitamin K which may also help improve skin’s elasticity and tone.

Parsley is a potent source of nutrients that have anti-inflammatory properties which may help reduce the symptoms of arthritis

Great source of vitamin B (Folic Acid) – which can reduce risk for cardiovascular disease and decrease the risk for many forms of cancer

3 Quick ways to incorporate parsley in your diet

• Add fresh chopped parsley at the end of most savory dishes to add flavor
• Make your own salad dressing by adding fresh chopped parsley, balsamic, olive or grape seed oil & lemon juice
• Throw fresh parsley into your morning smoothie
• Add dried parsley to your spaghetti sauce or on your eggs in the morning