WHAT IS PARSLEY WATER FOR? 10 HEALTHY PROPERTIES - NUTRITION - 2025

The health properties of parsley water are to be very varied; rejuvenating properties for skin and skin blemishes, helps lose weight or as a remedy for kidney pain or menstruation.

First of all, keep in mind that parsley by itself is powerful, but in water it helps to improve the absorption of nutrients and allows it to be used more than we normally would as food, since we can add more quantity and / or take it more often.

Parsley is a biennial plant, which means that it completes its life cycle in two years. The word parsley comes from the Greek petros which means stone, as it was often found among the rocks.

There are two basic types of parsley that differ in the taste and morphology of the leaves. Curly parsley is bitter and Italian parsley has a strong flavor and is flat-leaved.

10 properties of drinking parsley water

1- Fight cancer cells

According to a study from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a compound of parsley and other plant-based products, including fruits and nuts, can stop certain breast cancer tumor cells from multiplying and growing.

The study was published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, and the authors say that the next phase of the study should include human clinical trials to determine the appropriate dosage amount. While these studies are being carried out, it would not hurt to drink a few glasses of parsley water throughout the week.

2- Helps in chemotherapy

Research from the New Zealand Institute for Plants and Food Research has identified that some compounds present in parsley and carrots may be effective in chemotherapy treatments. You can ask your doctor if you can accompany your chemotherapy with shots of parsley water.

3- Prevents bacterial diseases

A refreshing glass of parsley water will distance you from many diseases. According to a study by the Department of Food, Nutrition and Health, of the University of British Columbia in Canada, parsley has antibacterial properties, which makes it an ally to ward off infections and bacteria from our body.

4- Prevents and delays cell damage

This is due to its proven antioxidant properties, so its intake reduces the risk of chronic diseases that limit or decrease life expectancy.

In a study from the Copenhagen Institute for Food Safety and Toxicology, participants were initially given a diet without antioxidant sources and their markers of oxidative stress were increased. They then added parsley to the diet during the second half of the study to see that parsley reversed the signs of oxidative stress, which it did indeed.

5- Improves bone health

Lack of vitamin K is associated with an increased risk of bone fracture. From the review of the USDA National Nutrient Database, we can calculate that drinking water with about 10 sprigs of parsley provides 205% of the vitamin K needed per day.

6- Helps to lose extra pounds

There is evidence of the diuretic effect that parsley has. In one study, Kreydiyyeh and his colleagues found that eating parsley causes us to empty our bladders more often than drinking water alone.

7- It benefits the immune defenses

Parsley water is rich in vitamin C, and according to the study by Bayer Consumer Care of Switzerland, this vitamin -among many other benefits- improves our immune system.

8- Improves vision

A cup of parsley contains 30% of the required daily intake of vitamin A, and as we know it is this vitamin that is responsible for producing pigments in the retina of the eye that favor our vision, especially when there is little light. So by drinking parsley water we are promoting the good health of our eyes.

9- Protects liver tissue

A study from Istanbul University investigated the morphological and biochemical effects of parsley on liver tissue in diabetic rats. In their conclusions they suggest that parsley demonstrated a significant hepatoprotective effect.

10- Anti-inflammatory

Parsley contains myristicin, an asset that according to research conducted by the Department of Pathology at Kyungwon University in 2011, has anti-inflammatory properties.

How to prepare parsley water?

There are several ways to make parsley water and you can also add other fruits such as lemon to this drink.

Recipe 1

Wash 4 sprigs of parsley, add 1 to 2 liters of water and mix in a blender. Pour it into a pitcher and cover it with a cloth. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. The water can keep up to three days or until the ingredients you include stay fresh.

Recipe 2

Boil a handful of parsley in 1 liter of water for 10 minutes. Strain the water into a bottle or jug. Squeeze 1 or 2 lemons and 1 or 2 tablespoons of natural honey. Refrigerate until very cold.

Recipe 3

Chop some parsley leaves, a cucumber and a green lemon into pieces. Put them in a jug of water. Let it sit overnight.

Balance makes the difference

As it is wisely said, "everything in excess is bad." The key is to incorporate parsley water not to replace the glasses of water that we should drink each day as a source of good health, but as a drink that we can add to our fasts or our meals.

From what we have seen, there are no studies that indicate the recommended dose or frequency to ingest parsley water, so our recommendation is to avoid the diets that some propagate online.

Eating a "varied" diet is the most important general eating pattern in preventing disease and achieving good health.

To consider

• Pregnant women should avoid consuming parsley in quantities as it is not considered safe.
• Parsley also contains a small amount of naturally occurring oxalates, which can sometimes be a problem for people with kidney stones.
• If you are taking blood thinners like Coumadin (warfarin), it is important that you do not eat foods that contain vitamin K.
• Be cautious if you notice any symptoms that are made worse by consuming parsley water.

Useful tips about parsley

When buying

Fresh parsley is dark green and crisp, avoid buying bunches with leaves that look yellow or wilted, because this indicates that it is about to be damaged. Try to buy the ones that are organically grown and organic so that you are more sure that it will be good for your health.

When storing

The freshness of parsley can usually last up to a week, if before taking it to the refrigerator we wrap it in a damp paper towel and then in a plastic bag.

When washing

It is advisable not to wash it until the moment of use. Place it in a container with cold water and swish with your hands allowing the dirt (remains of sand or earth) to come out. Empty the container, fill it with clean water, and repeat this process until there is no more dirt in the water.

Fun facts

• The ancient Greeks believed that parsley arose from the blood of the hero Achilles after slaying a dragon.
• In the 1st century AD, Pliny wrote that there was no salad or sauce without being served with parsley.
• The Greeks used parsley for wreaths and garlands for the winners of the Nemena and sports games of the Isthmus.
• There was an ancient belief that plucking a branch of parsley while saying the name of an enemy would result in the death of said enemy.
• Countries and regions such as southern Italy, Algeria and Tunisia were some of the first parsley producers.
• Parsley seeds have been traditionally used in Asian countries and in India for menstrual pain.
• Gardeners seem to like to plant parsley near roses to keep them healthy and to intensify their scent. Also close to tomatoes because parsley attracts bees which are the main pollinators of tomatoes.
• Chewing parsley can help in eliminating bad breath, especially after garlic consumption.
• Parsley is used in the cosmetic industry for the preparation of soaps and body lotions, which are especially good for dry skin.
• When parsley seeds took a long time to germinate, there was a superstition that if a woman planted them it would grow faster.

How to sow parsley at home

It can be sown at almost any time of the year, avoiding excessively hot or excessively cold days.

You must be patient as it may take a month for you to start to see the parsley seedlings appear. If you have planted in winter you will have to wait 3 months for it to grow, while in summer it is approximately 2 months.

You will need to

• 1 pot of at least 20 cm deep and with holes in the base
• Parsley seeds
• Soil / substrate / compost
• Water
• Sunlight

Instructions

1. Find a place where there is a constant temperature of about 25 ° C and where it receives at least 4 hours of light.
2. Fill the pot with compost and plant the parsley seeds about 2 cm deep.
3. You should water it frequently but without too much water. The soil should be damp but not soggy, because fungus could grow.
4. Cut the leaves that stick out. The best thing is to have several and take leaves of each one in a staggered way.
5. It is recommended to cut the parsley in the morning before the plant begins to feel the effects of the sun.