The benefits of this unassuming garnish are virtually endless!
Parsley is a staple garnish that few people actually eat. Yet the benefits of parsley tea are increasingly making their way into the mainstream.
Although parsley tea has been used as an herbal digestive aid for centuries, the nutrition facts of parsley have been woefully overlooked. In fact, it’s a low-calorie, vitamin and antioxidant rich herb that you might want to make a mandatory part of your diet.
From promoting skin health to fighting cancer, parsley tea benefits almost every part of your body.
Parsley Tea Benefits
Parsley is impressively rich in vitamin K and C, not to mention it contains twice the amount or iron as spinach. It’s also loaded with vitamin A, copper, and folate.
Here’s a quick breakdown of parsley’s nutrition facts per half cup:
- Calories: 11
- Fat: >1 gram
- Protein: 1 gram
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Vitamin A: 108% RDI (Reference Daily Intake)
- Vitamin C: 53% RDI
- Vitamin K: 547% RDI
- Folate: 11% RDI
- Potassium: 4% RDI
Sounds great, right? But what does this actually mean for your body? Let’s look at parsley tea benefits in a more practical way.
Skin and Hair
Healthy skin and hair are the product of a well-nourished body. That’s why drinking parsley tea benefits your health, inside and out. Parsley contains vital micronutrients that promote skin and hair health.
First and foremost, parsley tea has antibacterial properties that may extend to your skin. If you suffer from acne, a soothing cup of parsley tea at night may be the best way to protect your skin from the growth of nighttime organisms.
Perhaps the largest benefit of parsley tea is its abundance of vitamin K. Vitamin K helps your body form blood clots. This is imperative in helping your skin heal from blemishes and rashes. A half of a cup of chopped parsley contains an incredible 547% of your recommended daily intake of this important vitamin.
Half a cup of parsley also contains three times as much vitamin C as an orange. As you know, vitamin C has an incredible ability to brighten, tone, and even skin and hair.
As an antioxidant, vitamin C prevents oxidation, thereby slowing skin aging. It also boosts the immune system to stave off infections that may cause acne.
Lastly, parsley contains B vitamins and folate. Folate is a B vitamin required for the absorption of other B vitamins, so that’s a match made in heaven. Furthermore, biotin is a B vitamin that is known to promote healthy hair growth. Adequate amounts of B vitamins daily can help prevent early greys.
Antioxidants
We simply cannot stress the importance of antioxidants enough, and parsley is loaded with them. Its main antioxidants are:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Flavonoids
- Beta carotene
- Lutein
Antioxidants prevent the production of free radicals. Free radicals not only damage skin cells, they can cause cancer. A diet rich in antioxidants may lower your risk of colon cancer, lung cancer, type II diabetes, and heart disease.
Digestive & Urinary Health
Parsley tea benefits the digestive and urinary tracts. This herb has mild laxative and diuretic properties that can be used as a cleansing detox to promote weight loss.
Due to its fiber content, parsley tea has long been used to gently move the bowels. Use parsley tea for nausea, indigestion, constipation, and bloating.
And if you suffer from bad breath caused by indigestion, worry no more. Parsley freshens breath while settling your stomach.
Helps with Menstruation
Parsley is an “emmenagogue.” This means it helps balance hormones and softens the cervix. If you suffer from an irregular menstrual cycle, parsley tea could help regulate it.
While some women drink parsley tea to induce their periods, other women rely on it to ease cramping. Parsley has amazing anti-inflammatory properties.
Evidence for this is mostly anecdotal, but some studies suggest it may be true. According to a 2013 review of the research, phenolic compounds and flavonoids found in parsley may interact with estrogen, as well as provide an analgesic effect.
Never put parsley directly into your vagina. You can get all these benefits by drinking parsley tea.
Can’t I get parsley tea benefits from eating raw parsley?
As we mention below, you can certainly get ample micronutrients from parsley by eating fresh parsley or using fresh parsley to make parsley tea.
However, parsley tea benefits become concentrated and easier to absorb when turned into a tea. You can consume far more vital nutrients when you steep parsley in water. After all, eating three tablespoons of parsley per day might get old.
And dried parsley contains about 17 times more antioxidants than fresh parsley, to boot.
How to Make Parsley Tea
Receiving parsley tea benefits is easy. Here’s how we brew parsley tea:
Step One: Prepare Your Ingredients
You can make parsley tea from fresh parsley or dried parsley. However, we will note that dried parsley actually contains more antioxidants than its fresh counterpart.
Gather 3 tablespoons of chopped parsley, a ½ cup of water, and a loose leaf tea infuser or mesh K-cup. Place the parsley in the infuser or K-cup.
Step Two: Start Brewing
Boil ½ a cup of water in a pot or the microwave. Once it boils, reduce heat. When you no longer see bubbles, pour your water into your favorite mug. Add the infuser and let your tea steep for 5 minutes.
If you’re using a K-cup, simply add the water and K-cup to your machine and push “Brew.”
Step Three: Reap the Parsley Tea Benefits
You may choose to add lemon or a sugar alternative as parsley tea can have a potent taste. Taste your parsley tea first and alter it from there.
Knowing how nourishing parsley tea is will help you acquire a taste for it. Simply drink your tea and get on with your day!
