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Wow! I Never Knew Parsnips Have so Many Health Benefits!

Parsnips are a root vegetable that is native to Eurasia and has been used in that region for many centuries. Parsnips can be eaten raw, but most of the common culinary applications require the root vegetable to be cooked. Not only are these vegetables delicious, but they’re also packed with healthy nutrients that are essential for human health, including significant levels of certain key minerals. Below are 6 amazing health benefits of the humble parsnip.
 

 

 

 

1. Improves Heart Health

Everyone seems to be looking for the big secret to getting a healthy cardiovascular system, and while most fruits and vegetables are always a great choice, parsnips make an even bigger impact than usual. This is due to their high levels of potassium, which act as a vasodilator, reduce blood pressure, and put less stress on the heart. The high levels of folate in parsnips are perfectly complementary, as they reduce homocysteine levels in the blood, which are associated with a higher risk of heart disease.

2. Dietary Fiber

Parsnips have been praised for their high fiber content for years, particularly because they’re composed of soluble fiber, the variety that’s closely associated with reducing cholesterol levels and lowering your chance of contracting diabetes. Furthermore, dietary fiber is a key component of our digestive system, facilitating healthy movement of food through the digestive tract, reducing constipation, and preventing other gastrointestinal disorders.

3. Birth Defects and Metabolism

While folate was already mentioned in conjunction with a healthy heart, it’s important to realize that folate is also connected with reducing neural tube birth defects in infants and optimizing metabolic processes related to energy production and your nervous system. Furthermore, folate has been linked to lower levels of depression.

Wow! I Never Knew Parsnips Have so Many Health Benefits!

4. Weight Loss

As a low-calorie option with high levels of soluble fiber, parsnips fill you up and prevent the release of ghrelin, a hunger protein. Therefore, parsnips can significantly reduce your likelihood of snacking between meals, helping you lose weight in the process. Furthermore, the optimized digestive processes help you eliminate waste products and get your nutrient uptake in top condition.

 

5. Immune System

Parsnips are packed with antioxidant vitamins and organic compounds that protect the body from foreign invaders, as well as toxic byproducts from cellular metabolism. Vitamin C and E act as antioxidants in the body and eliminate free radicals that can cause chronic diseases such as cancer. Vitamin C also stimulates the production of white blood cells to attack diseases and foreign microbes in the body.

6. Growth and Development

Although the content of protein isn’t that high in parsnips, the full range of minerals and vitamins that parsnips possess means that they are an ideal healthy snack or dietary addition, as they can help to balance diets that may suffer from a lack of nutrients.

 

Source: organicfacts
Images: depositphotos

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