Garnish This!

Parsley is traditionally relegated to a mere garnish, but the herb has so much more to offer. Firstly, the leafy green is an excellent natural breath freshener. While mints and gum simply cover potent breath, parsley treats halitosis (or the aftermath of a garlicy dinner) from the inside out.

Parsley comes in several varieties — Italian and flat leaf are the most popular — and is also an excellent source of calcium, iron, and Vitamins A and C. Parsley is also known for its volatile oils — myristicin, limonene, eugenol, and alpha-thujene — which may be linked to a the prevention of several cancers and also give the herb the title of "chemoprotective" food. Parsely can neutralize certain carcinogens ike the benzopyrenes that are part of cigarette smoke, charcoal grill smoke (see The Side Effects of BBQ), and the smoke produced by trash incinerators.

According to this month’s Natural Health, several studies have found that parsley may also reduce blood sugar in diabetics, prevent stomach ulcers and act as a diuretic.