Parsley is a widely used culinary herb that is native to the Mediterranean and has a mild, bitter flavor. In addition to parsley’s common use in many recipes, it also provides a wide variety of nutritional benefits including being a source of carotenoids (vitamin A), vitamin C, and vitamin K. These nutrients give parsley antioxidant properties while also supporting bone health.
A lesser-known trace mineral, silica, is also found in parsley. In fact, parsley is nearly 90% silica by weight. Silica, as well as the vitamin K, found in parsley make it an incredible food for bone health. Bones ultimately go through a complicated process of growth, breakdown and then reformation. Cells known as osteoblasts build bones while osteoclasts break down bones. Both silica and vitamin K play a role in the growth of osteoblasts while preventing the breakdown of bones by inhibiting the formation of osteoclasts. While some breakdown of bones is perfectly normal, certain disease states (such as osteoporosis) have an increased rate of breakdown leading to bone weakening and increased fracture risk. The strength of bones is determined by bone mineral density and bone matrix quality. Vitamin K plays a role in bone mineral density by activating certain proteins involved in the process while silica benefits bone matrix quality by supporting the formation of collagen. Collagen provides structure and strength to bones and is an aspect of bone matrix quality.