Anti-oxidant
Parsley is rich in vitamin A content. Vitamin acts as an active antioxidant getting rid of the highly toxic free radicals from the body that are produced during the various metabolic activities of the body. These free radicals if not removed from the body can initiate a cascaded of harmful reactions in the body leading to cancer as well. Apart from the vitamin A, vitamin C and falvonoids in parsley, also significantly help in clearing the body off these harmful free radicals.

Anti carcinogenic
Free radicals in the body can lead to the initiation and progression of cancer. Vitamin C and vitamin A works to reduce the risk of cancer in the body by checking the development of cancer cells and the cancer causing free radicals. Another compound present in parsley is folic acid. Folic acid is vital for the cell division hence its presence is important to avoid uncontrolled division of cells which may lead to cancerous growth.

Anti inflammatory
Parsley is also recommended to people suffering from osteo and rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Vitamin C present in abundance in the herb acts as an active anti inflammatory agent which helps in reducing the pain associated with such conditions.

Cardiovascular health
Homocysteine is a very harmful compound which is produced during the metabolic activities in the body. This compound can inversely affect the blood vessels and at higher concentration can also lead to strokes. Folic acid in parsley helps to neutralize this harmful compound into harmless molecules there by reducing the risk of heart attacks or any related cardiovascular disorders.

Immunity
Parsley helps in strengthening the body immunity against diseases. Vitamin C which is one of the vital nutrients helps the body fight against infections like influenza. Deficiency of vitamins C can also lead to conditions like scurvy. Moreover the volatile oils found in parsley particularly Myristicin has shown to be inhibiting the formation of tumor in the
Lungs.

Diuretic
Apart from all the above health benefits of parsley, recent studies have shown that this herb acts as a natural diuretic by increasing the kidneys’ ability to excrete water and sodium. Hence this herb is highly recommended to people suffering from diabetes or hypertension both of which conditions may lead to water retention in the body.

Digestion
Another health benefit of Parsley is that it helps immensely in the digestion of more complex food material like proteins and fats allowing a faster digestion and assimilation. Parsley is in fact highly recommended in diarrhea. Consuming parsley in the form of tea can highly benefit a person having digestive disorders.

There are many more health benefits of parsley which make it a must in our daily diet. Excessive intake of any substance is of course harmful, in moderation this herb can do wonders for our overall health.

SYMPTOMS OF STRESS AND MENTAL TENSION

A large number of physical changes take place when a person is under stress. All these changes take place in a split second under the direction of the nervous system.
- Brain and nervous system becomes intensely active.
- Pupils of the eye dilate.
- Digestion slows down.
- Muscles are tensed.
- Heart starts pumping blood harder and faster.
- Blood pressure increases.
- Breathing becomes faster.
- Some hormones are released into the system along with glucose from liver.
- Sweating starts.
Stress in its earlier and reversible stages leads to :
- Poor sleep.
- Bad temper.
- Continual grumbling.
- Domestic conflict.
- Repeated minor sickness.
- Accident proneness.
- Frustration.
- Increase in alcoholic intake.

CAUSES OF STRESS AND MENTAL TENSION

– External factors include loud noises, blinding lights, heat or cold, X-rays, radiation drugs, chemicals, bacterial and various toxic substances, pain and inadequate nutrition.
- Internal factors include hate, envy, fear or jealousy.

REMEDIES FOR STRESS AND MENTAL TENSION

- SAGE : tea prepared from the leaves of sage should be given. The tea is prepared by pouring a cup of boiling water over one teaspoon of dried sage leaves. The water should be covered and infused for several minutes. Strain it and drink.
- HOLY BASIL : It is considered as an anti-stress agent. even healthy persons should chew twelve leaves of basil twice a day, morning and evening, for preventing stress.
- NUTRIENTS : Vitamins A and B, minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium reduces the feeling of irritability and anxiety. Vitamin A is found in green and yellow vegetables. Vitamin B can be found in cashew nuts, green leafy vegetables, yeast, sprouts and bananas. An element of vitamin B complex, pantothenic acid, is especially important in preventing stress.
Potassium deficiency is associated with breathlessness, fatigue, insomnia and low blood sugar. This mineral is essential for healthy hearty muscles. Nuts and whole grains are good sources.

Calcium is a natural sedative. Deficiencies can cause fatigue, nervousness and tension. Dairy products, eggs, almonds and soya beans are rich sources.

Magnesium is known as nature’s tranquillizer and is associated with the prevention of heart attacks. It is found in many fruits, vegetables, seeds, dates and prunes.

DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS

- Lifestyle of the patient needs to be changed.
- Optimum diet should be taken.
- Regular exercise and adequate rest.
- Foods like caffeine and many soft drinks, salt, sugar, cigarettes and alcohol should be avoided.

1. Vitamin A deficiency primarily affects the health of the skin, hair, eyes, and immune system, though loss of appetite, bone abnormalities, and growth retardation are also associated with inadequate intake of this vitamin.

2. A goose bump-like appearance of the skin caused by excessive production of keratin (a protein found in skin) that blocks hair follicles.

3. Prolonged vitamin A deficiency can lead to night blindness, due to impaired production of rhodopsin, the compound in the retina responsible for detecting small amounts of light.

HEALING AND THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES –

1. When taken in large amount for treating deficiencies (7,500 mcg –15,000 mcg) a day, it is beneficial in treatment of cold, sinus, influenza and asthma.

2. It is valuable in curing night blindness which responds well to 9,000mcg of Vitamin A daily for a week.

3. Vitamin A is beneficial in treatment of acne.

4. Intake of Vitamin A (7,500 mcg – 15,000 mcg) in large doses helps relieve warts and other growths in skin such as boils, rashes and carbuncles.

PRECAUTIONS AND SYMPTONS –

1. Greater than 30,000 mcg of Vitamin A can produce toxic results in adults if continued for months.

2. Greater than 5,500 mcg of Vitamin A can produce toxic results in infants.

Symptoms include hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, scaly skin, blurred vision, rashes, headache and liver enlargement.

3. Acute toxicity from single massive dose manifests itself as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness and sluggishness.

4. Chronic toxicity may occur following ingestion of 12,000 mcg or more daily for prolonged periods. It is characterized by joint pains, hair loss, dryness and fissures of lips, loss of appetite, low grade fever, and weight loss.

WHAT ARE VITAMINS AND MINERALS –

Vitamins are organic substances (made by plants or animals), minerals are inorganic elements that come from the soil and water and are absorbed by plants or eaten by animals.

A vitamin is a small molecule that your body needs to carry out a certain reaction. Your body has no way to create vitamin molecules itself, so the vitamin molecules must come in through food that you eat. The human body is known to need at least 13 different vitamins:

• Vitamin A (fat soluble) – Retinol; comes from beta-carotene in plants (When you eat beta-carotene, an enzyme in the stomach turns it into Vitamin A.)

• Vitamin B (water soluble)
  B1-Thiamine; B2- Riboflavin; B3- Niacin; B6- Pyridoxine; B12- Cyanocobalamin;

• Folic acid

• Vitamin C (water soluble) – Ascorbic acid

• Vitamin D (fat soluble) – Calciferol

• Vitamin E (fat soluble) – Tocopherol

• Vitamin K (fat soluble) – Menaquinone

• Pantothenic acid (water soluble)

• Biotin (water soluble)