Parsnip (vegetable): useful properties and contraindications

Parsnip is a herbaceous plant from the Umbelliferae family. The garden vegetable was used as a medicine in ancient times. Decoctions were prepared from it and given to sick people with colds. In a short time, the temperature decreased, the patient regained his strength and completely recovered.

In Our Country and in Tsarist Our Country, the Mediterranean root crop was planted in the fields and household plots. In the famous garden of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, parsnips were grown on a large scale. The royal family loved this vegetable for its sweet taste and spicy aroma.

What does a parsnip look like and what kind of vegetable is it (write a description)

In Europe, wild parsnips grow, the fruits of which are extremely toxic, and numerous photos show traces of leaf burns.

The parsnip root in the photo has a white or yellowish color and expands towards the base.

The vegetable, also called field borsch, white root or popovnik, in appearance resembles a carrot with an elongated root crop, long stems and small carved leaves. From the photo, a significant difference in the color of the plants becomes obvious: the root of the parsnip is white.

The stems of the plant are elongated, ribbed, can reach 200 cm. Its leaves are small and pinnate. Parsnips bloom in late July with yellow flowers resembling umbrellas in shape. It blooms with small yellowish flowers, which are shaped like the dome of an umbrella.

In the south of Our Country, in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other countries of Central Asia, parsnips are grown as a garden crop, the fruits of which are used in cooking, medicine and cosmetology.

What does a parsnip vegetable taste like?

No festive table photo for Christmas in England can be imagined without such a vegetable as parsnips. It is added when stewing vegetables and cooking meat dishes.

Similar in taste to parsley or celery stalks, the richly spicy vegetable leaves a sweet aftertaste. Differs popovnik and pleasant aroma.

The taste and smell of a white root crop has an exciting effect on the human body. Dishes with it act as an aphrodisiac.

The composition and nutritional value of parsnips

Parsnip root vegetable is unusually rich in nutrients. It contains:

• dietary fiber with essential oil;
• carotenoids;
• vitamins (C, PP, group B);
• minerals (potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, etc.).

In terms of nutritional value and the presence of fast carbohydrates, field borscht is a leader among other vegetables.

100 g of vegetable contains:

• proteins – 1,45 g;
• fats – 0,55 g;
• carbohydrates – 9,3

The glycemic index (GI) of the root vegetable is 85.

Parsnip refers to low-calorie foods. Its total calorie content is 47 kcal. Nutritionists recommend including a spicy vegetable in the diet of overweight people.

With a sufficiently high GI, the white root does not provoke the accumulation of fat mass. And, conversely, it contains easily digestible carbohydrates, which are useful during periods of active exercise and intense weight loss. During long walks or immediately after the gym, the root raises blood glucose levels to replenish energy.

What is useful parsnip

Parsnip root has unique beneficial properties and has a number of contraindications.

The vegetable contains the optimal ratio of minerals and vitamins useful for the body. Calcium, phosphorus and magnesium help maintain bone health. The calcium present in the composition plays an important role in the transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contractions. Potassium, which is also present in the vegetable, promotes better blood circulation, and magnesium promotes heart function.

Due to the high content of vitamin C, parsnip has antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. In Our Country, sick people were prepared a spicy drink that had healing properties. The composition of the decoction included not only herbs, but also the Mediterranean parsnip root was added.

In the modern world, medicines are produced from the root extract – Pastinacin, Beroxan and Eupiglin.

Pastinacin is used as an antispasmodic for neuroses, irritations and spasms of the gastrointestinal tract, for diseases of the genitourinary system and kidneys.

Beroxan (Eupiglin) increases the skin’s susceptibility to ultraviolet rays, so it is prescribed for psoriasis, for the treatment of vitiligo, alopecia and other diseases.

Medicines with extract of fruits and seeds are effective in the treatment of many other diseases:

• bronchitis, pneumonia, turbeculosis;
• various neuroses and disorders of the nervous system;
• arrhythmia and other cardiovascular diseases.

For men

A decoction of the root is very beneficial for men’s health. The vegetable has a therapeutic effect on prostatitis, pyelonephritis and other inflammatory urological diseases.

Due to the mild diuretic effect of eating the root crop, sand is washed out of the kidneys and stones are dissolved.

After a medical intervention on the genitourinary organs, doctors recommend adding folk recipes that have been proven over the years to the medical treatment during the rehabilitation period. A drink from this healing vegetable has an antispasmodic and analgesic effect.

Parsnip is a natural aphrodisiac. The essential oils contained in the root crop act excitingly and enhance male power. From the regular use of this vegetable, sexual desire and libido increase.

For women

White root is an excellent immunomodulator. Eating it in food stimulates the body to recover as soon as possible during protracted colds.

The root crop is useful for women at any age. Its medicinal properties prevent heart disease, liver and kidney disorders, normalize blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

White root is good for pregnant women as it reduces the risk of birth defects in newborns.

Useful properties of the parsnip plant

With proper use of parsnip root and leaves, this unique plant with its beneficial properties can relieve spasms, pain and have a tonic effect on the body.

The small leaves of the root crop contain twice as many vitamins and trace elements as parsley or dill.

The spicy root helps to improve digestion and strengthen the walls of blood vessels. It is used as a natural pain reliever and expectorant.

Other useful properties of spicy vegetables are also known. In medicine, extracts are used for edema as a diuretic, for colds – for better sputum discharge, lowering fever and to increase appetite.

Benefits of Parsnip Root

Parsnip has a weak diuretic and diaphoretic effect, well removes excess water from the body and relieves swelling of soft tissues.

In addition, the white root crop has an antipyretic effect. It effectively relieves fever and body aches, enhances appetite and digestion. From the use of parsnips, the sick quickly recover and feel a surge of strength.

Essential oils of the root as an aphrodisiac have a stimulating effect on men: they improve libido and increase sexual desire.

Medicines from a spicy vegetable are used for nervous disorders and neuroses. It is also used in various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract as a homeopathic pain reliever.

The white root has a strong tonic effect on the body, so many athletes include it in their daily diet to improve athletic performance.

Leaves and root vegetables lower blood sugar levels, so parsnips are very useful for people with diabetes.

The juice of the vegetable neutralizes bad breath and helps maintain healthy gums.

Can You Eat Parsnip Leaves?

The use of parsnip leaves in food is possible not only fresh, but also dried.

Green leaves are rich in vitamin C. In vegetable salads, the addition of plant greens gives a pleasant sourness.

When dried, all useful properties and aromas are preserved. Parsnip seasoning enriches the dish with a spicy flavor.

Useful properties of parsnip seeds

In medicine, the roots, leaves and seeds of parsnips are used for health and benefit. It is a harmless natural raw material for medicines for various diseases:

• vascular and cardiac ailments;
• gastrointestinal diseases, etc.

If you rub the seeds of the root crop in your palms and inhale the fragrant aroma, then the mood improves from the essential oils and apathy disappears.

The use of parsnips in folk medicine

Unique recipes with parsnips have survived to this day.

To strengthen the immune system, increase the body’s resistance to various diseases, you will need:

• sugar – 1 st. l .;
• warm milk – 1 glass;
• parsnip juice – 30 – 50 ml.

Sugar is dissolved in parsnip juice and in a water bath and, stirring constantly, is brought to a thickening. Pour warm milk into the resulting mixture and mix. Drink the drink 30 minutes before meals twice a day.

In Our Country, parsnip tincture was used to restore strength. Finely chopped root was poured with moonshine, left for 7 days in a dark place. Drink this drink in a teaspoon before meals three times a day.

The use of parsnips in cooking

In cooking, the root is used in fresh and dried form.

The fresh and dried root vegetable is ideal for vegetable soups. It gives the first dish an appetizing spicy aroma.

Fresh leaves are added to various salads, and dry – as a seasoning for fish and meat. Parsnip root, like carrots, can be eaten whole.

In many countries, the root crop is subjected to heat treatment. Someone stews it with potatoes and mushrooms. It is boiled and grilled as a side dish. In Canada, mashed potatoes are prepared from the boiled product.

The use of root crops in cosmetology

Since ancient times, essential oil and parsnip juice have been used to maintain beauty and youth. The extract was added to creams, masks, body wraps and baths.

Parsnip juice maintains skin turgor, preventing the formation of wrinkles. Whitens pigment spots and evens out complexion.

Pimples, acne, enlarged pores, comedones – all this can be treated with products that contain parsnip root extracts or leaf extracts.

In cold weather, a nourishing cream with spicy root extract saturates the skin with essential substances and provides moisture.

Parsnip essential oil is used to get rid of problem areas from stretch marks and cellulite.

Limitations and contraindications

Before you start using parsnips for the benefit of the body, you should definitely consult with your doctor: in the presence of chronic diseases and food allergies, the vegetable should be completely excluded in order to minimize its possible harm.

Parsnips are contraindicated for children under 6 years of age. Older people over 60 years of age can use the spicy root with caution and in small quantities. In this case, be sure to monitor the reactions of the body. With an increase in pulse and an increase in pressure, the product is excluded from the diet.

In addition, the root crop should not be used by people with acute gastrointestinal diseases and in any inflammatory processes.

Parsnip is contraindicated in photodermatosis This inflammation of the skin occurs due to acute sensitivity to sunlight. Parsnip contains phyto-oils – furocoumarins, which increase the skin’s susceptibility to ultraviolet radiation.

People belonging to the 1st skin phototype – with light and thin, like porcelain skin and blond hair – due to the low threshold of sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, should use this product with caution in food and carefully select parsnip-based medicines.

Especially carefully you need to handle the leaves of the plant. Upon contact with wet skin from the leaf, severe burns and long-term non-healing wounds can be obtained.

The vegetable is strictly contraindicated during exacerbations of gastritis, pancreatitis, gastric ulcer, as well as in severe diseases of the liver and kidneys.

Conclusion

Parsnip (field borscht, white root or popovnik) is a garden biennial plant, the root crop of which is used in cooking, medicine and cosmetology.

The tops and stems of the popovnik look like carrots.

In cooking, root crops and greens are used in dried and fresh form. Parsnips are added as a seasoning to add flavor to a dish, as a preservative for vegetable preparations, or as one of the salad ingredients.

The beauty industry uses essential oils and juice to maintain youth. Parsnip extract fights cellulite, stretch marks, pimples and acne.