Parsley for Your Prostate

You might think of it as strictly garnish, but research shows that parsley may deserve higher billing on your plate.

This little green edible is rich in apigenin, a type of flavonoid that appears to help put prostate cancer cells into slow-growth mode in lab studies. So pull that parsley off the edge of your platter and give it a nibble. Still consider it rabbit food?

Worried about your prostate? Try this symptom checker.

There are dozens of different kinds of flavonoids -- in fact, they are divided into six main subclasses that are hard to keep straight without a degree in biochemistry. The subclasses have names like flavonols, flavones, and flavanones. And the subclasses each contain more tongue-twisters like luteolin, quercetin, cyanidin, and apigenin.

Luckily, you don't have to remember all that. Just remember to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, because these health-promoting compounds are found almost exclusively in produce. You'll also find them in a few beverages, such as tea, wine, and beer. And in chocolate, the main ingredient -- cacao beans -- is derived from plants.

So save yourself the science lesson and simply seek out five servings of colorful vegetables and four servings of colorful fruits every day. It's the simplest way to get your fill of these anticancer, anti-inflammation, antiviral, antioxidant goodies.

Recipe Corner
Get a healthy dose of flavonoids -- especially prostate-protective apigenin -- with this Parsley Tabbouleh Salad from EatingWell. Find more recipes at EatingWell.com.

Flavonoids can block PSA production by breast and prostate cancer cell lines. Rosenberg Zand, R. S., Jenkins, D. J., Brown, T. J., Diamandis, E. P., Clinica Chimica Acta 2002 Mar;317(1-2):17-26.