Why You Should Eat More Parsley If You're Following The Keto Diet

Trendy fad diets are constantly cropping up, from the Mediterranean diet to the low-carb diet, to the DASH diet, all of which cater to reaching a particular weight-based goal. The keto diet, which rose to popularity in recent years, is different from other trendy diets in that it doesn't focus on upping your protein intake (like the South Beach Diet does, for example). Instead, the keto diet focuses on consuming more fat — up to 70% to 80% of your daily calories, according to Harvard.

The goal of a keto diet, according to the Mayo Clinic, is for your body to burn fat for energy, rather than carbs or protein. Since consuming too much protein can prevent ketosis — the state that occurs when your body burns fat for energy rather than glucose, per the Cleveland Clinic — the keto diet typically reduces carb and protein intake to about 50 grams and 75 grams, respectively per day (via Harvard Health).

So if you're on the keto diet, that means no bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, or anything heavy on carbs or starch. Instead, foods high in saturated and unsaturated fats are encouraged, according to Healthline, such as grass-fed meats, eggs, and dairy products, as well as non-starchy veggies like cauliflower and mushrooms. Leafy greens and herbs are also keto diet-friendly foods, so if you've never stopped to consider how herbs like parsley can factor into the keto diet, here's why you should.

Parsley, which is rich in antioxidants and packed with key nutrients like vitamin K, fits perfectly into the keto diet thanks to its low carb content — a half cup of fresh, chopped parsley contains just 2 grams of carbs, per Healthline. And while you may just consider parsley a mere garnish, with its fresh and peppery taste, it can be the star of a number of recipes, whether blended into a fresh chimichurri sauce or used to brighten up a creamy pesto. Not only is parsley keto-friendly, but it's also good for your bone and eye health, according to Ketogenic, so incorporating more of it into your diet is good for your overall well-being.

Fresh parsley will keep in your refrigerator for about three to five days, per Epicurious, so if you plan to incorporate it into your meals more than a week after purchasing it, you can pop it into your freezer to extend its shelf-life. To keep the herbs fresh and prevent freezer burn, simply wash and dry your fresh parsley, then place it at the bottom of a freezer bag and roll the bag up so it looks like a cigar, eliminating any air before you seal it.