Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
Health Benefits of Umbellifers
![](https://nutrivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Parsley-Family-1024x683.jpg)
The parsley family (also known as the Apiaceae family or umbellifers, due to forming umbrella-like stem structures called umbels) is a huge plant group with over 3,700 species, some of which are familiar names in our kitchen: carrots, parsnips, and celery!
This plant group is known for containing the flavone apigenin (which has demonstrated protective effects against diabetes, Alzheimer’s, depression, insomnia, and cancer) and phytonutrients called phthalides (which have cardiovascular benefits and a blood-pressure lowering effect).
Although carrots, for instance, don’t directly improve your eyesight (contrary to the popular myth!), they do help preserve night vision as well as protect against macular degeneration. The carotenoids in carrots have been shown to neutralize the effect of free radicals and inhibit mutagenesis (in turn protecting against some cancers), and both whole carrots and carrot extracts have demonstrated anti-cancer effects against several leukemia cell lines and colon cancer (most likely due their beta-carotene and falcarinol, a highly bioactive phytonutrient). A meta-analysis of studies in humans even found that carrot consumption was associated with an 18% reduced risk of prostate cancer in men. Another large prospective cohort study found that carrots were associated with a 32% lower risk of cardiovascular disease. On top of all that, carrots appear to mitigate cholesterol absorption, reduce high blood cholesterol, and protect against liver injury.
Although parsnips haven’t been the subject of as many studies as carrots, what we do know is good news! Parsnips contain polyacetylenes that have been shown to have anti-cancer properties, while also protecting against bacterial and fungal infection, reducing platelet aggregation, being anti-inflammatory, and even affecting serotonin within the body. (Specifically, the polyacetylenes falcarinol and falcarindiol are largely responsible for these effects.)
And last but not least, in case we need a reason to eat more celery, this refreshing veggie shows promise for boosting both our cardiovascular and neurological health. In rats fed a high-fat diet, celery extract was shown to significantly lower LDL and total cholesterol, and another component of celery (L-3-n-butylphthalide) has been shown to have neuroprotective effects on vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, while also helping to lower blood pressure. And, celery’s very high water content and low energy density makes it an excellent choice for weight management!
Want to Know ALL the Easy Steps to Nutrivore?
![](https://nutrivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/5-free-guides.png)
Get it Directly in Your Inbox!
The Nutrivore Newsletter is a weekly email that delivers bite-size fun facts, practical tips, recipes and resources. Sign up now and get 5 free guides directly to your inbox:
- Easy Steps to Nutrivore 4-page guide
- Nutrivore Foundational Foods 6-page guide
- Nutrivore Score Guide to Food Groups 3-page guide
- Nutrivore Meal Map
- Top 100 Nutrivore Score Foods
Examples of Umbellifers
- angelica
- anise
- asafoetida
- caraway
- carrot
- celeriac
- celery
- chervil
- cicely
- coriander/cilantro
- cow parsnip
- cumin
- dill
- earthnut
- fennel
- hogweed
- lovage
- parsley
- parsnip
- smallage
Nutrients in Umbellifers
Easily track your servings of Nutrivore Foundational Foods!
![](https://nutrivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Nutrivore-Servings-Matrix-Shop-Page-707x1024.png)
The Nutrivore Weekly Serving Matrix
The Nutrivore Weekly Serving Matrix digital resource is an easy-to-use and flexible weekly checklist designed to help you maximize nutrient-density and meet serving suggestions of Nutrivore foundational foods, all without having to weigh or measure your foods!
Includes a 22-page instructional guide and downloadable interactive guides.
Buy now for instant digital access.
Help me to keep building Nutrivore.com
![](https://nutrivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sarah-Ballantyne-Patreon-MD.jpg)
I’m working on writing more awesome articles on this topic to be featured right here on this webpage. If you’re enjoying the content my team and I have created thus far and would like to see more, you can support our efforts to keep building out this site by joining the Nutrivore community on Patreon!
Plus every month, you’ll gain exclusive access to two *NEW* Q&A podcast episodes, a new e-book in a series, nutrient fun factsheet, and more! Sign up now and also get 5 free Nutrivore guides as a welcome gift! Win-win-win!
Citations
Expand to see all scientific references for this article.
Ahmad T, et al. “Phytochemicals in Daucus carota and Their Health Benefits-Review Article.” Foods. 2019 Sep 19;8(9):424. doi: 10.3390/foods8090424.
Babic I, et al. “Antimicrobial activity of shredded carrot extracts on food-borne bacteria and yeast.” J Appl Bacteriol. 1994 Feb;76(2):135-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1994.tb01608.x.
Chou S-C, et al. “Antibacterial activity of components from Lomatium californicum.” Phytother Res. 2006 Feb;20(2):153-6. doi: 10.1002/ptr.1828.
Christensen LP. “Aliphatic C(17)-polyacetylenes of the falcarinol type as potential health promoting compounds in food plants of the Apiaceae family.” Recent Pat Food Nutr Agric. 2011 Jan;3(1):64-77. doi: 10.2174/2212798411103010064.
Dianat M, et al. “The effect of hydro-alcoholic celery (Apiumgraveolens) leaf extract on cardiovascular parameters and lipid profile in animal model of hypertension induced by fructose.” Avicenna J Phytomed. May-Jun 2015;5(3):203-9.
Griep LMO, et al. “Colours of fruit and vegetables and 10-year incidence of CHD.” Br J Nutr. 2011 Nov;106(10):1562-9. doi: 10.1017/S0007114511001942. Epub 2011 Jun 8.
Kobaek-Larsen M, et al. “Effect of the dietary polyacetylenes falcarinol and falcarindiol on the gut microbiota composition in a rat model of colorectal cancer.” BMC Res Notes. 2018 Jun 27;11(1):411. doi: 10.1186/s13104-018-3527-y.
Marin L, et al. “Bioavailability of dietary polyphenols and gut microbiota metabolism: antimicrobial properties.” Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:905215. doi: 10.1155/2015/905215. Epub 2015 Feb 23.
Meot-Duros L, et al. “New antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of falcarindiol isolated in Crithmum maritimum L. leaf extract.” Food Chem Toxicol. 2010 Feb;48(2):553-7. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2009.11.031. Epub 2009 Nov 14.
Peng Y, et al. “L-3-n-butylphthalide improves cognitive impairment and reduces amyloid-beta in a transgenic model of Alzheimer’s disease.” J Neurosci. 2010 Jun 16;30(24):8180-9. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0340-10.2010.
Salehi B, et al. “The Therapeutic Potential of Apigenin.” Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Mar 15;20(6):1305. doi: 10.3390/ijms20061305.
Schinkovitz A, et al. “Antimycobacterial polyacetylenes from Levisticum officinale.” Phytother Res. 2008 May;22(5):681-4. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2408.
Xu X, et al. “Dietary carrot consumption and the risk of prostate cancer.” Eur J Nutr. 2014 Dec;53(8):1615-23. doi: 10.1007/s00394-014-0667-2. Epub 2014 Feb 12.
Young JF, et al. “The polyacetylenes falcarinol and falcarindiol affect stress responses in myotube cultures in a biphasic manner.” Dose Response. 2008;6(3):239-51. doi: 10.2203/dose-response.08-008.Young. Epub 2008 Aug 8.
Zhou Y, et al. “A novel compound from celery seed with a bactericidal effect against Helicobacter pylori.” J Pharm Pharmacol. 2009 Aug;61(8):1067-77. doi: 10.1211/jpp/61.08.0011.