Celery Health Benefits: 10 Reasons You Should Eat This …

We have long known the use of celery leaves in Chinese cooking because of its savory flavor. The ingredient is also used in spicing up some cocktails and mocktails.

Soups, salads and sandwiches with celery leaves as one of the ingredients, taste awesome. But celery, being a storehouse of vital nutrients like amino acids, boron, calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, zinc, vitamin A, several B vitamins (B1, B2 and B6), vitamin C, vitamin K and fiber, has immense benefits for the human body. So it’s role is not limited to that of a tastemaker alone!

Celery Health Benefits: 10 Reasons You Should Eat This ...

Celery belongs to the same family as parsley and fennel. Its stem is delicate and crunchy and it is mostly used for soups and salads. It is a Chinese herb used in alternative treatment therapies. Here is what celery has to offer to you:

✱ Lowers Blood Pressure

Celery contains compounds called phthalides or more specifically 3-n-butylphthalide. These compounds can help reduce the systolic blood pressure by relaxing the muscles around arteries, allowing the vessels to dilate. According to a study conducted on laboratory animals, animals’ blood pressure dropped by 12 to 14 percent when they were injected with 3-n-butylphthalide.

Celery also contain flavonoids called Apigenin. The American journal of pathology conducted a study and concluded that Apigenin acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and helps counteract cellular oxidative stress. Reduction of oxidative stress within arteries helps relax the arteries and lowers the blood pressure.

A cup of chopped celery contain about 100 mg of sodium, which is associated with high blood pressure. However, this is about 4 percent of the daily need (2,400 milligrams) of sodium. Hence, you can easily enjoy the benefits of celery by keeping your total sodium intake below the daily recommended value by sticking with other low-sodium foods.

✱ Promotes Bone Health

Celery is an excellent source of vitamin K, and a good source of calcium and magnesium. These nutrients help in the formation of strong bones and healthy joints. It also contains polyacetylene, an anti-inflammatory agent, which reduces swelling and pain around the bone joints and thus it is useful for individuals suffering from arthritis and gout. Its diuretic properties aid in the removal of uric acid crystals from around the bone joints. It also helps in renal colics (a type of pain caused by kidney stones).

✱ Acts as Anti-Cancer Agent

According to the researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, celery is effective against ovarian cancer. Celery contains eight different families of anti-cancer compounds.

Compounds called phthalides and polyacetylenes help in the detoxification of the carcinogens. Coumarins help in preventing damage caused to cells by the free radicals. Acetylenics prevents the tumor from growing further. Phenolic acids help in blocking the actions of prostaglandins (which encourage the growth of tumor cells) and this way they prevent the growth of the tumor.

✱ Shows Diuretic Properties

The potassium and sodium contents of celery are responsible for its diuretic properties. They stimulate urine production and regulate the amount of body fluids by getting rid of excess fluids.

✱ Acts as a Laxative

Celery shows natural laxative properties. It also relaxes nerves which have been overworked by other artificial laxatives and this action helps in relieving constipation naturally.

✱ Aids in Sleep

Its alkaline mineral content helps in getting a good sleep in people with insomnia. These minerals have a calming effect on the nervous system and this helps in relieving anxiety and stress.

✱ Replenishes Electrolytes

Celery is full of electrolytes and so it works as a good electrolytic drink for athletes. It is also beneficial to restore the body’s electrolyte balance during a diarrhea episode, weakness and malnourishment or for any other activity that leads to muscle exhaustion.

✱ Acts as an Alkaline Agent

The alkaline mineral content of celery helps in relieving acidity, by balancing the pH of blood and neutralizing the acidic conditions.

✱ Lowers Cholesterol

A study conducted on animals specially bred to have high cholesterol has shown that celery can significantly lower total cholesterol by increasing bile acid secretion. As part of the eight week study, animals were given aqueous solutions of celery (like celery juice).

✱ Reduces Brain Inflammation

A study conducted on mice at University of Illinois has found that a compound found in celery (and green peppers), called luteolin, can help protect against inflammatory brain conditions. Luteolin is a potent antioxidant known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and belongs to a family of plant molecules called flavonoids.

Previous studies have shown that flavonoids can help counter dementia caused by brain inflammation. As part of the study, researchers noted that luteolin reduced inflammation in the brain, specifically brain’s hippocampus, the area related to memory and learning.

It’s not that you need to do something very special in order to maintain a good health. Nutrients come from the regular foods that we consume daily. And you tend to enjoy having some foods if they appear in the list of your favorites. Celery, with its incredible taste, is one of the most favorite choices for a weightwatcher!

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