9 Health Benefits Of The SuperFood, ‘Celery’
Celery is part of the Apiaceae family, which includes carrots, parsnips, parsley, and celeriac.
Its botanical name is Apium graveolens and It’s an extremely old vegetable, with records showing that parts of the plant were found in the tomb of the pharaoh “King Tutankhamun,” who died in 1323 B.C.
Comprising 95% of water, this superfood helps with cleansing and detoxification thanks to its hydrating qualities and nutritional content. It is also low in calories and high in minerals.
Here are some of its many health benefits:
1. It Helps With Weight Loss
If you are looking to lose weight, Celery is one of the foods to consume. According to research, celery can help you shed pounds by detoxifying the liver. One is because it is low in calories. Also, it is high in fibre. Fibre also makes you feel full for longer after eating, which prevents you from snacking on fattening food– ultimately facilitating weight loss. Celery’s high water content could be another boon for people looking to lose weight.
2. It boosts the immune system
Celery is replete with vitamin C, which is known to strengthen the immune system. And since celery is also rich in antioxidants, the vitamin is further stimulated and becomes more efficient. It also contains vitamins A, vitamins K, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and manganese.
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3. It Helps Prevent Cancer
Celery is rich in antioxidants, which help remove cancer-promoting free radicals from your cells. It also contains polyacetylenes, compounds that prevent numerous cancer formations. The bioactive flavonoids celery contains (apigenin and luteolin) fight free radicals and kill any cancer cells in the body.
The flavonoids in celery were also found to kill pancreatic cancer cells. Luteolin has also been found to prevent breast cancer.
4. It supports digestion
Celery is full of insoluble fiber, which can increase satiety and aid in weight loss and can also help promote regularity. In other words, it can prevent and treat constipation and help clean out your intestines.
The digestive benefits of celery are partly due to its diuretic effects — and also because it boosts circulation within the intestines, therefore helping improve digestion and relieving bloating and puffiness from water retention.
5. It reduces inflammation
Chronic inflammation has been linked to many illnesses, including arthritis and osteoporosis. Celery and celery seeds have approximately 25 anti-inflammatory compounds that can offer protection against inflammation in the body.
Some research suggests that celery seed extract is as effective as drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen in treating arthritis symptoms. It may also have a pain-reducing effect and it may be protective against stomach damage that can occur from taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
6. It Keeps you Hydrated
Celery is 95% water which means it is a very good alternative for plain water. Two to three celery sticks can replenish the levels of potassium, sodium, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, calcium, and zinc in the body.
Staying hydrated is important for your overall health — dehydration can mess with your thinking, affect your mood, cause constipation, and even lead to kidney stones.
7. It Lowers Blood Pressure
Celery is rich in nitrates, which have been found to lower blood pressure. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, celery seed extracts can also lower blood pressure levels. In traditional Chinese medicine, celery is termed as cool food that lowers blood pressure.
8. It Helps Lower Cholesterol
Celery has been found to reduce triglycerides and cholesterol levels, and at the same time increase the levels of HDL (the good cholesterol) – thereby treating hyperlipidemia as well.
This is because of its abundance of fiber and the number of calories it contains.
9. It Can Help Prevent Urinary Tract Infections
Celery helps reduce uric acid and stimulates urine production, it’s beneficial for fighting bacterial infections within the digestive tract and reproductive organs. Similar to cranberries, which are known for fighting urinary tract infections (UTIs), celery may help prevent UTIs, as well as bladder disorders, kidney problems, and possibly even cysts on reproductive organs.
Celery can be eaten raw or cooked. It can also be combined with spinach or apple for healthy smoothies.
Celery is low in calories, but eating it does not result in “negative calories.” Although celery contains a minuscule amount of calories, the number of calories spent digesting it is probably even smaller. Crunchy, crispy celery is well known for being low in calories, but its health benefits go far beyond use as a diet food. Celery contains useful phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. It’s a convenient on-the-go snack as well as a vegetable that can be incorporated into cooked dishes, stir-fries and salads.