There are many people who would rather indulge themselves in eating less nutritious foods than to forcefully eat vegetables such as celery.
Some would prefer eating French fries, or different kinds of chips than to enjoy consuming the crunchy stalks of this vegetable belonging to the Apiaceae family.
A low calorie snack
But this should change once people learn of the health benefits of this nutritious food. Aside from the fact that this can be considered as a low-calorie snack, there are many more benefits of eating celery.
Celery; image source: abelandcole.co.uk
It might as well get the catch phrase, “a few stalks of celery a day can keep the doctor away.”
Lowering Blood Pressure
One of the potential health benefits of eating celery is lowered blood pressure. This might actually do a good job of keeping people with high blood pressure out of further trouble.
In certain experiments, the seed extracts of celery had shown to have positive effects on lowering high blood pressure. These extracts have antihypertensive properties which can work wonders when put in good use.
Preventing Cancer
Celery can also be considered as a combatant of your body against cancer. This vegetable has flavanoid known as luteolin.
This substance has the properties that can help in treating cancer cells, although there are no conclusive results to show direct abilities of celery to fully prevent cancer. But it is safe to assume that it can help a lot.
Treating Joint Pain
Studies are needed to be done to support this claim although there are many claims from people consuming celery that they hardly experience joint pains, which they attribute to their consumption of such vegetable.
Soothing Nervous System
The nervous system of a human body is such an important one and celery appears to have substances that are quite good for the nervous system, although, additional researches are required to quantify these claims.
Celery: Nutrition Facts
In order for one to appreciate celery even more, exposing its nutritional content can be of great help. This vegetable has antioxidants such as phytonutrients which include phenolic juice, flavonols, dihydrostilbenoids, flavones, furanocoumarins and phytosterols.
This is also a rich source of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, C and K. It also contains folate and potassium.
Celery has also been proven to have dietary fiber which is generally good for one’s health.
With all of these being said, you should know think twice of just ignoring celery that might be included as ingredients of your favourite meals. You might be setting aside one vegetable that has lots of health benefits in exchange for those foods that are less nutritious.
Nutrition facts per 100g (3.5 oz):
- Total Fat 0.2 g
- Cholesterol 0 mm
- Sodium 80 mg
- Potassium 260 mg
- Total Carbohydrate 3 g
- Protein 0.7 g
- Vitamin A 8%
- Vitamin C 5%
- Calcium 4%
- Iron 1%
- Vitamin D 0%
- Vitamin B-6 5%
- Vitamin B-12 0%
- Magnesium 2%
