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Posted on 2010-04-28 at 3:08 p.m.

Celery

Celery contains vitamin C and several other active compounds that promote health, including phthalides, which may help lower cholesterol, and coumarins, that may be useful in cancer prevention.

Celery is not only extremely low in calories, but you actually burn more calories chewing it than you are consuming! Celery's Health Benefits:

Weight Loss
Celery juice is extremely helpful in weight loss, as it is a natural appetite suppressant. 'Snacking' on celery all day will lessen the urge to eat, and as stated before, will burn extra calories, without adding any.

Detox
Celery appears frequently in detox diet plans. It has cleansing properties, aiding digestion, regulation of body fluids, and helping to curb craving for sweet.

Insomnia
Celery is also beneficial in cases of insomnia, celery juice particularly as it is very calming to the nervous system. The high magnesium levels are soothing, and helpful to relaxation, and fully restful sleep.

Constipation
A few stalks of raw celery can aid in constipation as it is high in fiber. Also in calcium, aiding strong bones and teeth. The health benefits are celery are countless!

Calicum
According to Hippocrates, the father of medicine, celery calms nerves, perhaps because of its high calcium content. It's good for the kidneys and will eliminate the body's waste through the urine. The seeds, leaves, and edible root of the plant can all be used.

Potassium
Celery has a lot of potassium. Potassium is an electrolyte that is good for maintaining a healthy nervous system. It is vital for proper brain function and normal muscle growth. It lowers blood pressure and helps balance normal water levels in your body. Lack of potassium can cause heart problems, fatigue, and dry skin. Coconut Water is extremely high in potassium content as well.

Vitamin K
Celery is rich in vitamin K, which will help to suppress the appetite. Vitamin K also helps to form normal blood clots, i.e. it's the vitamin that stops you from bleeding to death.
Adults over age 50 should increase the vitamin K intake, as it aids in making essential bone proteins, preventing bone fractures and osteoporosis. A lack of vitamin K can cause liver problems, excessive bruising and bleeding.

Coumarins
Celery contains phytochemical compounds known as coumarins. Studies have shown that they are effective in cancer prevention and capable of enhancing the activity of certain white blood cells. Coumarin compounds also lower blood pressure, tone the vascular system, and are possibly effective when used in cases of migraines. Due to the high levels of potassium and sodium, when celery-based juices are consumed after a workout they serve as great electrolyte replacement drinks. Studies have also shown that celery may help to lower cholesterol and prevent cancer by improving detoxification. Celery extract that contains 85% 3nB, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of "rheumatism". That is the general term used for arthritic and muscular aches and pains.

Vitamins
Celery provides an excellent source of vitamin C and fiber. It is a very good source of folic acid, potassium, and vitamins B1 and B6. Celery also offers a good source of vitamin B2 and calcium. Even though celery contains more sodium than most other vegetables, the sodium is offset by it's high levels of potassium. Studies have shown that the amount of sodium is not significant even for the most salt-sensitive individuals.

Vitamin C
Celery is an excellent source of vitamin C, a vitamin that helps to support the immune system. Vitamin C-rich foods like celery may help reduce cold symptoms or severity of cold symptoms; over 20 scientific studies have concluded that vitamin C is a cold-fighter. Vitamin C also prevents the free radical damage that triggers the inflammatory cascade, and is therefore also associated with reduced severity of inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. As free radicals can oxidize cholesterol and lead to plaques that may rupture causing heart attacks or stroke, vitamin C is beneficial to promoting cardiovascular health. Owing to the multitude of vitamin C's health benefits, it is not surprising that research has shown that consumption of vegetables and fruits high in this nutrient is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes including heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Blood Pressure
Celery's potential for reducing high blood pressure has long been recognized by Chinese medicine practitioners, and Western science researchers may have recently identified one reason why.

Phthalides
Celery contains active compounds called phthalides, which can help relax the muscles around arteries and allow those vessels to dilate. With more space inside the arteries, the blood can flow at a lower pressure. phthalides also reduce stress hormones, one of whose effects is to cause blood vessels to constrict. When researchers injected 3-n-butyl phthalide derived from celery into laboratory animals, the animals' blood pressure dropped 12 to 14 percent.

Cholesterol
In studies of animals specially bred to have high cholesterol, celery's cholesterol-lowering activity has been demonstrated. In eight weeks, aqueous solutions of celery (like celery juice) fed to specially bred high cholesterol animals significantly lowered their total cholesterol by increasing bile acid secretion.

Uses
Grated or raw celery can be used on swollen glands.

Celery is used in aromatherapy and other traditional ways of healing, like Ayurveda. In Japan, rheumatic patients are sometimes put on a celery only diet and as stated before, it is also a useful component of a detox diet.

Buying & Storing Celery:

Season
Available year-round. Buying
Look for firm, tight bunches with healthy leaves. Storing
Refrigerate in a plastic bag (preferably a green bag) and place in the crisper for up to two weeks. If the ribs are wilted, separate the ribs and place them in a bowl of ice water for several minutes before use. Preparation
Wash thoroughly, as the bunch attracts sand. They can be boiled, braised, eaten raw or steamed. Also good to add to fruit and vegetable smoothie. Good Combinations
Almonds, celery seeds, curry, dill, fennel, hollandaise sauce, lemon, nutmeg, parsley, peanut butter, walnuts.
Nuts contain the most benefit when they are raw (not pasteurized); and it's important to get organic peanut butter or almond butter so that there isn't any trans fat. If the nut butter does not require refrigeration, then it is not safe for consumption.

More about Celery:

One-hundred grams of raw celery contains only 16 calories, 3 grams of carbohydrate, 1 gram of protein, and 80 mg of sodium. Also contains vitamins A and C, calcium and iron. Zero fat and zero cholesterol.

Apium graveolens is a plant species in the family Apiaceae commonly known as celery (var. dulce) or celeriac (var. rapaceum) depending on whether the petioles (stalks) or roots are eaten.

Apium graveolens is used around the world as a vegetable, either for the crisp petiole (leaf stalk) or the fleshy toproot.

In temperate countries, celery is also grown for its seeds. Actually very small fruit, these "seeds" yield a valuable volatile oil used in the perfume and pharmaceutical industries. They also contain an organic compound called apiol. Celery seeds can be used as flavouring or spice, either as whole seeds or ground and mixed with salt, as celery salt. Celery salt can also be made from an extract of the roots. Celery salt is used as a seasoning, in cocktails (notably to enhance the flavour of Bloody Mary cocktails), on the Chicago-style hot dog, and in Old Bay Seasoning.

Celery, onions, and bell peppers are the holy trinity of Louisiana Creole and Cajun cuisine. Celery, onions, and carrots make up the French mirepoix, often used as a base for sauces and soups. Celery is a staple in many soups, such as chicken noodle soup.

Celery is a biennial vegetable (meaning it has a normal life cycle of two years) that belongs to the Umbelliferae family, whose other members include carrots, fennel, parsley and dill. While most people associate celery with its prized stalks, its leaves, roots and seeds are also used as a food and seasoning as well as a natural medicinal remedy.