When you think of the benefits of celery, you immediately think of it as a low calorie food that’s good for dieters. Celery is a member of the parsley family. In fact, it’s name came from the Italian word, seleri and the French word, celeri that’s derived from the Greek word selinon that means parsley. It was first used for medicinal purposes in ancient times, often for treating problems with nervousness, hysteria and insomnia. It wasn’t used for food until the early 1600s by the French.
Even though the early medicinal uses weren’t correct, celery has healthy properties.
The body needs antioxidants to repair and deter damage from free radicals. That damage causes inflammation and inflammation can lead to heart disease, cancer, arthritis and more. Celery contains caffeic acid, quercetin and ferulic acid, three potent antioxidants. It can be used to relieve the pain of UTIs—urinary tract infections—and may help skin disorders that are caused by inflammation. Consuming celery frequently may help prevent UTIs
Lower high blood pressure with celery.
Hypertension—high blood pressure—can be a significant factor in developing heart disease. Celery can help lower blood pressure. It has large amounts of potassium and calcium, both good for regulating blood pressure. It also contains phthalides, phytochemicals that relax the walls of the arteries to reduce blood pressure by increasing blood flow. Even though all this is true, never try to substitute blood pressure medication with celery.
Celery helps your immune system.
Besides the antioxidants caffeic acid, quercetin and ferulic acid, celery also contains vitamin C and beta carotene, also antioxidants. It also has antibacterial and antimicrobial benefits. Its seeds have been a treatment used to fight infection, as they inhibit the growth of bacteria and improve the immune system. If you feel a bacterial infection or UTI, eating celery or drinking celery seed juice could help. Always seek medical care if you find an infection ensues.
- Do you have digestive issues? It can improve digestion thanks to its fiber. Eat it regularly and you’ll see an improvement. If you’re retaining fluids, celery also acts like a diuretic.
- Celery contains a high amount of polyacetylenes, phytochemicals that help prevent cancer and inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors.
- Since celery contains vitamin C, it may help improve your mood. Vitamin C converts to serotonin, a hormone that helps improve your mood. The magnesium also helps relax the body.
- Celery may be one of the best foods to help you regulate blood sugar levels. It’s the combination of flavones and fiber that helps it do that. Combine that fact with its low calorie count and you have the perfect food for pre-diabetics, diabetics and those who want to shed pounds.
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