What Is Celery Good For?

The Apium graveolens or celery as it is commonly known, is a plant species that occurs in the Mediterranean areas for thousands of years and belongs to the apiaceae family. The appearance of this vegetable is of stretched stems and thick stalk of wedged leaves.

Generally, celery is used as a condiment for various recipes, due to the characteristic flavor and aroma it brings to food. However, it also has various medicinal properties that make it beneficial to purify the body, provide nutrients, improve cardiovascular health, fight obesity, among other attributes.

Benefits of celery

Celery has been recognized for its contribution of benefits to the body since millennia, now becoming an important food in the daily diet, as well as a natural medicine. Including celery on a regular basis has several advantages, among them are:

Helps lower cholesterol

Research carried out by the University of Chicago revealed that celery is capable of reducing bad cholesterol levels by just consuming two stalks a day. However, the consumption of this vegetable also increases bile acids, which are responsible for removing cholesterol from the body.

Has anticancer properties

Celery contains lemongrass, a compound that according to various studies can protect the body from some types of cancer, such as liver, breast and stomach cancer. In addition, it also prevents metastasis thanks to a compound called acetylene, which is responsible for stopping the growth of tumors.

Provides vitamins

Consuming celery juice provides vitamins of the type B1, B2 and B16, C and K in addition to phosphorus, silicon, sodium, manganese, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron and various mineral salts. In research conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture, a serving of celery has been found to have 6.5% of the potassium a person requires daily and 3% of the calcium.

It is anti-inflammatory

The University of Illinois in the United States confirmed the anti-inflammatory properties that celery contains, which is why it helps in the prevention of diseases related to this problem, including rheumatic arthritis, gout, osteoarthritis, bronchitis and asthma. Likewise, its flavonoids also play an important role in the renewal of the joints.

It is a natural cleanser

Since it has large amounts of chlorophyll, celery can control intestinal flora, it is also a diuretic so it allows toxins to be eliminated through the urinary system, which is very good to avoid some conditions such as stones kidney

On the other hand, the fiber found in celery allows to promote a natural detoxification, since it facilitates the exit of any harmful substance that may lodge in the intestine, which causes a considerable improvement in digestion, while helping to avoid constipation problems. .

Improves cardiovascular health

One of the plant species that helps the most in improving cardiovascular health is celery, this is due to the content of folic acid and chlorophyll, which regulates glucose levels, circulation and oxygenation of the blood. In addition, specialists often recommend celery juice to lower both cholesterol and triglycerides.

Prevents halitosis

Liver diseases can cause a series of side effects, one of the best known being halitosis, which is why taking care of an organ such as the liver is very important and for this, celery can be extremely useful, since consuming or drinking juice of celery fights bad breath due to its components.

Benefits of celery fasting

An important therapy for the body is to eat or take celery in the first hours of the day, just before breakfast; It can be consumed as a smoothie, shake, tea, or celery water and it is possible to combine it with other fruits or vegetables, with pineapple, green apple, parsley, carrot or lemon being the best options.

On the other hand, among the set of various benefits that celery provides on an empty stomach are the following:

• Purifies and eliminates any type of toxin.
• Regulates heartburn.
• Prevents urinary diseases.
• Reduce bad cholesterol.
• Accelerate weight loss.
• It acts as a natural diuretic.

Celery for weight loss

Two of the most important components for weight loss are fiber and water, since the foods that contain these components generate a feeling of satiety in the body, so the cravings to eat are reduced.

In order for it to work more quickly, it can be consumed on an empty stomach, since upon waking is when the intestines and liver begin to move and work more quickly. In addition, since it has diuretic properties, it will allow the person who consumed it to eliminate the accumulation of fats and toxins.

Celery recipes

Celery is a vegetable widely used in cooking recipes, to lose weight or to provide medicinal properties. For all those people who want to maintain a good quality of life, they can use the following recipes:

Celery smoothie for weight loss

This is a shake that must be taken on an empty stomach to provide good results. The secret is to drink it freshly made to prevent the components from losing their properties.

Ingredients:

• 2 stalks of celery.
• 2 slices of pineapple.
• ½ cucumber.
• 1 tablespoon of oatmeal.
• 1 glass of water.

After washing all the ingredients, the peeled pineapple, cucumber and celery begin to be chopped. Then they are added in the blender along with the oats, the glass of water and the sweetener, in order to proceed to beat for a few minutes.

Celery smoothie against stress and fatigue

Stress and fatigue can be two difficult factors to handle, which is why some nutrients play an important role in stimulating hormones that offer well-being. A celery smoothie combined with other ingredients will be the perfect recipe to avoid these annoying symptoms.

Ingredients:

• 2 tomatoes.
• 2 sticks of celery.
• 4 lettuce leaves.
• 1 bunch of parsley.
• ½ glass of water.

After washing all the ingredients very well, they are processed in the blender, hoping to obtain a homogeneous liquid that does not contain any type of lumps. You can add a little ice to give it a refreshing touch.

Celery: uses and medicinal properties

The nutrients found in celery are capable of acting as a natural medicine, so it is necessary to know what the most relevant uses and properties are, including:

• When celery leaves are chewed they calm nerves, anxiety and insomnia.
• It acts as an expectorant, which helps eliminate phlegm.
• Celery infusions relieve stomach pain and prevent spasms.
• The crushed celery leaves can aid the wound healing process.
• Celery juice serves as an antifungal to eliminate the appearance of fungus in the hands or feet.
• To cure mouth sores or some other problem you can make a mouthwash from the dried celery plant.

Where is celery grown?

Today celery is grown in almost all temperate regions of the world. Celery seeds are used to sow, a process that must begin in spring. After about 4 months it is possible to start harvesting the vegetable.

On the other hand, it is important to have moist, fertile and deep soil, always avoiding excess water. Once the sowing is done, the space requires constant humidity, so it is recommended to water it at least twice a week and prevent the soil from drying out.

Contraindications

Although celery is a vegetable that is far from dangerous, it is contraindicated in some cases, among them the following stand out:

• In allergic individuals.
• In pregnant women, since celery contains substances of the emmenagogue and uterotonic type which could cause premature labor.
• Although it has not been shown that breastfeeding women should avoid its consumption, it is recommended that you consult your doctor before adding celery to your nutritional diet on a regular basis.
• Among others.

Side effects

Excessive or improper consumption of this vegetable could cause various side effects, which can be negative for the individual, among them the following stand out:

• Allergic reactions.
• Photosensitivity, resulting in symptoms such as fever, skin rash, joint pain.
• Stomach ache.
• Among others.

Conclusion, is the consumption of celery recommended?

Celery is a vegetable that has been used for thousands of years for its various properties, showing that it is a food capable of benefiting those who decide to consume it regularly in many ways. However, it is necessary to take into account that its consumption should be moderate, so that in this way it does not cause health risks.