For being such a powerhouse vegetable, celery is an often-overlooked healthy snack to reach for despite its plentiful benefits. A single stalk of celery is loaded with essential minerals and vitamins, including vitamin B6, vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium and folate. Moreover, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may make it an ideal food for those struggling with chronic health concerns such as high cholesterol and heart disease. Read on to see what eating celery on a regular basis can do for your body.
Benefits weight loss
Swapping your high-calorie nibbles with a single cup of celery might just be the start to a successful diet journey. Each large celery stalk contains only 10 calories – which consumes less than 1 percent of your daily 1500 calorie intake limit. It also contains dietary fiber, a type of carbohydrate which can help to control your appetite by absorbing water to help fill your stomach.
Aids in reducing blood pressure
Celery contains a phytochemical called phthalides (or as an extract, NBP). NBP relaxes the tissues of the artery walls to increase blood flow and reduce blood pressure. The potassium-rich properties of celery also help to regulate heartbeat and control hypertension.
Improves digestion
Due to celery’s diuretic compounds, it brings about a number of digestive benefits. Diuretics work to help flush the body of excess fluid and sodium, waste and toxins while stimulating the production of urine. Its ability to treat water retention can also relieve bloating.
Hydrates body
Though drinking the recommended amount of water each day is essential to our well-being, we can properly hydrate our bodies through certain foods as well. Celery is a water-rich food that boasts a 95 percent water content.
May lower cholesterol
While eating celery won’t cancel out a cholesterol-rich piece of cake you just indulged in last night, including celery in a balanced meal plan each day may help to improve your overall cholesterol levels. Though research on celery and cholesterol in humans is limited, animal studies show promising results. In a study at the University of Chicago Medical Center, phthalide in celery was found to reduce blood pressure in laboratory rats by up to 14 percent and lower cholesterol levels by about 7 percent after being fed a high-fat diet for eight weeks.
Sources:
https://askdrnandi.com/10-health-benefits-celery/
https://www.livestrong.com/article/86618-eat-celery-lose-weight/
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/celery-may-help-bring-your-high-blood-pressure-down/
https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-diuretics#1 https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/09/health/a-new-look-at-an-ancient-remedy-celery.html
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/19-hydrating-foods#section12
