Medicinal Benefits of Celery

Celery is one of the most commonly used vegetable worldwide because of its highly aromatic oil that lends its perfume and flavor to a variety of recipes - from soups and stews to salads and poultry stuffing. Its leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant, containing more calcium, iron, potassium, and vitamin A and C than the stalks. Celery is approximately 95% water; this liquid is often extracted and combined with other vegetable juices to make a refreshing, nutritious drink.

Medicinal Benefits:

• Low in calories and high in fiber. Dieters tend to eat lots of celery because two stalks contain less than 10 calories, yet their high fiber content makes them very filling.
• Herbalists believed that fresh celery and celery seed tea helps treat gout and other forms of inflammatory arthritis. Polyacetylene, a compound in celery, is said to reduce production of prostaglandin, body chemicals that is responsible in producing inflammation.
• Celery juice is beneficial for persons with stones in the gall bladder or the kidney. It has been found that those who drank juice do not found any formation of stones in bladders & kidney again. It seems likely that this effect is related to the anti-arthritic properties of the juice.
• Studies have shown that celery may help prevent cancer by improving detoxification.
• Raw celery should be eaten to reduce high blood pressure.
• Celery's essential oil is beneficial in regulating the nervous system and the sexual gland.
• A tablespoonful of honey in celery juice, sipped slowly, will very effectively reduce the appetite if taken before a meal. It will therefore help in reducing weight. This mixture when taken at night will also help you relax and get a goodnight sleep. This may be due to celery's high calcium content.
  
  Caution: Celery contain high levels of plant nitrates, substances that the body converts into nitrosamines, which are linked with an increased risk of cancer. However, many researchers believe that this is a rather minor risk because most plants high in nitrates and other potentially cancer-causing substances also contains chemicals that neutralize any harmful effects. Also, cooking celery by boiling, braising, or steaming lowers nitrate levels.