Weight loss: Celery is extremely low in calories – 1 stalk contains just 2 calories – and is virtually fat free, making it a great, guilt free snack.
Hydration: Celery has a very high water content, and they is a great way to keep your body hydrated. Effective hydration will keep skin from drying out and keeping it soft and supple.
Calcium: Celery is high in calcium, which is important for healthy bones, blood pressure and nerve function.
Fuller for longer:Celery’s high water and fibre content and crunchy texture are not only brilliant for helping you feel satisfied, but also for getting you to chew your food well and ensuring you stay fuller for longer.
Gut health: As well as containing fibre, celery is a prebiotic so can help keep bloating at bay.
Blood pressure: Celery is a good source of potassium which helps to control blood pressure and counteract the negative effects of too much salt on the diet. It also contains ‘3-n-butyl phthalide’ which helps to reduce blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels and incidentally is one of the components that gives celery its characteristic smell and taste.
Digestive system: Celery contains dietary fibre which helps keep your digestive system healthy. A high fibre diet will protect against problems like heart disease, diabetes, constipation and haemorrhoids (piles).
Dementia: Recent research indicates that the plant compound luteolin – found in celery – may help combat Alzheimer’s and other degenerative mental illnesses. This is because luteolin reduces age-related inflammation in the brain and related memory deficits by directly inhibiting the release of inflammatory molecules in the brain. Research is still in the early stages, but it is known that a healthy balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables, can help reduce the risk of dementia.
Good night sleep: Blended celery juice is thought to help a good night’s sleep because of the vitamins, mineral salts and nutrients it contains.
One of your five a day:Three sticks of celery count as one of your five a day.
Packed: choosing to snack on celery also guarantees a fabulous amount of antioxidants – it’s packed with Vitamin C, Potassium and Iron, and provides a good dose of folate too. And don’t forget the leaves either, and the darker the better, as they contain carotene and more minerals and Vitamin C than the paler leaves.
Relax: In traditional Oriental medicine celery was used to treat hypertension. This is because phthalide compounds in celery can act as a sedative as well as lower blood pressure.
Anti-inflammatory: Celery is rich in phytonutrient antioxidants that contain anti-inflammatory properties.
Cholesterol and blood pressure: Celery’s fibre may help lower cholesterol levels because it picks up excess cholesterol compounds in your gut and pushes them out in the elimination process.
