Celery benefits
Celery is actually a snack. People love it for its crunchiness, especially the stem and low amounts of calories. Apart from the aforementioned, celery packs a multitude of vitamins and minerals.
These are essential for the growth and development of the human body. The stalk carries the chewiness and has 95% water. Below are the 9 incredible health benefits of celery.
Surprisingly to many, celery used to treat many cardiovascular diseases. Many nutrients and compounds give celery its unique health benefits.
These include vitamin C, phthalides, and coumarins. Celery also contains many other nutrients. It an excellent addition to any diet.
Celery health benefits
- Packs a massive amount of antioxidants
- It may help to control cancer
- Reduces inflammation
- Can reduce Blood pressure
- It may promote male fertility
- Celery supports digestion
- Hyperlipidemia
- Celery is rich in vitamins and minerals
- Neurogenesis
Health benefits of Celery
1. Packs a massive amount of antioxidants
Antioxidants play an essential role in maintaining body health. Typically, they protect the cells, body organs, and blood veins from oxidative damage. With the immense amounts of vitamin C, beta carotene, and flavonoids, You are well supplied with substances that will protect your body system.
Celery is a rich source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin C helps prevent the damage caused by free radicals. Therefore it helps decrease the risk of inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, stroke, and cancers.
Vitamin C also helps boost immune function and protects against colds and flu.
Another source of antioxidants from celery is from the seeds. Celery seeds contain limonene oil, which shows high anti-oxidant potential.
2. It may help to control cancer
The antioxidant properties of celery are important in fighting cancer-promoting free radicles from your body. Scientists have studied the two important components in celery that fight cancer, i.e., Apigenin and luteolin.
Apigenin is potent in destroying free radicals as well as promoting the death of the cancer cell. This component promotes autophagy, a process that your body that removes dysfunctional cells and other components, helping to prevent the occurrence of disease.
By contrast, luteolin, a plant flavonoid in celery, has possible anti-cancer effects. According to a particular study in which luteolin supplementation was used, it reduced the mice tumor rates by close to half. Also, it reduced the progression of part of the tumor remaining.
Other studies conducted in China showed that if you eat two stalks of celery per week, it can reduce your chances of getting lung cancer up to 60 %. Still, other studies propose that celery can fight cancers of the breast, ovary, liver, pancreas, and prostate.
3. Reduces inflammation
Inflammation occurs due to various conditions.
For instance, chronic inflammation is associated with diseases like including arthritis and osteoporosis. But, celery and celery seeds have been shown to be effective in managing inflammatory diseases.
Typically, they have approximately 25 anti-inflammatory compounds.
4. Can reduce Blood pressure
Traditional medicine, particularly Chinese medicine, has prescribed celery to lower blood pressure. Phthalides, which are contained in celery.
It can help relax the muscles around the arteries. It also reduces stress hormones. Both of these factors contribute to improved blood flow.
Celery is also a good source of potassium, magnesium, and calcium, which help lower blood pressure.
5. It may promote male fertility
According to studies, celery has a protective effect against substances that might damage sperms.
A 30-day study conducted on the fertility of rats in 2015 concluded that 30 days of celery leaf extract could potentially improve sperm count.
This is due to the celery’s inhibitive effects against free radicals that can adversely impact fertility.
6. Celery supports digestion
Apart from the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, celery has special benefits to the stomach.
For instance, the pectin polysaccharide, including apiuman, has been shown to reduce cases of stomach ulcers, modulate stomach secretions, and improve the lining of the stomach in animal studies.
Besides, the generous amount of water and the insoluble diet support a healthy digestive system.
7. Hyperlipidemia
This is a state where the level of fatty acids increases in blood. This may raise the risk of getting heart disease.
Some studies have shown that celery extract can reduce the levels of bad cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein in rats that consumed a high-fat diet.
8. Celery is rich in vitamins and minerals
Celery is a master of vitamins, especially vitamin A, C, and C. These vitamins are essential for body organs.
In addition, minerals such as potassium and folate are in abundance in celery. Best of all, the vitamins and the minerals have a low glycemic index, i.e., it has a slow, steady effect on your blood sugar.
9. Neurogenesis
Celery compound, Apigenin can stimulate neurogenesis, i.e., growth and development of nerve cells.
According to a 2009 study in which rats were treated with Apigenin, all the rates were found to have stimulated nerve cell generation.
Additionally, it improved the ability to learn and remember. However, this requires further research.