Celery

Celery is related to parsley and fennel, a member of the Umbelliferae family of plants. Mankind has cultivated it as a vegetable for thousands of years.

Let’s consider a few of the numerous and often overlooked health benefits contained in this popular, fibrous vegetable.

Fiber

At about 1.6 grams per cup, celery is high in fiber, which makes it beneficial for helping to fight everything from diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol to colon cancer and constipation.¹

Anti-inflammatory

Celery contains beneficial phytonutrients such as the flavonols quercetin and kaempferol, flavones such as luteolin, and phenolic acids. These antioxidants are known for their anti-inflammatory properties.² A study has shown that celery helps inhibit the activity of two proteins linked to inflammation—nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).³

Minerals

Celery is rich with a number of important minerals. These include iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, calcium, and sele-nium, but chiefly potassium, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease and support cellular function in muscles.¹

It is best to choose organic celery whenever possible as commercially grown celery has been exposed to a great deal of pesticides.^4,5

References

1. Available at: http://woman.thenest.com/health-benefits-celery-2024.html. Accessed June 6, 2017.
2. Available at: http://www.livescience.com/50640-celery-nutrition.html. Accessed June 6, 2017.
3. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2012;56(4):558-69.
4. Available at: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php. Accessed June 6, 2017.
5. Available at: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/06/01/dirty.dozen.produce.pesticide/index.html. Accessed June 6, 2017.