Celery’s an amazing and versatile food that’s full of vitamins and minerals.
It’s amazing because it strengthens our joints, fights inflammation, and defends the
body against cancer.
It’s versatile because you can do so many things with it: eat it just like it is, dip
it in things like hummus or peanut butter, or you can add it to your favorite soup or
smoothie.
Take a look at ten reasons to add celery to your everyday diet if you haven't already.
1.
Heals Bladder Infections As natural diuretic, celery allows the body
to rid itself of gallstones and other bacteria in the urinary tract.
By flushing the bacteria, any bladder infections are treated.
By eating celery you’re promoting good health in both the digestive and urinary systems.
2.
Reduces Inflammation Luteolin is a phytochemical that has been
proven to reduce inflammation in various parts of the body.
Surprisingly enough, that includes inflammation in the brain.
Celery is rich in luteolin which makes it a great reason to eat it daily.
3.
Strengthens the Joints Both gout and arthritis are conditions associated
with inflammation in the joints, but that’s not all they have in common.
Their symptoms can be reduced by drinking one celery smoothie per day—reducing swelling
and inflammation as well as stiffness in the joints.
4.
Reduces Cholesterol Celery also contains another phytochemical
called phthalides.
This chemical compound produces bile acids which in turn reduce the bad cholesterol—or
LDL in the blood.
By eating a few sticks of celery a day, you can effectively lower your bad cholesterol
levels.
5.
Helps Regulate Blood Pressure Those same phthalides that reduce LDL levels
also work to relax the muscles around our arteries.
This allows the blood vessels to dilate and lower our blood pressure.
In addition to the phthalides, celery is rich in potassium, an important mineral that also
assists in managing blood pressure.
6.
Helps in Weight Loss One great thing about celery is its very low
caloric count.
One stalk contains only 15 calories.
Since celery contains a high amount of fiber, when we eat it, we feel full longer.
That keeps us from snacking which leads to weight gain.
7.
Defends Against Cancer Celery contains certain chemical compounds
that help us fight cancer.
If you’re thinking that one of those is phthalides, you’d be right.
The other cancer fighting compound is called polyacetylenes.
Together they take the poison out of cancer cells in the body, preventing several kinds
of cancers.
8.
Relieves Stress It could be the satisfaction we get by crunching
into a fresh celery stick that helps reduce stress, but it’s most often attributed to
the magnesium that celery contains.
This powerful mineral has a calming effect on the central nervous system.
Try eating celery as a bed-time snack to take away the day’s stress and have a more restful
night of sleep.
9.
Treats Halitosis When bacteria gets lodged in between our teeth
and gums, it causes halitosis—commonly knowns as bad breath.
Celery’s texture works to remove food that’s stuck in our mouths—giving us fresher smelling
breath.
10.
Improves Digestion Celery is high in both water and fiber.
Since our digestive tracts don’t breakdown fiber, it keeps us regular—while fighting
constipation.