Written by Dr. Sanjana V.B Bhms,dbrm,cdn

Founder & medical director of siahmsr wellness.in

All rights reserved with siahmsr digital healthcare[siahmsr wellness]

Reviewed by SIAHMSR medical team.

CELERY

Celery or Apium graveolens is a herb of the family Apiaceae. Celery is usually used as a delicate flavoring agent in a variety of stocks, salads and soups. This plant is native to the Mediterranean areas and the Middle East. Celery was used as a flavoring herb by the ancient Greeks and Romans and as a medicine by the ancient Chinese.

Celery leaves are pinnate to bipinnate with rhombic leaflets 3–6 centimetres long and 2–4 cm  broad. The herb may produce white flowers and globose seeds and new plants are raised from seeds. 

Celery is eaten around the world as a vegetable. In North America and Europe the crisp petiole (leaf stalk) is used in salads. The small seeds known as celery seeds are used as a seasoning or flavoring agent, particularly in soups and pickle.

Nutritional value

Raw celery contains 95% water, 3% carbohydrates, 0.7% protein, and contains negligible fat. A 100-gram reference serving provides 16 calories of food energy. Celery is a good source of vitamin K, and provides 28% of the Daily Value.

Celery contains compounds such as limonene, selinene, frocoumarin glycosides, flavonoids, and vitamins A and C also.

                                      SIAHMSR                            

Health benefits of celery

·       Rich in fibers

This herb is a good source of fiber and help to reduce blood sugar, improve digestion and cardiovascular health.

·       Low in calories

Celery contains only a small amount of carbs and fat also negligible. Therefore it can be used by people having diabetes and cholesterol.

·       Improves cardiovascular health

Helps to improve functions of heart lowering bad cholesterol.

Lipid lowering 3-n-butylphthalide is present in celery.

·       Antioxidant properties

Celery has compounds such as caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, apigenin, luteolin, tannin, saponin, and kaempferol, which are powerful antioxidants preventing oxidative stress.

·       Anti-inflammatory properties

The phytochemicals in celery decrease the activity of pro inflammatory cytokines and prevent inflammation. The flavonoids in celery prevents cardiovascular inflammation. Oxidative stress and inflammation in the blood stream are the main risk factors for atherosclerosis.

·       Anti-hypertensive properties

Celery phthalides leads to expanding of smooth muscle in the blood .

·       Improve the functions of nerves.

Its bioactive compound  3-n-butylphthalide (NBP), have shown their effect on neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke-related neurological complications, depression, diabetes-related neurological complications, and epilepsy[6]. Neurodegeneration is major problem associated with these diseases. Nerve degenerative changes are caused by oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. The antioxidant compounds of celery, chiefly NBP can prevent degeneration. However, the exact molecular mechanism behind this neuroprotective effect is not clear. 

·       Nutraceutical usage

Celery extracts are reported to possess many nutraceutical properties such as antioxidant, fat lowering [hypolipidemic],sugar lowering[ hypoglycemic], and anti-platelet aggregation properties.

Safety

Mostly, celery sensitivity is not considered as a significant one. However, for people with celery allergy, exposure to this plant can cause fatal anaphylactic shock. Cases of allergic reaction to ingestion of celery root have also been reported in pollen-sensitive individuals resulting in gastrointestinal disorders and other symptoms.

 How to include celery in your diet?

     Celery is a popular ingredient of salads and soups. Celery is used for salad dressings

Eg: spinach and bean sprout salad.

Garlic celery toast is another yummy recipe using celery as an important ingredient.

Celery soup could be a brilliant start to any meal which is nutritious also.

Celery is used in making smoothies and juices such as carrot beetroot smoothie.

Celery chicken salad may be appealing to the taste buds of nonveg lovers.

It is used for dressing the broccoli salad also.

You may get a million ways to include celery in your food in a yummy and appealing manner.

written by dr sanjana vb[ copyright]

References

1.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871295/

2.   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871295/#:~:text=Research%20on%20rats%20shows%20that,and%20also%20improves%20their%20fertility.&text=Celery%20reduces%20glucose%2C%20blood%20lipids,which%20can%20strengthen%20the%20heart.&text=Experimental%20studies%20show%20that%20celery,29%20and%20anti%2Dinflammatory%20properties.

3.    https://www.britannica.com/plant/celery

4.    https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/celery-glossary

5.    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31464016/

6.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10420906/