Is Celery Good for You?

“Is Celery Good for You” is a question that comes up from time to time. As a matter of fact, as I was recently trying to decide what fruits and veggies I wanted to include in a new “drink juice daily” regimen, I wondered what the answer was as I evaluated various juices.

I found that the celery juice that comes from celery stalks helps with my nutrition needs.

Celery is often considered a negative calorie food because it takes more energy to digest than it contains. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that it isn’t good for you! Celery is a delicious snack to enjoy, especially when peanut butter is involved, but did you know that there are actually many reasons for you to eat more celery? 

Some of the health benefits of celery that I’m going to share with you are just too good not to consider as you make vegetable choices. Not only can celery be a weight loss partner, but it may even have anti-cancer properties that can help with preventing cancer.

And that’s not all! Here are the top 10 reasons you should make this crunchy vegetable a regular part of your diet.

Is Celery Good for You?

High in Nutrients

While celery is considered low in calories, it also happens to be high in nutrients. Let’s consider some nutrition facts so you’ll understand why this is a great food to include in your meal plans. Celery nutrition certainly surprised me.

One cup of celery contains only 14 calories, but also contains essential vitamins and minerals including Vitamins K, A, C, folate, and potassium. Vitamin K is an important part of maintaining healthy blood, particularly the clotting factor as you try to maintain proper blood flow and injury repair.

There’s real value to having celery in your diet as a good source of Vitamin K.

Vitamin C is also an antioxidant that helps protect our cells against the effects of free radicals. Since Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, we need to replenish a supply every day.

Good for Digestion

Celery is an excellent source of fiber. This is especially good news for those of you who struggle with digestive problems every once in a while. That’s because fiber helps with digestion and can also help lower cholesterol levels.

Keeping your gut healthy and functioning properly, means you are less likely to experience uncomfortable stomach symptoms like diarrhea or constipation.

Protects Cells from Damage

This next health benefit is too good for anyone to pass up! Celery contains antioxidants that can help protect cells from damage and cell death, and may also help reduce the risk of some chronic diseases such as cancer.

May Help You Lose Weight

Struggling to lose weight? Eating celery may be part of your answer. Celery is a natural diuretic, which means it can help flush excess water and sodium from the body. This can be helpful if you’re trying to lose weight or reduce bloating.

Since celery has very little sugar, it also helps you to maintain blood sugar levels that are healthy for you.

Since celery is a non-starchy vegetable, it isn’t high in carbohydrates and can be an important food source for those with diabetes.

Aids in Weight Control

Along with helping you lose weight, eating celery can also help you maintain your weight over time. This is because it’s high in fiber and low in calories, meaning it will fill you up without contributing many excess calories to your daily intake.

Celery has a high water content factor, so it helps to maintain proper hydration while helping you to feel full.

Contains Anti-inflammatory Properties

Are you someone that experiences excruciating knee pain on a regular basis? Celery is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties which may help reduce inflammation throughout the body. This can lead to better joint health and decreased pain levels.

Helps Regulate Blood Pressure

Eating celery regularly has been linked with lower blood pressure levels. This is likely due to the combined effects of the fiber, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds found in this vegetable.

Boosts Heart Health

Not only is celery rich in antioxidants, but it’s also high in potassium. This is good news for a couple of reasons, but especially because this can help improve heart health and lower your risk of developing heart disease.

Don’t count protein as one of the benefits of eating celery, it contains very little.

May Help Improve Brain Function

The nutrients in celery may also help improve brain function and protect against age-related mental decline. This includes memory loss and cognitive decline.

Promotes Healthy Skin

Celery contains lots of Vitamin A, which can help keep skin looking young, healthy, and radiant. It may also be helpful for anyone struggling with acne or other skin conditions.

Provides Minerals that Support Good Bone Health

Celery is a good source of vitamins and minerals that are essential for bone health including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and Vitamin K.

May Lower Your Risk for Certain Cancers

The compounds in celery have been shown to interfere with the growth of certain types of cancer cells in test tube studies. More research is needed to confirm these effects in humans, but eating celery regularly may help lower your cancer risk.

Keeps You Hydrated

Celery is also high in water content, making it an excellent hydrating food that can help keep you hydrated throughout the day. This is especially important if you’re physically active since staying hydrated is vital for your body’s performance and health.

Celery Can Be Enjoyed in a Number of Different Ways

Adding celery to your diet is a great way to increase your intake of important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants while staying within your daily calorie goals! And there’s no need to limit yourself to eating it raw – celery can be enjoyed cooked or steamed as well.

So go ahead and add this superfood to your shopping list today!

Tips for Buying and Using Celery

1. When buying celery, look for stalks that are firm and have crisp leaves. Avoid any stalks that appear limp or wilted, as this may indicate that they are old or have been exposed to moisture.

2. To store your celery, keep it in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer and use it within one to two weeks.

3. Celery can be used in a wide variety of dishes, both cooked and raw. It is commonly added to soups, stews, salads, or braised dishes for extra flavor, texture, and health benefits.

4. If you’re looking for ways to incorporate more celery into your diet, try using it to make homemade vegetable broth or add some chopped stalks to a green smoothie. You can also use celery leaves as a garnish for soups, salads, or casseroles.

5. Finally, don’t forget that you can enjoy celery in its whole form – simply wash and eat raw! Whether sliced into strips, chopped into cubes, or served whole as a crunchy snack, celery is a versatile and healthy food that everyone can benefit from adding to their diet.

I like to store my celery in reusable containers designed for the refrigerator. Refrigerator Containers

More Tips for Eating Healthy:

• How To Dehydrate Celery + Celery Powder
• What You Need In Your Working Pantry
• How to Be Ready for Thanksgiving

Are some people allergic to celery?

There are people who have a celery allergy and reaction to celery, celery seeds, and celery extract. It seems to be more common to people who suffer from hay fever due to proximity to birch and/or mugwort pollen.

The allergy appears more often in Europe and has many of the following symptoms:

• Asthma attacks
• Hives, itching, and rash on the skin
• Headaches
• Difficulty breathing
• Stomach pain and cramps
• Nausea with vomiting and diarrhea

What are the celery benefits for women in particular?

We’ve covered the majority of health benefits for people of both genders, but let’s summarize the major health benefits that women may be most interested in:

• Celery is a great source of antioxidants. These nutrients help protect our cells, including blood vessels and organs.
• It provides support for healthy digestion. This mainly comes from the high fiber content found in celery.
• Help reduce inflammation. Inflammation contributes to body pain and discomfort of all kinds.
• It helps us stay hydrated. We need plenty of water to support all our body functions.
• Celery is a great snack. You can eat celery in place of the sweets we enjoy so much. Just grab a celery stalk and much away without feeling guilty. Could help us all lose a little weight along the way.
• High-nutrition foods benefit us all, and celery has a number of nutrients we can use every day.

Are the parts of the celery plant, like the leaves and seeds, also beneficial?

You should try to incorporate all the parts of the plant as you put celery to work in your meal plans. Each part contributes to the flavor of foods in a unique way. Some people use the leaves as a garnish, much like parsley.

The seeds are often added to bread recipes and when making pickles. The seeds also can be processed to make celery seed oil and used as a skin treatment.

Final Word

Celery often gets a bad rap as being a “negative calorie” food because it takes more energy to digest than it contains, but there are actually many reasons to make this crunchy vegetable a regular part of your diet!

From its nutrient density and low-calorie content to its potential health benefits, celery without question deserves a spot on your plate! Go ahead and stock up next time you’re at the grocery store, your body will thank you! May God Bless this world, Linda