Think Celery!!! by Pat Wilson

Celery is much more than a traditional summer salad ingredient. Available throughout the year, a little research on celery shows this versatile vegetable has very real health benefits and is worth adding to your weekly diet.

Research has shown that celery contains blood pressure reducing properties. Celery contains active compounds called Pthalides which relax the muscles of the arteries that regulate blood pressure allowing these vessels to dilate. Pthalides also reduce stress hormones which can cause blood vessels to constrict.

Celery is an excellent source of Vitamin C with all its health benefits. Vitamin C can help to reduce cold symptoms or the severity of cold symptoms during the winter months. This important Vitamin helps to support the immune system and is a cold fighter!

Celery also provides fibre (see High Fibre Diet), and essential minerals such as Folacin and Potassium.

Nor surprising then that Celery has a long history of use, first as a medicine and then later as a food.

Celery can obviously be eaten on its own but is also a tasty addition to many cooked dishes: stir fry dishes, soups, stews and casseroles.

Nutritional Information from the WLR database

Celery, Raw, Average

1 Med Stalk/40g

Calorie Density: 1