Celery is a herb rich in antioxidants, helps boost immunity, lowers blood pressure, cholesterol, and acts as a diuretic. However, it should be consumed in moderation to avoid side effects.
Celery is a medicinal plant with a long history. In ancient times, it was used as a medicine, especially in northern Africa and southern Europe. Before being cultivated, developed and used in cooking all over the world today. There are two types of celery: Western celery, which has a very large, plump stem, and another type, Chinese celery , which has a smaller stem.
The properties are similar. It is a fragrant herb. Some people may find it to have a pungent smell. It is popularly use in cooking to help remove various fishy smells or to add fragrance to soups.
Celery is rich in vitamin A, vitamin B1,2,6, vitamin C, dietary fiber, potassium, calcium, folate, molybdenum, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, manganese. ทางเข้า UFABET สำหรับสมาชิกใหม่ สมัครวันนี้ รับโบนัสฟรี Studies have shown that celery helps to promote health.
Medicinal properties of celery
Strengthens the immune system and helps prevent cancer.
Celery contains important compounds such as Coumarins. Which help protect cells from free radical damage, reduce the risk of cell mutations that may lead to future cancer. And also stimulate the function of white blood cells, which play a role in eliminating cancer cells. In addition, there are Acetylenics, which help inhibit the growth of cancer cells in another way.
Helps reduce blood pressure
Phalides in celery have the property of relaxing the muscles around blood vessels, causing the blood vessels to expand, resulting in better blood flow. It also reduces the secretion of stress hormones, which is one factor that causes high blood pressure.
Reduce blood cholesterol levels
Studies have shown that regular consumption of fresh celery juice can help reduce blood cholesterol levels within 8 weeks by causing the body to produce more bile acids, which play a role in removing cholesterol from the body.
Diuretic and reduces edema
Celery contains important minerals such as potassium and sodium, which help balance the body’s fluids, stimulate urine production and excretion, and help remove excess water, thus effectively reducing water retention.
Cautions for celery
- Eating too much celery can cause infertility in men and can reduce sperm count by up to 50%. However, if you stop taking it, your sperm count will return to normal within 8-13 weeks.
- In some cases, an allergic reaction to celery can be severe.
- Celery extract may accelerate the browning of the skin. When using celery in cooking, avoid stir-frying or boiling it for too long, as the heat will destroy the vitamins and minerals in it.
While some people may have seen the trend of drinking celery juice until it became a challenge, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation stated that “If you squeeze it fresh and drink 500 ml. at once, you will need a lot of celery and will get a lot of potassium. In the case of teenagers and working people, the kidneys can excrete it all, so it is fine. However, at the same time, people who are at risk of kidney disease or have impaired kidney function must be careful, especially the elderly because various organs will deteriorate over time, which may cause health problems.
Therefore, no matter what food, vegetables, or fruits, no matter how good they are for your heart or health, you should eat them in moderation. Eat a variety of foods from all 5 food groups to stay healthy and use nutrients effectively.
How to select and store celery
- Select celery that looks fresh and crisp. Choose stalks that can be easily separated and are not wilted or looking fresh.
- Choose celery with pale green to bright green leaves. Avoid yellow or brown leaves. To extend its shelf life, store celery in a plastic bag with a tight-fitting lid, wrap it in clear plastic, or wrap it in a damp towel before storing it in the refrigerator compartment as usual. Do not store it in the freezer, as it will wilt and spoil easily.
- If the celery is already chopped, drain off any excess water remaining in the container, as water can wash away the beneficial nutrients from the celery.
- Avoid storing celery at room temperature for long periods of time, as celery contains a lot of water, which can easily cause the leaves and stems to wilt. After cutting, use it as soon as possible within 1-2 days, as celery is too fragile to be stored for long periods of time.
- If the celery you bought is wilted, try sprinkling a little water on it and putting it in the refrigerator for several hours. This will help the celery become fresh and crisp again.