Celery Health Benefits

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By Mark Orwell
eHow Contributing Writer

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Celery is a popular vegetable that is known for its trademark stalks, which range in size from 12 to 18 inches. They are eaten as a snack, often with a dipping sauce, and are also enjoyed in various salad, soup and entree recipes. While the stalks are eaten more than any other part of the vegetable, celery leaves and seeds are also eaten. All parts of the celery are very healthful and contain a number of beneficial vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin C

Celery is an excellent source of vitamin C. This has been proven to fight colds, prevent free radical damage, promote a healthy cardio system and aid in the prevention of arthritis, inflammatory conditions and asthma.

Cholesterol

Laboratory tests have shown that celery helps to lower cholesterol in some people. It does this by increasing the secretion of bile acid.

Blood Pressure

Celery has been used in eastern medicine to lower blood pressure, and western science has found it does this thanks to something called pthalides. These relax arterial muscles, allowing blood to be pumped easier throughout the body.

Detox Aid

Celery is rich in both potassium and sodium. These help the body produce more urine, which helps it get rid of waste products quickly, thus cleaning the body out.

Benefits

Celery has antioxidants known as coumarins. These fight off free radicals, which could cause health problems such as cancer, and they also promote the health of white blood cells.