10 Surprising Health Benefits of Celery
Celery, which has the scientific name Apium graveolens, is a vegetable in the plant family called Apiaceae. The benefits of celery begin with it being an excellent source of antioxidants and beneficial enzymes, in addition to vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin B6.
Administered as an anti-hypertensive agent in folk medicine for centuries, celery continues to prove that there are many cardiovascular benefits. In recent pharmacological studies, celery demonstrates both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities that help improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as prevent heart disease.
Celery also provides dietary fiber – especially when you eat more than one cup at a time – that boosts digestion and weight loss. In addition, celery’s high percentage of water and electrolytes can prevent dehydration, and special compounds help celery to act as a diuretic and reduce bloating. As a supplier of antioxidant flavonoids and polyphenol phytonutrients, other significant benefits of celery include its ability to improve liver, skin, eye and cognitive health.
Celery Nutrition Facts
One cup of chopped celery has: (1)
(percentages based on the RDA for adult women)
16 calories
0 fat
1 gram of protein
5 grams of fiber
5 milligrams vitamin K (37%)
36 milligrams folate (9%)
22 milligrams vitamin A (9%)
263 milligrams potassium (8%)
1 milligrams vitamin C (5%)
40 milligrams calcium (4%)
0.08 milligrams vitamin B6 (4%)
