Celery

Celery Celery, a popular Mediterranean vegetable dating back to ancient Greece, is versatile and easy to use. The ancient Greeks used celery to treat fever, colds, flu and poor digestion. Due to its popularity and many uses, celery was considered a sacred vegetable, adorning the winners of the Nemean games, a historic event similar to the Olympics. While the Greeks found a multitude of benefits from celery, the Romans certainly had a love hate relationship with this delicious plant. While certainly a central ingredient in Rome, celery was also thought to bring misfortune in certain circumstances.
While indigenous to the Mediterranean, wild varieties grow abundantly today in many regions of the world such as Sweden, Britain, Egypt, India, China and the United States. While celery stalk is by far the most common form of celery used in the kitchen, celery seeds are a wonderful addition to your creative recipes. The inner leafs, while often discarded, are a great alternative to parsley.

Key Nutrients

Celery is an excellent source of vitamin C and potassium. While mostly consisting of water, celery is also a great source of dietary fiber, especially when consumed raw.

Health Benefits

Dietary Fiber – Dietary Fiber stimulates digestion and peristalsis, helping to relieve indigestion and constipation problems.

Potassium – Potassium is an essential mineral which aids in fluid regulation, protein synthesis and cardiovascular health. High levels of potassium are associated with reduced risk for stroke, improved blood pressure control as well as bone health.

Vitamin C – Regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infections and scavenges harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals. Vitamin C also helps to prevent respiratory problems such as asthma and lung cancer. Vitamin C has been shown to lower blood pressure, and therefore lessen the probability of hypertension.

Season

Celery is planted in the springtime, and matures in the summer. A vibrant plant, you can find celery year round in most supermarkets.

Nutrition Information

Per 1 cup (100 grams):

Calories (cKal): 16
Protein (grams): .7
Total Fat (grams): .17
Carbohydrates (grams): 3
Fiber (grams): 1.6

Buying and Storing

When buying celery, make sure the vegetable is bright green and crisp when touched. Celery which appears limp or off-green should be avoided. When storing at home, make sure to store your celery in the refrigerator in a plastic bad for up to five days.

Best Way to Add to Diet

Celery can be added to recipes in a number of ways. First, raw celery is a refreshing treat. Make sure to wash the celery under cold water for at least 30 seconds before consuming raw. When cooking, celery makes a great addition to a recipe whenever you use carrot, garlic and onion. Simply dice the celery and add to the pan along with the remaining ingredients. A vegetable high in water content, celery is an ideal vegetable to juice.