Celery

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Celery is a biennial vegetable, which belongs to the family Umbelliferae, whose members are carrots, parsley and dill. In addition to celery stalks, its leaves, roots and celery seeds are also used as a spice and food, as well as a natural remedy.

Celery grows to a height of 12 to 16 inches and is composed of leaves arranged on stems and arranged in a conical shape. Celery stems have a crispy texture and a delicate but slightly salty taste. Celery can be found in different shades of green, in Europe is grown and a variety that is white in color.

Celery was cultivated from wild celery. Its origins originate in the Mediterranean regions of North Africa and Southern Europe, as well as in areas east of the Himalayas.

Celery has a long history of use, initially as a medicine and later as a food. The ancient Greeks used celery leaves to make laurel wreaths for their famous athletes, while the ancient Romans used them as a spice. Only in the Middle Ages, the use of celery expanded beyond medicine and as a spice, but also as food. It became popular in Europe in the 18th century. Celery was introduced to the United States in the early 19th century.

Composition of celery

Celery is an excellent source of Vitamin C. It is a very good source of dietary fiber, potassium, folate, molybdenum, manganese and vitamin B6. Celery is also a good source of calcium, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, magnesium, vitamin A, phosphorus and iron. Celery contains about 35 milligrams of sodium in the stems, so people who are sensitive to salt should take it with caution.

1 cup of celery / 120 g / contains 19-20 calories, 0.90 g protein and 0.17 g fat.

Selection and storage of celery

When the choice of celery, it is necessary to choose the one that looks fresh and breaks off easily. It should be relatively strong and compact when the stems are bent down. The leaves should be pale to light green in color and have no yellow or brown spots on them. Celery can sometimes be in a condition called "black core", which is caused by insects. To check for damage, it is necessary to separate the stems of celery and examine for brown or black spots. Celery, which has seeds on the stems, is often more bitter in taste.

Celery is stored by placing in a sealed container or wrapping in a plastic bag or damp cloth and placing in the refrigerator. When storing peeled and chopped celery, it is necessary to keep it dry.

Culinary use of celery

Celery in cooking is used both as a root vegetable / stems and roots / and as a spice / its leaves /. Like all vegetables, celery can be boiled, fried and baked. To avoid discoloration of celery stalks, you must subject them to minimal heat treatment. Keep in mind that the veins on the stems do not soften after cooking, so you need to remove them carefully, starting from the narrow end of the stems.

Celery alone can be consumed in various salads, cooked in broths and soups. Lovers of healthy eating drink freshly squeezed celery juice. As a spice celery is used dried or fresh, finding application in the marinade of very tasty winter pickles.

Celery perfectly complements the taste of meat dishes and potato dishes. In the United States, melting a celery stalk in a blue cheese dressing combined with chicken wings, other appetizers or main dishes is very common.

Celery seeds are very rich in essential oils, which is why they have a very spicy smell. If you want to achieve a more intense taste of your dish, grind them with salt and add them.

Fresh celery root is wonderfully complemented by apples and carrots. From mashed root you can prepare a useful and vitamin puree. Grated root is an ideal addition to vegetable juices.

Benefits of celery

The health benefits of celery can be summarized as follows:

- Celery is rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps protect the immune system and cold symptoms. Vitamin C also protects the body from damage caused by free radicals. It also reduces the severity of inflammatory conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis;

- Celery has potential benefits for reducing high blood pressure;

- Celery helps to lower blood cholesterol levels;

- Celery has a diuretic effect. Celery, which is rich in potassium and sodium, the minerals that are most important for regulating fluid balance, stimulates urine production, thus helping the body get rid of more fluids;

- Promoting optimal health. Celery contains compounds called coumarins, which help prevent the damage that free radicals cause to cells, thus reducing the chances of cell mutations and the appearance of cancers;

- Celery has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, as it is rich in antioxidants in its composition. A wonderful prophylactic against heart problems and Alzheimer's;

- It contains such important fibers in its composition that help digestion. It is an effective remedy for constipation and slow metabolism;

- Contains vitamin K, which has a positive effect on the heart muscle;

- Celery is rich in phosphorus, which is why it is very useful for bone and joint health;

- Positively affects the liver and digestive system;

- Has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and also has a calming effect;

- In general, the beneficial properties of celery are due to its unique composition. For example, root vegetables are a real useful bomb, as they are rich in many vitamins and minerals that have a positive effect on nails, skin and hair;

- Helps to normalize hormone levels in the body and has a positive effect on depression during premenstrual syndrome;

- Celery leaves have excellent anti-cancer effect. That is why they are especially useful for smokers, as they destroy the carcinogens of tobacco smoke;

- Celery leaves are rich in carotene and vitamin E, which are very useful for eyesight, skin, hair and nails;

- Celery juice is also used as a vitamin supplement;

- The leaves of the root vegetable are also useful in prostatitis, and are also used for problems with potency. The reason for this is the hormone androsterone, which has a positive effect on male strength;

- Celery is a dietary product and 100 grams contain only 16 kcal. That is why you can safely add it to your menu if you have decided to lose weight;

- Increases the body's defenses due to its excellent nutritional and vitamin composition. In addition, celery can even add a touch of passion to your relationship as it enhances a man's potency;

Healing properties of celery

1. Affects the immune system;

2. A wonderful prophylactic in a number of diseases with infectious etiology;

3. Has a positive effect on the heart muscle and blood vessels;

4. Has a calming effect on the nervous system;

5. Excellent prophylactic action against atherosclerosis;

6. Recommended for gout;

7. Has a positive effect on problems with the kidneys or genitourinary system, as well as hypertension (high blood pressure);

8. Helps to facilitate the absorption of proteins, especially in combination with meat dishes;

9. Reduces the pain syndrome in gastritis, stomach ulcers and helps the liver;

10. Has a positive effect on the overall digestive system;

It would be difficult to find an alternative to celery due to its rich composition - vitamins B, A, PP, C, K, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, folic acid, sodium, manganese. In addition, vegetables are low in calories and are also rich in essential oils, which are especially important for the body.

Contraindications to the use of celery

Celery root contains the substance apiol, which increases the strength of menstruation, so it should not be consumed during a heavy cycle. For the same reason, the plant is not recommended for use in the third trimester of pregnancy, so as not to provoke premature birth.

An interesting fact is that celery is one of the products that have a negative calorie content. This means that during digestion the body expends more energy than it receives. That is why celery is a wonderful tool and helper in the fight against excess weight.

Celery should not be used in:

1. High blood pressure;

2. In varicose veins and thrombophlebitis;

3. In adult patients, who often have an exacerbation of a number of pathologies;

4. In problems with the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract;

5. In enterocolitis and colitis;

6. In gallstone disease, cholecystitis, pancreatitis.

Purine in celery also has a negative effect on the deposition of uric acid in the body. That is why people who have arthritis are not recommended to add celery in the menu you are.

Can celery leaves be eaten?

Yes, you can safely use them both raw and dried. By adding them to dishes, they will add a specific flavor to the dish. Celery leaves visually resemble those of parsley, but are much more fragrant and spicy.

Weight loss with celery

Celery is a plant that can be used to prepare many dietary dishes and cocktails during a weight loss diet. It is known for its diuretic and laxative properties, and the low calorie content - only 33 per 100 g makes it the ideal dietary product. Experts recommend that unloading or diet days with celery should not be more than 3.

When vegetables are an additional component of the diet, there are no restrictions on the time of diet. Mix cocktails with celery, tomato juice and apples and in addition to a slim figure, you will provide your body with a real vitamin bomb.