Celery

Celery leaves have a high content of vitamin a. While the stems are an excellent source of vitamins b1, b2, b6 and c with rich supplies of potassium, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and plenty essential amino acids. Including 4 stalks of celery in your morning raw juice can lower high blood pressure by 12 to 14%. The chinese have been using celery for its blood pressure reducing action for centuries and now you know why.

Celery contains 8 families of anticancer compounds. One of the active compounds called phthalides, which are known to relax the muscles of the arteries that regulate blood pressure, allowing them to dilate. It also helps reduce stress hormones. Celery also contains a compound called coumarins that helps prevent free radicals from damaging cells. Decreasing the mutations that increase the potential for cells to become cancerous. How you ask? it magnifies the activity of certain while blood cells, immune defenders that target and eliminate potentially harmfull cells, including cancers cells. A third compound in celery known as acetylenics has been shown to stop the growth of tumor cells. Phenolic acids which block the action of prostaglandins that encourages the growth of tumor cells.

What celery is most famously known for is its high content of organic sodium. The important minerals celery raw juice balances the bodyas blood ph, neutralizing acidity. And celery juice acts as the perfect post-workout tonic as it replaces lost electrolytes and rehydrates the body with its rich minerals. The natural organic sodium (salt) in celery is very safe for consumption, in fact it is essential for the body. People with high blood pressure can safely take the sodium in celery, unlike table salt (iodized sodium) which is harmful.

Nutrients in the fiber are released during juicing that helps aid bowel movements, it has a natural laxative in the juice that helps relieve constipation. It is also a diuretic cause of the potassium and sodium in the juice that regulates blood fluid and stimulates urine production, getting rid of the bodies excess fluid. Helping those who suffer from urinary and gall bladder stones. It promotes healthy and normal kidney function by aiding elimination of toxins from the body. While eliminating toxins, it also prevents formation of kidney stones.

The polyacetylene in celery is an amazing relief for all inflammation like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, asthma and bronchitis. The juice also helps lower cholesterol and ldl (bad) chlolesterol. Celery is a constant ingredient in alot of our 800+ raw juices and after reading the above it becomes clear why.

Celery is one of popular mediterranean herbs recognized for its strong aromatic flavor that it imparts to variety of cuisines. It is a smallabiennial herbaceous plantaoriginated in europe. It can be grown easilyaas potherb in the home-gardensafor its flavorful leaves, shoots, roots, and seeds.

Botanically, celery belongs to the family of apiaceae, in the genus; apium, and known scientifically as apium graveolens. It is a small plant; reaching about half a meter in height and requires fertile, moisture rich soil to flourish.

Celery herb bears umbelliform flowers at the top of the stalk in the second year. Edible cluster of long, dark-green, somewhat hollow stalks grow upright from the crown of the plant. Its leaves have similar appearance to that of flat-leaf parsley.

Wild celery, the parent of the cultivated stalk-celery (a. Graveolens dulce),a

Leaf-celery (a. Graveolens secalinum), and,

Celeriac or knob celery (a. Graveolens rapaceum). Chinese celery or oriental variety features thin, hollow, succulent stalks. Its leaves and stalks carry more intense flavor than the continental variety.

Celery seeds, used as spice, are similar in appearance toacumin seeds. They feature dark-brown color, oblong shape with thin vertical ridges; and flavor that is strongly aromatic.

Celery is one of the very low calorie herbal plants. Its leaves carry only 16 calories per 100 g weight and contain lots of non-soluble fiber (roughage) which when combined with other weight loss regimens may help reduce body weight, and blood cholesterol levels.

Its leaves are rich source of flavonoid antioxidants such as zea-xanthin, lutein, and beta-carotene, which have been anti-oxidant, cancer protective and immune-boosting functions. For the same reason, celery has been acknowledged as a functional food.

Its leaves are a good source of vitamin-a. 100 g fresh celery comprises of 449 iu or 15% of daily-required levels of this vitamin. Vitamin-a and beta-carotene are natural flavonoid antioxidants. Vitamin a is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin, and for night vision. Consumption of natural foods rich in flavonoids helps the body to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.

The herb is also rich in many vital vitamins, including folic acid (provides 9% of rda), riboflavin, niacin and vitamin-c, which are essential for optimum metabolism.

Fresh celery is an excellent source of vitamin-k, provides about 25% of dri. Vitamin-k helps increase bone mass by promoting osteotrophic activity in the bones. It also has established role in alzheimer's disease patients by limiting neuronal damage in the brain.

The herb is a very good source of minerals like potassium, sodium, calcium, manganese, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that help regulate heart rate and blood pressure.a

Its leaves and seeds contain many essential volatile oils that include terpenes, mostly limonene (75 to 80%), and the sesquiterpenes like a-selinene (10%) and humulene; however, its characteristic fragrance is due to chemical compounds known as phthalides (butylphthalid and itsadihydro derivate sedanenolid) in them.

Essential oil obtained from extraction of celery plant has been usedaas soothing remedy for nervousness, osteoarthritis, and gouty-arthritis conditions. In addition, its seeds, and root have diuretic (removes excess water from the body through urine), galactogogue (help breast milk secretion), stimulant, and tonic properties.

Celery plant contains just 16 calories per 100 g of leaves and together with numerous health benefiting phyto-nutrients such as flavonoids, folate, vitamin-a, vitamin-k, minerals and other vitamins, has all the characters to consider it as one of the most valuable low calorie or negative calories weight loss functional foods.

According to the university of maryland medical center, a few studies with animals demonstrate that celery seed extract may lower blood pressure.

Celery seed is most widely used as a diuretic, which may explain its positive effect on blood pressure.

Physicians typically prescribe diuretics to help lower blood pressure, but these medications can upset the balance between sodium and potassium in the blood, which can have negative consequences.

However, the diuretic properties of celery seed extract don't upset the ratio of potassium to sodium in the blood.

In addition to lowering blood pressure, celery seed extract also improves blood flow to the brain.

The important minerals in this magical juice effectively balance the bodyas blood ph, neutralizing acidity.

Celery juice acts as the perfect post-workout tonic as it replaces lost electrolytes and rehydrates the body with its rich minerals.

Celery is known to contain at least eight families of anti-cancer compounds.

Among them are the acetylenics that have been shown to stop the growth of tumor cells.

Phenolic acids which block the action of prostaglandins that encourage the growth of tumor cells.

And coumarins which help prevent free radicals from damaging cells.

This humble pale juice has been shown to effectively and significantly lower total cholesterol and ldl (bad) cholesterol.

Colon and stomach cancer:

The phytochemical coumarins prevent the formation and development of the colon and stomach cancers.

The natural laxative effect of celery helps to relieve constipation.

It also helps relax nerves that have been overworked by man-made laxatives.

During dry and hot weather, drink a glass of celery juice two or three times a day, between meals.

It wonderfully helps to normalize body temperature.

The potassium and sodium in celery juice helps to regulate body fluid and stimulate urine production, making it an important help to rid the body of excess fluid.

The polyacetylene in celery is an amazing relief for all inflammation like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, asthma and bronchitis.

Celery promotes healthy and normal kidney function by aiding elimination of toxins from the body.

While eliminating toxins, it also prevents formation of kidney stones.

Drinking celery juice every day for a week significantly helps lower blood pressure.

A compound called phtalides help relax the muscle around arteries, dilating the vessels and allowing blood to flow normally.

To be effective, drink the juice for one week, stop for three weeks, and start over.

The organic alkaline minerals in celery juice has a calming effect on the nervous system, making it a wonderful drink for insomniacs.

Drink celery juice frequently throughout the day.

It helps curb your cravings for sweets and rich food.

The diuretic effect of celery juice also aids the breaking and elimination of urinary and gall bladder stones.