Celery is often written off because it’s perceived as not having much to it. While this is true to an extent since celery is regarded as a negative calorie food, meaning that it takes more energy to consume and digest celery than it provides, there are a number of health benefits provided by celery that can help bolster a healthy diet. Although commonly used to help with weight loss, take a gander at these celery health benefits. They may make you change your mind about this unassuming vegetable and integrate it a bit more into your daily dietary habits.

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Immune Booster – Surprisingly high in vitamin C, celery can act as a boost to the immune system. This makes celery a great compliment to many dishes during times of seasonal illness. Indeed, celery is often a component in many soups, providing the boost to the immune system that gives soup its cold battling benefits.

Blood Pressure Reducer – Celery is naturally rich in pthalides. These particles help regulate blood pressure by controlling inflammation, helping relax the muscles located around major arteries and enabling blood vessels to properly dilate. This helps reduce blood pressure by allowing the heart to pump blood more efficiently, helping save off the risks for heart attack or cardiovascular disease. Celery is also rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium, minerals that help control blood pressure.

Cholesterol – Those same pthalides found in celery may also help lower levels of LDL cholesterol in people at risk for heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions.

Cancer Prevention – Other compounds called coumarins are also present in celery. Although there is not definitive evidence to validate this claim, initial work on the medicinal potential of coumarins have found them to act as an effective cancer fighter and to help prevent the formation and growth of many common cancers.

Fiber – Celery is perhaps used mainly for its abundant fiber content. The tissues of most vegetables are rich in fiber but celery’s cellular structure is particularly rich. Fiber helps add bulk to stools by absorbing water and other fluids and expanding. This helps promote regularity and aids in digestive health. Fiber can also reduce the risk of colorectal cancer because of its ability to soak up digestive leftovers. Celery also functions as a diuretic, helping eliminate water retention and reducing bloating.

Weight Loss – As stated before, celery is a very low calories vegetable that takes more energy to eat than it provides. However, while eating celery in large doses won’t cause you to lose weight on its own, the low calories count and high fiber of this vegetable will help you combat hunger pangs. The fiber is particularly effective at this as fiber helps fill the stomach by absorbing moisture and expanding.

Anti Inflammatory – Many of the vitamins and minerals contained in celery have the ability to reduce inflammation. This can help with a number of ailments, such as arthritis, which is caused by swelling and inflammation. These celery health benefits also extend to the cardiovascular system, helping reduce swollen or inflamed arteries.