With the onset of spring on the shelves of supermarkets begins to appear fragrant green vegetable called celery. For many centuries, this unique product has been considered to be not only a valuable store of vitamins and minerals, but also an indispensable aid in the fight against many dangerous diseases.
This article proposes to get acquainted with the varieties of celery, its beneficial properties, as well as with the use and contraindications.
Celery Varieties
This vegetable is known in 3 varieties that grow depending on the necessary parts of the plant:
- sheet;
- petiolate;
- root.
Leaf celery lacks root crops and massive stems, but it can boast of its early ripeness and versatility - greens are actively used as seasoning, as an additive in various dishes and even in baking. In the appearance of the plant immediately stands a massive leaf rosette on short stalks.
Among all representatives of the culture, the leaf variant leads in the content of useful trace elements, but is most of all valued for the healing properties of the leaves.
Another advantage of the vegetable is considered a long shelf life - the leaves remain green and can be eaten until the end of autumn. One of the best varieties of celery leaf are Zakhar, Bodrost, Samurai and Sail.
Celery celery is also divided into several types:
- green varieties requiring bleaching;
- self-lightening;
- intermediate
The most attention in the petiole vegetable is attracted by thickened long stems, the length of which can reach more than 1 m. Formation of root crops is not typical for this variety. It is petioled celery considered the most delicious.
Eating succulent plant stems usually comes down to making juice or adding to salads. Of the significant drawbacks of the variety, it is possible to distinguish perhaps low frost resistance and a short shelf life. The most common varieties are Tango, Atlant, Pascal and Malachite.
Celery root differs from its counterparts in a round fleshy root, thanks to which it is this species that is widely used in cooking. The root mass, which the plant grows already in the first year after planting, can vary from 1 to 2.5 kg.
It has a specific and pronounced aroma, characteristic only for this variety, which is doubly enhanced during heat treatment. Root celery is not inferior to other plant varieties in its healing properties and their effects on the body, but many gardeners still prefer leafy varieties.
Such a low popularity of the root crop is due to the limited number of varieties for cultivation, the best and the most affordable of which are considered to be Diamant, Root Gribovskiy, Kaskade, Strong and Anita.
Did you know? In ancient times, celery was a symbol of deep sadness and death. - he was brought to the gods of the kingdom of the dead, and it was customary to decorate the coffins of noble people with wreaths of plant stems. In ancient Greece, even talked about hopeless patients "He lacks only celery", and at the wake this vegetable was the basis of all dishes.
Calorie and nutrients
Due to its composition, celery is deservedly considered one of the most valuable crops for health - to find a worthy replacement for this product will not be easy. All parts of the plant are rich in all the necessary amino acids for the body - carotene, asparagine, nicotinic acid and tyrosine, as well as minerals.
In addition, celery has a negative calorie content - in order to digest it, the body needs more calories than is contained in the root vegetable. The energy value of the culture is only 16 kcal per 100 g of fresh vegetable.
The composition of the root includes both essential and fatty oils that stimulate the secretion of glands and promote a more active secretion of gastric juice, which improves the digestive processes and metabolism. Lead in the amount of sugars and vitamins leaves of the plant - they contain large amounts of vitamin C and organic acids.
The chemical composition of the plant: | Vitamins: | Macro and trace elements: |
proteins - 0.1 g; | PP 0.5 mg; | calcium - 75 mg; |
fats - 0.1 g; | A - 760 mg; | sodium - 231 mg; |
carbohydrates - 2.3 g; | B1 (thiamine) - 0.04 mg; | magnesium - 52 mg; |
dietary fiber - 1.9 g; | B2 (riboflavin) - 0.2 mg; | phosphorus - 81 mg; |
organic acids - 0.3 g | B6 (pyridoxine) - 0.1 mg; | potassium - 433 mg; |
- | B9 (folic acid) - 23 mg; | iron - 1.6 mg. |
- | C - 40 mg; | - |
- | E - 0.6 mg; | - | - | beta carotene - 4.7 mg. | - |
Celery Health Benefits
The healing properties of this culture make it an indispensable product for the female - the daily consumption of vegetables can prevent the emergence of many ailments, as well as cleanse the body of toxins and strengthen the immune system. A more detailed effect of celery on the female body below.
Celery stalks
The use of the stems of this vegetable is known from ancient times - Hippocrates mentioned the healing properties of this part of the plant, calling it "a deliverer from all diseases." For women who care about their health and beauty, celery is one of the main products in the diet - both raw and composed of various dishes.
Only one stalk is able to fill the daily need of the body for vitamins C and A - up to 9%. In addition to vitamins, this aromatic part of the plant is also rich in minerals and organic acids, contributing to the normalization of many processes in the body.
Important! The optimal amount of celery for people who do not have health problems is 150 g of vegetable per day.
Thanks to the fiber contained in the stalks of celery, the product is indispensable in the fight against overweight. In addition, the plant has the properties to relieve pain during menstruation and hormonal failure, as well as relieve fatigue and excessive irritability during this period.
Regular consumption of stems can:
- prevent the occurrence of cancer;
- reduce blood pressure;
- stabilize blood glucose levels;
- improve sleep and appetite;
- create stress resistance and relieve nervous tension;
- increase brain activity.
The plant is also useful for people suffering from diseases of the urinary tract and digestive system - due to the diuretic action, celery stalks are able to remove excess fluid from the body. As for people who do not have health problems, this product significantly diversifies the usual diet and is suitable for the prevention of ailments and for weight loss.
Celery Straw Juice
The juice from this vegetable is used primarily for dietary purposes, since it is believed that any plant is maximally efficiently absorbed in the form of juice. To prepare the drink suitable for all varieties of celery.
One of the advantages of freshly squeezed celery juice is also the preservation of skin elasticity, and its regular use in food will help in the shortest possible time to achieve a slim figure.
Adding juice to the diet helps:
- stabilization of the nervous system;
- elimination of edema;
- cleansing the body of toxins, toxins and excess fluid;
- accelerate metabolism;
- improve the functioning of the digestive tract;
- rejuvenation of the body.
A diet based on celery juice favorably differs from others not only with significant health benefits, but also with the preservation of the condition of hair and nails. In addition to losing weight, celery juice copes well with various diseases of the liver and circulatory system, enriches the body with vitamins, fills with energy and vitality.
Read whether celery should be cleaned before consumption.
Plant leaves
The strength of the healing properties and the beneficial effect on the body of celery leaves in no way inferior to other parts of the plant, since most of the microelements necessary for normal functioning of the microelements are concentrated in them.
100 grams of celery leaves contain:
This product is especially useful for women with problem skin or hair - the leaves of the root crop, rich in vitamins, will help restore skin elasticity and relieve dryness. This part of the plant is also characterized by external use: various hematomas and inflammations are treated with the help of celery leaves.
The benefits of regular consumption of leaves of vegetables can also be expressed in the following:
- preventing the onset of infectious diseases and beriberi;
- stimulation of the reproductive system;
- preventing the formation of kidney stones;
- slowing the aging process;
- activation of the intestine;
- enhancing performance and vitality.
Being a natural anti-depressant, the leaves have a pronounced effect on the nervous system, not only calming, but also neutralizing the diseases associated with it. Due to the strengthening of blood vessels and beneficial effects on the circulatory system, this green helps to eliminate the so-called "vascular network" on the legs.
You will also be interested to know the benefits of celery for men.
How to eat celery
Since all parts of celery are rich in vitamins and edible, the product is widely used in all spheres of human activity, especially in cooking. Despite the fact that the vegetable is most often eaten raw, it can also be cooked with the preservation of all the beneficial properties and substances. And in order not only to satisfy the feeling of hunger, but also to add benefits to the body, it is necessary to become familiar with the rules for taking this product for food.
As a means to lose weight
Celery dishes as well as diets based on this low-calorie vegetable are becoming more and more popular every day - modern dietetics offers many recipes using it.
The best option is celery juice, but it is very important to adhere to the required dosage: the maximum amount of the drink you drink should not exceed 0.5 cups per day. For a variety and enhancement of taste, various “sweeteners” are also often added to it - apple or carrot juice, honey and lemon, kefir and other ingredients.
Preparing such a useful fresh juice is not difficult: it requires only a few bunches of plants that need to be passed through a juicer or whipped in a blender. If desired, the juice can be drained through cheesecloth, then taking it within a day half an hour before meals.
Did you know? Celery is a powerful natural aphrodisiac that affects men primarily.
Raw celery is most often added to vegetable salads - the other ingredients in such dishes are apple, carrot, cucumber and chicken breast. The diet that is based on celery soup is considered the most popular among the fair sex. The term of its duration is short - from several days to 1.5 weeks.
Nutritionists claim that in such a short period, you can lose up to 5 kg - of course, taking into account the correct mode of the day and physical exertion. Variants of these diets today are a huge amount, but they all agree on the fact that it is one of the best products to maintain a stable weight.
Video: Celery Slimming Smoothies
For other purposes
Due to its healing properties, celery has long been known primarily as a medicinal plant, and only with the passage of time it gained popularity in cooking.
In folk medicine, the vegetable is considered to be one of the most useful and versatile products, and of all parts of the plant, the root with the following functions is especially valued:
- diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects;
- normalization of the work of the digestive tract;
- blood purification and antiallergic action.
Such a wide range of healing characteristics allows celery to be treated with many diseases, in particular, it is recommended for disorders in the liver, cardiovascular and nervous systems, stomach and pancreas.
On the basis of the root, even our ancestors invented a huge amount of infusions and decoctions that effectively contribute to the elimination of the aforementioned ailments. In pharmacology, a vegetable is added to the compositions of many sleeping pills.
Another field of application for root vegetables is cosmetology, in which all parts of this plant are actively used. Celery-rich microelements, its ability to slow down the aging process, as well as clean and smooth wrinkles allow the preparation of a wide variety of products, in particular, masks and scrubs, for different skin types. Other vegetable-based products, such as tonic lotions, shampoos and various extracts, are equally in demand.
Contraindications and potential harm of different types
Despite the enormous benefits that the plant can bring, before adding it to the diet, it is necessary to carefully examine the contraindications - they are characteristic of any product, including celery. There is a certain group of people for whom the vegetable is not only harmful, but also dangerous - and this applies to all parts of the plant.
Important! Older people should also be wary of this product, as celery can aggravate many chronic diseases.
You should refrain from the use of celery in such conditions and diseases:
- stomach ulcer and kidney stones;
- cholecystitis;
- epilepsy;
- hypertension;
- thrombophlebitis;
- diabetes;
- varicose veins;
- allergic reactions.
For women, celery poses a particular threat during pregnancy: there are stems and other parts of the plant during this period is strictly prohibited, since this product provokes an increased contraction of the uterus, which will lead to premature birth.
However and during breastfeeding it is also better to eliminate celery from the diet - The fact is that the vegetable gives the milk a specific taste that can cause rejection in the baby. Avoid the use of this product is necessary during abundant menstruation. - The essential oils that make up the plant will only strengthen it, as well as uterine bleeding.
Find out also whether it is possible to grow celery at home on a windowsill.
Today, celery is considered one of the most useful vegetable crops for human health - adding this crunchy vegetable to the diet not only diversifies it, but also brings into the body many vital components. Reasonable dosage of this plant can serve as a good prevention and improvement of many processes occurring in the body.