Celery or stalk celery (Apium graveolens var. Dulce) is a species of Apium graveolens L. in the family Apiaceae, native to the temperate Mediterranean climates (Europe, Africa and Asia), and widely cultivated as spice, herb and vegetable in Europe, Central and North America, Japan, North Africa, China and India.

It is a biennial plant which is usually cultivated as an annual plant. It forms a bipinnate leaves 3–6 cm (1.2–2.4 in) long with numerous leaflets. There are three types of Celery such as leaf celery, pascal celery and celeriac celery. It is consumed either raw or cooked as a vegetable.

Plant

Celery is a light to dark green, biennial or perennial plant in the temperate climates. The plant grows upto 1 meter high. It forms a light to dark green, pinnate-bipinnate leaves; 3–6 cm (1.2–2.4 in) long and 2–4 cm broad. It grows an erect, grooved and silnovetvisty stem with 2-3 mm diameter creamy to white flowers. The seeds are ovoid to globose; 1.5–2 mm long and wide. Celery grows best in well-drained soil. The plant normally lives upto two years.

Nutritional Value

The nutrients found in Celery include Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, folate, choline and Vitamin C. Celery is also a very good source of minerals such as Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium and Fluoride. 101 g of celery possess 11 mg of magnesium, 263 mg of potassium, 0.104 mg of manganese, 40 mg calcium, 0.13 mg zinc, 0.2 mg iron, 24 mg phosphorus and 81 mg sodium.

Health Benefits of Celery

Celery is loaded with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins such as Vitamin C, Vitamin K, folate, potassium and Vitamin B6. It also possess anti-inflammatory properties that enhance the blood pressure, cholesterol levels and prevents the heart disease. The huge presence of water prevents from dehydration. It also enhances the skin, liver, cognitive health.

1. Lower blood pressure

Celery possess an organic chemical compounds such as pthalides that helps to reduce the stress hormones in the blood. It allows the expansion of blood vessels providing the more space to move which helps to reduce pressure. It lowers the stress on the cardiovascular system that reduces the chances of stroke, heart disease and atherosclerosis. (1)

2. Lowers cholesterol

The daily intake of Celery helps to lower the bad cholesterol. The presence of pthalides enhance the secretion of bile juices that assist to lower the cholesterol levels. It generally improves the heart health. The fiber eliminates the cholesterol from the body in the form of bowels. (2)

3. Antiseptic action

Celery seeds possess the diuretic properties that help to enhance urination and eradicate uric acid. Celery assists the kidney problems, bladder disorders and cystitis. It also prevents the infection on the urinary tract.

4. Eliminates joint problems

It helps the people with rheumatism, arthritis and gout. It possesses anti-inflammatory properties that lower the pain and swelling around the joints. It eliminates the uric acid crystals that lead to the discomfort in the use of joint. It increases the regrowth tissue in inflamed joints. (3)

5. Forbid cancer

Celery possesses the cancer counteracting components such as flavonoids, phthalides and polyacetylenes that eliminate carcinogens. It possesses coumarins which promote the activity of white blood cells that helps to prohibit cancer. The antioxidant components eliminate the free radicals from the body that results to the cancer. (4)

6. Enhance immunity power

As Celery possesses an excellent source of Vitamin C, it enhances the immune system. The regular consumption of Vitamin C helps to lower the chances of common cold and also prevents from various diseases. (5)

7. Assist asthma

Vitamin C prevents the damage caused by free radicals. Celery also possesses anti-inflammatory properties that lower the inflammatory conditions such as asthma. (6)

8. Improves cardiovascular health

The rich amount of fiber, Vitamin C and organic chemicals found in the roots of celery enhance the cardiovascular health.

9. Diuretic action

Celery possesses potassium and sodium in adequate amount which helps to balance the fluid in the body. Potassium functions as a vasodilator and also lowers the blood pressure. (7)

10. Migraine headaches

Coumarins assist to provide relief from the pain of migraine headaches. The research shows that migraine is caused due to the suppression of Nitric Oxide release in the brain. (8)

11. Diabetes health

As Celery leaves are rich in fiber, the consumption of Celery leaves helps to treat the diabetic conditions as well as manages the diabetic symptoms effectively. (9)

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Traditional uses

• Celery is used in traditional Oriental medicine in order to treat hypertension as it possess phthalide compounds that acts as a sedative and also reduces blood pressure.
• The Celery extract is helps to clear the toxins from the system.
• Massage with the mixture of Celery extract, almond or sunflower oil helps to get relieve from the paingul gout in the toes or feet and arthritic joints.
• A tincture is used as a diuretic to treat urinary disorders and hypertension.
• The roots, aerial parts and fruits of Celery are used to treat agitation, mild anxiety, and loss of appetite, cough, fatigue and vermifuge.
• The leaves of celery are used in folk medicine to treat rheumatism and gout.
• Celery is used in the folk medicine to cure kidney disease, rheumatism and stone formation.
• In ancient times, it was used to treat the health ailments such as colds, digestion, flu and water retention.
• It is believed that the consumption of Celery can treat high blood pressure.

Precautions                                                                                                

• Celery may lead to the allergic reactions which may lead to fatal anaphylactic shock.
• Celery also increases the bleeding when it is used in medicinal amounts. So one with bleeding disorder should not use celery.
• Those with the kidney ailments should avoid the celery because it might cause an inflammation.
• People with low blood pressure should avoid the use of Celery.
• Pregnant women should avoid the celery seed as it may cause uterine bleeding, muscle contractions in the uterus that may cause miscarriage.
• Those allergic to birch pollen may experience allergic reactions to the celery seed.

Other Facts

• The bunch of celery consists of 10-12 individual pale green stalks.
• Head of celery possess stalks and leaves.
• Due to high amount of Vitamin K, C, B2, dietary fiber and low amount of calories, it is effective for using as a diet.
• All parts of celery are consumed.
• Chewing gently the stalks of Celery after the meal helps to clean the mouth and teeth.

Celery – Apium graveolens var. Dulce Facts

Celery belongs to the family Apiaceae and is close relative of carrot, parsnip and parsley. The plant of Celery can reach up to the height of 16 inches. Though it is a biennial plant, it is grown as an annual plant unless it is cultivated for seed. It provides low amount of calories. Celery if added to a diet provides numerous health benefits.

Celery Quick Facts
Name:	Celery
Scientific Name:	Apium graveolens var. Dulce
Origin	Temperate Mediterranean climates in Europe, Africa and Asia. But now commonly cultivated in Europe, Central and North America, Japan, North Africa, China and India.
Colors	Gray or brownish
Shapes	Round, small; Diameter: 1.5-2 mm
Calories	16 Kcal./cup
Major nutrients	Vitamin K (24.67%) Vitamin B9 (9.00%) Vitamin B6 (5.77%) Potassium (5.60%) Sodium (5.40%)
Health benefits	Forbid cance, Assist asthm, Diuretic action, Migraine headaches, Diabetes health

Name	Celery
Scientific Name	Apium graveolens var. Dulce
Native	Temperate Mediterranean climates in Europe, Africa and Asia. But now commonly cultivated in Europe, Central and North America, Japan, North Africa, China and India. Probably, Celery was cultivated 3000 years ago in the Mediterranean region.
Common/English Name	Celery, stalk celery, leaf celery, turnip-rooted celery, celeriac
Name in Other Languages	Albanian: selino Basque: apioa Bosnian: celer Catalan: api Croatian: celer Czech: celer Danish: selleri Dutch: selderij Estonian: seller Finnish: selleri French: céleri Galician: apio German: Sellerie Hungarian: zeller Icelandic: sellerí Irish: soilire Italian: sedano Latvian: selerija Lithuanian: salierai Maltese: karfus Norwegian: selleri Polish: seler Portuguese: aipo Romanian: țelină Slovak: zeler Slovenian: zelena Spanish: Apio Swedish: selleri Welsh: seleri Azerbaijani: kərəviz Lao: celery Turkish: kereviz Afrikaans: seldery Chichewa: selari Hausa: seleri Igbo: celery Sesotho: seleri Somali: celery Swahili: celery Yoruba: seleri Zulu: isilimo esidliwayo esinamagatsha anamanzi Cebuano: celery Filipino: kintsay Indonesian: seledri Javanese: celery Malagasy: seleria Malay: saderi Maori: herewi Esperanto: celerio Haitian Creole: seleri Latin: apium
Plant Growth Habit	Biennial or perennial herb
Growing Climate	Temperate
Soil	Well-drained
Plant Size	1 meter
Lifespan	Two years
Stem	Erect, grooved, silnovetvisty
Leaf shape and size	Pinnate – bipinnate; Length: 3–6 cm (1.2–2.4 in); Breadth: 2–4 cm
Leaf color	Light to dark green
Flower	Creamy-white; Diameter: 2–3 mm
Seed shape & size	Ovoid – globose; Length and Width: 1.5–2 mm
Seed weight	1 ounce- 72,000 seeds 1 gram- 2500 seeds
Fruit shape and size	Round, small; Diameter: 1.5-2 mm
Fruit color	Gray or brownish
Flavor/aroma	Strong aromatic
Varieties/Types	Leaf celery Pascal celery Celeriac celery
Major Nutritions	Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 29.6 µg (24.67%) Vitamin B9 (Folate) 36 µg (9.00%) Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 0.075 mg (5.77%) Potassium, K 263 mg (5.60%) Sodium, Na 81 mg (5.40%) Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) 0.248 mg (4.96%) Manganese, Mn 0.104 mg (4.52%) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.058 mg (4.46%) Total dietary Fiber 1.6 g (4.21%) Calcium, Ca 40 mg (4.00%)
Health Benefits	Lower blood pressure Lowers cholesterol Antiseptic action Eliminates joint problems Forbid cancer Enhance immunity power Assist asthma Improves cardiovascular health Diuretic action Migraine headaches Diabetes health
Calories in 1cup (101 gm)	16 Kcal.
How to Eat	It is used to add a flavor in salads, stews and soups. The chopped stalks of Celery are cooked as a vegetable.