Author: Maryam Ayres
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
In this article, learn more about In Hypertension - Celery. Celery is also an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals..
Celery has a long history of medical application. It is one of the best examples of how food should be medicine and how medicine should be food. Celery is an excellent source of vitamin K, C, B 1 , B 2 , B 6 , potassium, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and fiber. In addition, celery contains smaller amounts of substances that have specific physiological effects that make its use very suitable for a number of medical conditions.
These are primarily phthalides, which are thought to relax muscle fibers in the arteries, giving them an antihypertensive effect. Potassium and magnesium, which are contained in celery, also have an auxiliary effect in this respect. Not coincidentally, it has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to treat high blood pressure.
Celery contains fiber and calcium salts, which neutralize stomach acids . This makes celery a suitable food for people suffering from heartburn and indigestion .
As a particularly rich source of vitamin C , celery has all the beneficial effects that result from it. It is necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system and is especially strongly shown (and celery itself, respectively) in infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Given the much higher content of vitamin C in celery compared to parsley, it may be appropriate to replace parsley with celery in the preparation of chicken soup, traditionally taken in the winter for the treatment of flu and colds.
Other uses of celery that have been reported to be at least somewhat successful are anti-asthmatic, expectorant and diuretic.
Celery seeds also contain substances called coumarins . They are a relatively large group comprising compounds of several major varieties. Celery contains mostly furanocoumarins with the main representative bergapten, which is also contained in a number of essential oils - bergamot, orange and others. Celery seeds produce an essential oil that is widely used in perfumery. Bergapten increases the skin's sensitivity to sunlight, so these essential oils should not be used before sun exposure .