Mostly water, celery has never been taken very seriously in terms of nutrition, has it?
And yet those low-calorie lightly colored stalks may be nutrition superstars, according to Jonny Bowden, author of The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why.
A Crunchy Cure
For years, celery has been touted by Chinese medicine as a treat for your blood pressure, thanks to a heart-healthy phytochemical compound called phthalide. It's known to help relax artery walls, allowing for faster, freer blood flow. And in early animal research, a daily extract providing the nutritional equivalent of about four stalks of celery helped reduce blood pressure 12–14 percent. Find out how celery can help prevent your arteries from hardening, too.
However, Bowden notes that celery is one of the more pollutant-prone veggies and so recommends going organic when you can. Find out which other fruits and veggies tend to get dirtiest.
Recipe Corner
What subtle celery lacks in flavor, it makes up for in texture. Use it to enhance soups, salads, side dishes, and even sandwiches. Like with these easy recipes from EatingWell:
- Try this healthier and even more flavorful version of a classic: Curried Waldorf Salad.
- Make this dazzling, savory rice dish that is anything but bland: Jeweled Golden Rice.
- Create this not-so-naughty sandwich that quiets chicken-wing cravings: Buffalo Chicken Wrap.
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