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Think Celery!!!
by Pat Wilson
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Celery is much more than a traditional summer salad
ingredient. Available throughout the year, a little research on
celery shows this versatile vegetable has very real health
benefits and is worth adding to your weekly diet.
Research has shown that celery contains blood pressure
reducing properties. Celery contains active compounds called
Pthalides which relax the muscles of the arteries that regulate
blood pressure allowing these vessels to dilate. Pthalides also
reduce stress hormones which can cause blood vessels to
constrict.
Celery is an excellent source of Vitamin C with all its
health benefits. Vitamin C can help to reduce cold symptoms or
the severity of cold symptoms during the winter months. This
important Vitamin helps to support the immune system and is a
cold fighter!
Celery also provides fibre (see
High Fibre Diet), and essential minerals such as Folacin and
Potassium.
Nor surprising then that Celery has a long history of use,
first as a medicine and then later as a food.
Celery can obviously be eaten on its own but is also a tasty
addition to many cooked dishes: stir fry dishes, soups, stews
and casseroles.
Nutritional Information from the WLR database
Celery, Raw, Average
1 Med Stalk/40g
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Calories
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Protein
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Carbs
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Fat
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Fibre
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Fruit/Veg
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3.1
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0.3
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0.4
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0.1
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0.6
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0.5
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Calorie Density: 1
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