Many people eat only the stalks of celery and throw away the leaves. In fact, from a nutritional perspective, celery leaves are many times more nutritious than the stalks and also have anti-cancer properties.
Celery is extremely nutritious, containing various nutrients such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, crude fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and more. Among these, its protein content is twice that of common fruits and vegetables, its iron content is about 20 times that of tomatoes, and it is also rich in carotene and various vitamins. Furthermore, celery contains a volatile aromatic oil that gives off a special fragrance and can stimulate the appetite.
Celery has significant medicinal value. It is cool in nature, sweet in taste, and non-toxic. It is known for its effects of clearing heat, expelling wind to promote urination, strengthening the stomach and invigorating blood, cleansing the intestines to relieve constipation, moistening the lungs to stop coughs, lowering blood pressure, and calming the mind. It also has auxiliary therapeutic effects on hypertension, arteriosclerosis, neurasthenia, headaches, and children's rickets. Recent studies have also shown that eating more celery can enhance the body's disease resistance. Foreign scientists have discovered that because celery is rich in water and fiber and contains a chemical substance that accelerates the breakdown and disappearance of fat, it is the best food for weight loss.
Nutritionists have tested 13 nutritional components of celery stalks and leaves and found that in 10 of these indicators, the leaves surpassed the stalks. Specifically, the carotene content in celery leaves is 88 times that of the stalks, the vitamin C content is 13 times, the vitamin B1 content is 17 times, the protein content is 11 times, and the calcium content exceeds that of the stalks by 2 times.
In addition, relevant research experiments have found that celery leaves also have a certain inhibitory effect on cancer, with an inhibition rate reaching 73%. When juiced and made into a drink, it is said to have a great stimulating effect. Therefore, using celery leaves in cooking is more nutritious than using the stalks, and the habit of eating only the celery stalks and not the leaves should be changed.