Introduction: Also known as stem celery or medicinal celery, celery (Apium graveolens) is a biennial herbaceous plant in the Apiaceae family. Its petioles are used as a vegetable and it is native to the swampy regions along the Mediterranean coast. In China, celery has been cultivated for over 3,000 years.
From ancient times to the present, people's love for celery has never diminished. Legend has it that Wei Zheng, a prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, was very particular about his diet and was obsessed with celery, consuming it almost daily with a sweet and sour vinegar dressing as a side dish. The famous Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu once wrote in his poems: "Cooking rice with celery from Qingli Fang" and "Celery soup from the green streams".
【How to Choose】
There are four main types of celery in the market: green celery, yellow-heart celery, white celery, and American celery. To buy high-quality celery, you must first understand the edible characteristics of these four types: Green celery has a strong flavor; Yellow-heart celery has a strong flavor and is tender; White celery has a mild flavor and is not crisp; American celery has a mild flavor and is crispy.
Regardless of the type, celery with dark green leaves should not be purchased. Because "inky black" leaves indicate that the plant grew in a drought with insufficient water, resulting in slow growth, more coarse fiber, and a tough texture.
The freshness of celery mainly depends on whether the leaves are flat and straight. Fresh celery leaves are flat and straight. Celery that has been stored for a longer time will have curled leaf tips, soft leaves, and may even turn yellow or develop rust spots.
【Nutritional Value】
Celery is high in vitamin B, and its content of minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron is also higher than that of general green vegetables. According to measurements, every 100 grams of celery contains 2.2 grams of protein, 8.5 milligrams of calcium, 61 milligrams of phosphorus, and 8.5 milligrams of iron. Its protein content is twice that of general fruits and vegetables, and its iron content is about 20 times that of tomatoes.
【Medicinal Effects】
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, celery is considered sweet and cold in nature, affecting the lung, stomach, and liver meridians. Its effects include promoting urination to relieve spasms, regulating the stomach, harmonizing the middle energizer, removing dampness and turbidity, and clearing vexation and heat below the heart. It is also known to dissipate stasis, break up accumulations, refresh the spleen and strengthen the stomach, clear heat and pacify the liver, drain damp-heat, reduce swelling and detoxify, lower blood pressure, and stop dizziness.
(1) Celery's high calcium and phosphorus content has a certain sedative and protective effect on blood vessels, and can also strengthen bones and prevent rickets in children.
(2) Celery has a certain auxiliary therapeutic effect on hypertension, arteriosclerosis, neurasthenia, and rickets in children.
(3) Celery is rich in fiber, which has a strong intestinal cleansing effect, absorbing moisture and impurities in the intestines and expelling harmful substances to the body, even carcinogenic components. Therefore, celery is regarded as a holy grail for weight loss and beauty.
【How to Eat】
Celery can be stir-fried, mixed, stewed, simmered, or even made into drinks.
【Dosing and Precautions】
Many people are accustomed to discarding the celery leaves and only eating the stems when eating celery. This way of eating is not scientific. Because the nutritional content of celery leaves is much higher than that of celery stems. In a nutritional analysis of 13 nutrients in celery stems and leaves, it was found that 10 of the nutrients in celery leaves exceeded those in the stems.
Among them, the carotene content is over 88 times higher; the vitamin C content is over 13 times higher; the vitamin B1 content is over 17 times higher; the protein content is over 11 times higher; and the calcium content is over 2 times higher. The ascorbic acid content in celery leaves is also relatively high. It is clear that the nutritional value of celery leaves should not be ignored.
Celery is a vegetable with great health benefits, and there are many ways to prepare it. Here are four recipes for you:
【Celery Stir-fried with Tofu】 【Celery and Bell Pepper Stir-fried with Tofu】 【Celery Leaf and Carrot Pancakes】 【Celery and Bacon Stir-fried with Mushrooms】