Celery can be prepared in many ways, and its roots, stems, leaves, and seeds are all medicinal. Modern pharmacological research shows that celery has the effect of lowering blood pressure and blood lipids. It is known as the "kitchen medicine." Celery has the following six major benefits:
1. Calming the Liver and Lowering Blood Pressure
Celery contains acidic antihypertensive components that have a significant blood pressure-lowering effect when injected intravenously into rabbits and dogs. It can dilate blood vessels through perfusion. Using the aortic arch perfusion method, it can counteract the pressor response caused by nicotine and lobeline, and can also induce a decrease in blood pressure. Clinically, it is effective for essential, pregnancy-induced, and menopausal hypertension.
2. Sedating and Calming the Nerves
A basic component isolated from celery seeds has a sedative effect on animals and a calming effect on the human body. Oral administration of apigenin or celery glycoside can counteract the excitement caused by cocaine in mice, helping to stabilize mood and relieve irritability.
3. Promoting Urine and Reducing Swelling
Celery contains effective diuretic ingredients that eliminate water and sodium retention in the body, promoting urination and reducing swelling. Clinically, the effective rate of a water decoction of celery is 85.7%, and it can be used to treat chyluria.
4. Preventing and Fighting Cancer
Celery is a high-fiber food. Through digestion in the intestine, it produces a substance called lignan or enterolactone, which is an antioxidant. At high concentrations, it can inhibit carcinogens produced by intestinal bacteria. It can also speed up the transit time of stool in the intestine, reducing contact between carcinogens and the colonic mucosa to prevent colon cancer.
5. Nourishing the Blood and Tonifying Deficiency
Celery has a relatively high iron content, which can replenish the blood loss in women during menstruation. Eating it can prevent pale and dry skin and a dull complexion, and it can also make the eyes bright and the hair shiny and black.
6. Clearing Heat and Detoxifying
In autumn, the climate is dry, and people often feel a dry mouth, a parched tongue, shortness of breath, irritability, and general discomfort. Regularly eating some celery can help clear heat and detoxify, and remove illness to strengthen the body. People with excessive liver fire, rough skin, or frequent insomnia and headaches can eat more of it appropriately.