Ingredient Spotlight: Celery Apium graveolens
This plant from the apiaceae family is grown worldwide from Europe to regions in Africa, Asia, and America. This plant has long been used for its medicinal properties and is also used extensively in culinary applications. In this section we will review the properties of this ingredient.
Important constituents and antioxidant effect: Celery is composed of volatile oils, phenolic compounds like ferulic acid, apigenin, luteolin, caffeic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and minerals that can exert powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds can dampen the effect of proinflammatory cytokines within our body and be protective against oxidative damage.
Role in Metabolic syndrome: Metabolic syndrome involves conditions like hypertension, high sugar states or hyperglycemia, abdominal obesity, lipid disorders, insulin resistance, etc. It is a well-known fact that this syndrome predisposes individuals to cardiovascular disease. Treatment involves lifestyle, weight management, and medications. Celery is a food that is rich in various phytochemicals which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that play a role in decreasing chronic inflammation, which is an important step in the disease progression.
Blood pressure, lipid, and sugar control: When used in diet, Celery has had beneficial effects on blood pressure. It also helps in sugar control and lipid control when used in diet as an adjunct with traditional medications prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Celery, as we have outlined, is a powerful food with beneficial properties. As always, I urge you to view it as a food and always consult with your healthcare provider and live long and strong!
