6 Major Health Benefits of Celery, 4 Types of People Should Avoid It

Celery stems, leaves, and seeds are all nutritionally rich. Shutterstock

Celery is counted among the many commonly used herbs, plants, and foods considered “kitchen medicine.” It contains calcium, potassium, and other nutrients. Dr. Jonathan Liu, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) professor at a Canadian public college, provides insight into consuming celery more healthily and identifies four types of people who should avoid it.

Celery boasts vitamin C, beta-carotene, folic acid, dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, iron, and other essential nutrients. In addition, the presence of apigenin, a unique compound in celery, aids in eliminating harmful free radicals in the body and reducing inflammation.

All parts of the celery plant—stems, leaves, and seeds—are nutritionally valuable. Celery seeds also contain high levels of linolenic acid, volatile oils, flavonoids, eucalyptol, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and zinc—all essential trace elements necessary for human physiological functions. Interestingly, while celery seeds are rarely mentioned in traditional Chinese medical books, they are commonly utilized in African and Indian traditional medicine to alleviate pain, fortify the heart, and reduce blood pressure.

Celery’s Categories

According to Liu, celery can be broadly categorized into three types: celery, parsley, and medicinal celery.

Celery, which has a crisp texture, is typically used in dishes or salads. Parsley is commonly employed to alleviate lung heat and phlegm—consuming it during a cold can promote sweating. The celery used in Chinese medicine is mainly medicinal celery.

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Celery’s Medicinal Functions

1. Lowers Blood Pressure

A study published in the Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine in 2015 discovered that in rats with fructose-induced hypertension, celery leaf extract successfully decreased systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides.

In TCM, it is suggested that celery can calm the liver and strengthen the stomach. If the liver fire rises in the body, symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, red face, and red eyes may emerge, similar to those observed in high blood pressure cases. Celery can help alleviate these conditions.

2. Relieves Constipation

Celery is packed with cellulose. According to Liu, people in modern society often experience constipation due to stress, inadequate water intake, irregular eating habits, and insufficient vegetable consumption.

In such cases, consuming celery is highly recommended, because the dietary fiber in celery can expand ten times by absorbing water, and when passing through the intestines, it is like a scavenger, accelerating the peristalsis of the intestines and clearing the body of wastes.

3. Regulates Central Nervous System

The apigenin and flavonoids in celery can relax a strained central nervous system.

4. Promotes Gastric Juice Secretion

Celery is known to promote gastric juice secretion and has a distinct aroma that can stimulate appetite.

5. Reduces Uric Acid and Edema

The high potassium content in celery helps to eliminate excess sodium and water from the body, reducing subcutaneous edema. Additionally, the alkaline properties of celery can neutralize high levels of uric acid in the body, reducing its accumulation in patients with gout.

In 2022, a Pharmaceuticals (Basel) study revealed that celery’s apigenin has a renal-protective and hyperuricemic effect. In addition, the study suggests that apigenin may improve kidney damage and hyperuricemia by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and uric acid metabolism.

6. Supplements Iron

Celery is a good source of iron and can benefit individuals with iron deficiency or mild anemia.

However, celery may negatively impact male sperm count. Liu suggests that men planning to conceive should avoid consuming celery.

Celery Recipes

Liu provides several celery recipes to help alleviate edema, lower blood pressure, and treat constipation.

Dietary Therapy for Eliminating Edema

1. Celery with white fungus: White fungus is an edible mushroom that has been shown to help regulate the body’s immune function. Celery is high in dietary fiber and potassium, which can aid in the elimination of excess fluid and reduce swelling through increased urination.

2. Celery salad: Boil fresh celery for two minutes, then cut it into small pieces and mix it into a salad. For best results, use celery leaves as well.

3. Barley and red beans celery porridge: Cut celery into pieces and cook it with barley and red beans. This dish is highly effective for those who sit for long periods of time and want to eliminate edema.

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Dietary Therapy for Lowering Blood Pressure

1. Celery salad: Mix boiled radish or carrot, celery, and cooked peanuts with salt, sugar, and sesame oil. This recipe helps to lower blood pressure and is beneficial for people with abdominal obesity or constipation.

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2. Celery apple juice: Boil 250 grams (8.8 ounces) of celery in water for two minutes, then mix with a large apple and blend into a juice for consumption. This juice is most effective for borderline hypertension.

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3. Celery seed drink: Celery seed powder can be added to milk, soy milk, or sweetened with sugar or honey for a more enjoyable taste.

Dietary Therapy for Constipation

1. Celery scrambled eggs: Scrambled eggs with 150 grams (5.29 ounces) of celery are particularly beneficial for elderly individuals experiencing constipation, dry stools, and difficulty with bowel movements.

2. Fried celery with walnuts: Walnuts are high in fat and contain unsaturated fatty acids, which can help lubricate the bowels and relieve constipation. When combined with celery, which can promote intestinal peristalsis, the two can have a synergistic effect. This is especially beneficial for people with a sedentary lifestyle who experience stress, such as office and remote workers.

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Liu mentioned that despite the numerous health benefits of celery, some people should avoid consuming it:

1. Those who have a cold constitution: People with a cold constitution should avoid eating celery as it is cold in nature.

TCM categorizes foods as either “cold” or “hot” based on their properties. Consumption of cold foods can lead to a cooling effect in the body while consuming hot foods can lead to a warming result. A balance of cold and hot foods is believed to help maintain a balanced body.

According to TCM, people have different body constitutions, with cold and hot constitutions being two common types. Those with a cold constitution tend to be more sensitive to cold temperatures and have cold hands and feet. Their tongues also tend to be white and enlarged. On the other hand, those with a hot constitution are more sensitive to heat and tend to have dry mouths, constipation, and red tongue.

2. Those with spleen and stomach deficiency: As celery is considered a cold food in TCM, it can be a negative stimulus to the digestive system and cause digestive issues such as diarrhea and flatulence.

3. People taking diuretics: Celery has a diuretic effect and can promote drainage. If someone takes diuretics and consumes celery, it can lead to excessive water loss in the body.

4. Those taking anti-coagulant drugs: Celery contains a compound called coumarin, which has anticoagulant properties. Therefore, people taking anticoagulant medication should avoid consuming celery. Otherwise, when they have a wound, the bleeding may not stop.

Liu reminds the readers that eating celery with other cold-natured foods, such as soft-shelled turtle or rabbit meat, is not recommended.