The Skinny on Celery

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Diet & Fitness

Tuesday, 26 May 2009 08:45

By Simply XQuisite

Too much stress and frustration in your life? Need to calm your nerves or lower your blood?  Go to your refrigerator and grab a stick of celery and some cream cheese, mayonnaise or peanut-butter.  That’ll do the trick.

Celery has almost zero calories, has a very high water content and is very fibrous. It has a very long shelf life , is easily found in supermarkets and can be washed and stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for a week or more and remain fresh and crunchy.

Celery can be cooked with rice, used to add some flavor to meat dishes and sauces, or mixed in fish, tuna fish or corned beef sandwiches.  It also adds a nice green crunch to fresh tossed garden salads and green banana salads. The leaves of this vegetable can also be eaten and is used as well in cooking soups and even to make celery juice.

In addition to its countless uses, celery provides an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C and several B vitamins.  It is also said that it improves detoxification, lower cholesterol, and lower the blood pressure.  The juices from celery help to re-hydrate the body and can be very effective after exercise as it helps to replace electrolytes.

For those weight-watchers, drinking celery juice throughout the day helps to suppress craving for sweets and other fattening foods, and because it is so high in fiber, this vegetable is a very effective laxative and is said to work pretty well in helping to prevent colon and other cancers.

Celery is also a very good source of folic acid and is therefore perfect for expectant mothers and young children.

Celery can also be eaten with a variety of salad dressings and dips.  Once you get started it can become a very healthy addiction. Bon appetite!

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