CELERY
Celery has been gathered for thousands of years as a medicinal herb
and general tonic. The ancient Greeks prized it highly, and awarded
it to winners in their sport contests. There are records of celery
seed used in 1776 England for soups and stews.
Celery belongs to the same plant family as carrots, parsley, fennel,
caraway and anise. These plants' flavor is evident in the volatile
oils found in the stems, leaves and seeds.
Celery is available throughout the year, but its peak months are
from November through May. This varies depending on the particular
market in an area.
The best celery is of medium length, thickness and solidity. The
stalks should be brittle enough to snap easily. Overly stringy or pithy
celery has less vitamin and mineral content.
Celery is highly perishable, and should be refrigerated. It is a
wonderful vegetable to juice. Celery leaves are bitter to taste, but
they are rich in potassium, sodium and sulfur. Add chopped leaves to
salads for flavor and nutrition.
Beneficial Effects:
Celery has a very high water content. This makes it a good combination
with heavy foods, like starches. The greener the stalk indicates more
Vitamin A in the vegetable. Celery also contains significant amounts
of Vitamin B1 and G.
Celery is rich in essential minerals like sodium, chlorine, potassium
and magnesium. It is an all-around maintainer of good health. Fresh
celery juice is excellent. It is good by itself or mixed with apples,
carrot, or carrot and parsley.
The high sodium content makes celery a fine youth maintainer in the
body. Sodium helps keep youth and vitality, as well as the muscles
limber and pliable. Stiffness of joints, or cracking in the knees indicates
a sodium deficiency.
Sodium softens the body's tissues, joints and arteries, because it
combines with excess calcium. Eat celery often to neutralize acids
and cleanse the blood. Beneficial to the nervous system, it is an excellent
food for arthritis, high blood pressure and rheumatism.
Sodium is utilized in the walls of the stomach and intestines. For
this reason, celery is beneficial for these areas of the body. Celery
aids digestion, counteracts acidosis, halts fermentation and purifies
the bloodstream.
Celery Juice:
One of the finest juices to make with a juicer is celery juice. The Waldorf
recipe is a classic. Just combine one stalk of celery with two
large apples. A waldorf is a great drink before bedtime. It will
help your sleep.
Another good juice combination is one stalk of celery with a pound
of carrots. The result is a well-rounded, highly nutritional drink.
