Are you a celery eater?

If not, natural health expert Dr. Michael Murray has five compelling reasons why you should become one.

Photo by Lombroso via Wikimedia Commons

In a nutshell, he says that celery:

1. is high in fiber and nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, B vitamins, and calcium.
2. contains compounds called coumarins that help ward off cancer and migraines.
3. can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. “In an animal study conducted at the National University of Singapore, a small amount of this compound lowered blood pressure by 12 to 14 percent and cholesterol by seven percent,” reports Dr. Murray.
4. is beneficial for people with pain of arthritis, fibromyalgia, and gout (well, its seed is, anyway). A study in Australia found that 34 milligrams of the celery seed extract taken twice daily for three weeks reduced patients’ pain scores anywhere from 68 to 100 percent.
5. helps replenish electrolytes after vigorous exercise (celery juice is particularly effective because it contains high levels of potassium and sodium).

Celery is one of those foods that you definitely want to buy organic every time. It ranks high on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list (number two in 2013), and USDA tests have found more than 60 different pesticides on celery.

Of course, now is the perfect time to plan for next season’s crop of this fabulous fall-flourishing veggie because in a year from now you could be in celery heaven. Tell me, who among us doesn’t love celery loaded with peanut butter? Or almond butter? Or tahini? Or cream cheese? Or … ? How do you take your celery?