Here’s a detailed breakdown of celery — its characteristics, nutrition, uses, and health benefits.
🥬 Celery: Overview
Scientific Name: Apium graveolens
Family: Apiaceae (parsley family)
Type: Biennial plant, usually grown as an annual
Common Parts Used: Stalks (petioles), leaves, seeds
Celery is a crunchy, fibrous vegetable with a mild, slightly bitter taste. It’s commonly eaten raw, cooked, or juiced.
🌱 Physical Characteristics
- Stalks (petioles): Long, ribbed, fibrous, pale green
- Leaves: Small, feathery, aromatic, darker green
- Seeds: Tiny, brown, used as a spice or for oil extraction
- Height: Typically 1–2 feet when mature
🥗 Culinary Uses
- Raw
- Snacking (with peanut butter or hummus)
- Salads (coleslaw, chicken salad, tuna salad)
- Juicing (detox or green juices)
- Cooked
- Soups, stews, and stocks (adds depth of flavor)
- Stir-fries or sautéed with other vegetables
- Braised or roasted
- Seeds & Leaves
- Leaves: garnish, seasoning, or in soups
- Seeds: spice in pickling, soups, or baked goods
🧪 Nutritional Profile (per 100 g raw celery)
- Calories: 16 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Dietary Fiber: 1.6 g
- Protein: 0.7 g
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Vitamin K: 29.3 µg (≈37% DV)
- Vitamin C: 3.1 mg (≈5% DV)
- Folate: 36 µg (≈9% DV)
- Potassium: 260 mg
- Sodium: naturally 80 mg
Celery is mostly water (~95%), making it very low in calories but high in hydration value.
🌟 Health Benefits
- Supports Digestion:
- High fiber helps regulate bowel movements.
- Anti-inflammatory:
- Contains antioxidants like flavonoids and polyphenols.
- Heart Health:
- Potassium and fiber may help lower blood pressure.
- Hydration:
- High water content helps maintain fluid balance.
- Weight Management:
- Low-calorie, high-volume food aids satiety.
⚠️ Cautions
- People on blood thinners should monitor intake because celery is rich in vitamin K.
- May cause allergic reactions in celery-sensitive individuals.
- Excessive celery seeds or extracts may interact with diuretics or blood pressure medications.
🌿 Fun Facts
- Celery stalks can regrow from the base if placed in water.
- Celery has been cultivated since ancient Egypt and Greece.
- “Juicing celery” became a popular health trend due to its low calories and vitamins.
If you want, I can also create a complete guide to celery varieties, including Pascal, Golden, and Leaf celery, with their best uses in cooking.
Do you want me to do that?