A stroke is a serious cardiovascular problem that can be debilitating because of the damage it does to the brain. Consuming celery, particularly the flowers of the celery plant, may help reduce some of the risk factors associated with a stroke, but talk to your doctor before making any changes to your diet.
Stroke Risk Factors
A stroke is the result of interruption of the blood flow to a part of your brain, often due to a blocked artery. Arteries can be blocked by a process known as atherosclerosis, which causes the arteries to become narrow and stiff. Having high blood pressure and cholesterol are two things that can increase your risk of having a stroke.
Celery Seed
The flowers of the celery plant contain celery seed. Consuming celery seed may help decrease your risk of having a stroke. Celery seed functions as a diuretic, which means that it causes your kidneys to produce more urine. This lowers your blood volume, decreasing your blood pressure. A 2008 article in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" reported that animals who were fed celery seed extract had lower cholesterol levels, possibly due to celery seed affecting the way the liver processes cholesterol. These animals also had higher HDL or "good" cholesterol levels. However, there is no evidence that celery seed has an effect on the risk of stroke in humans.
Other Benefits
Another benefit of eating celery is that it contains fiber. One cup of celery contains almost 2 g of fiber. Fiber is important for preventing a stroke and other cardiovascular problems because it interferes with the absorption of dietary cholesterol, helping to lower your blood cholesterol levels. Celery is also low in calories, and switching from high calorie snacks to foods such as celery can help you lose weight, further decreasing your risk of a stroke.
Considerations
Although celery and celery seed have many potential benefits for your health, its effects on stroke prevention in humans has not been studied. Other aspects of your diet, such as how much saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium you eat are likely to have a greater impact on your stroke risk. Talk to your doctor about your cardiovascular health before making any changes to your diet.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Celery Seed; Steven Ehrlich; 2008
- American Heart Association: Stroke Risk Factors
- Colorado State University; Dietary Fiber; J. Anderson, S. Perryman, L.Young and S. Prior; 2010
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry"; Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Activity of Mountain Celery (Cryptotaenia japonica Hassk) Seed Essential Oils; Cheng et al.; 2008
