High blood pressure is a condition where an abnormal amount of force is placed on the arterial walls as blood moves through your blood vessels. This can damage your blood vessels and lead to serious health complications, including heart failure, heart attack, stroke, aneurysm and narrowed blood vessels to the kidneys, eyes and other organs of the body. Most medical professionals recommend lifestyle changes as the first approach to treating this condition, but the inclusion of celery isn't necessarily one of them.
Celery
According to Dr. George Jacobs, a holistic medical practitioner, four stalks of celery each day can help lower blood pressure. Celery contains phthalide, a compound said to relax muscles, particularly those around the arteries. This is thought to help dilate the blood vessels, allowing blood to pass without resistance through the arteries and thereby lowering blood pressure. While celery can easily be included as part of a healthy diet, there is a lack of evidence concerning its benefits on blood pressure on its own.
Diet
Instead of relying solely on one food -- like celery -- to lower blood pressure, change your entire dietary approach to eating. A heart-healthy diet often includes a wide array of fruits, vegetables and whole grains with moderate amounts of lean meats and low-fat dairy. Nutrients of particular importance for heart health include potassium and fiber, notes the National Institutes of Health.
Exercise
Along with these dietary changes -- which may or may not include celery -- increase your level of physical activity. The heart is like any other muscle in the body, so physical activity is essential in maintaining its strength. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderately intense cardio most days of the week, which can include anything from walking, biking or swimming to dancing, skiing or playing a competitive sport.
Weight Loss
Excess weight is also known to contribute to high blood pressure, so work at shedding any excess pounds. In fact, a loss of just 5 lbs. can have a positive impact on blood pressure, reports MayoClinic.com. Replacing high-calorie snacks with a few stalks of celery each day can help you reach the deficit necessary to lose weight, but celery on its own isn't likely to lower your blood pressure.
Sodium
Your sodium intake is another important facet to a heart-healthy lifestyle. You want to limit your intake to no more than 1,500 mg a day, especially when you have high blood pressure. This means you're going to need to skip the salt on that stalk of celery -- as well as many other foods you usually season this way.
