Occasional rises in blood pressure aren't cause for alarm. But when your blood pressure is consistently high, it can cause severe complications, including kidney damage, heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure is measured as 140 mmHg over 90 mmHg, or higher. To get yours back to a normal reading --- 120/80 or lower --- celery stalks may be beneficial.
Blood Vessel Benefits
Celery stalks --- as well as the seeds --- relax smooth muscles that line blood vessels. As a result, blood vessels dilate and allow blood to flow more easily. Various factors can cause blood vessels to narrow or become rigid and contribute to high blood pressure. These include a build-up of cholesterol, triglycerides and other substances inside the walls of arteries. When this plaque accumulates, atherosclerosis --- a condition in which arteries become narrow and hardened --- occurs.
Potassium Power
Sometimes research studies do not reveal any benefits of lowering sodium intake for high blood pressure. This is because sodium restriction must be combined with an increase in your intake of potassium, according to Michael T. Murray, a naturopathic doctor and author of "What the Drug Companies Won't Tell You and Your Doctor Doesn't Know." Potassium is another electrolyte vital for regulating fluid balance. One large stalk of celery, about 11 to 12 inches long, contains 166 mg of potassium. The recommended daily potassium intake for adults is 2,000 mg, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Amount
Ideally, adults should have at least 2.5 cups of vegetables daily, according to the American Dietetic Association. If you're battling hypertension, make celery stalks part of your daily intake of veggies. James A. Duke, author of "The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods," recommends puréeing four sticks of celery along with two cloves of garlic, half an onion and half a tomato to make a drink to lower blood pressure.
Precautions
Celery is generally safe to eat. However, if you are taking water pills, or diuretics, do not consume celery stalks for high blood pressure without consulting your doctor. Because celery has diuretic properties, you face an increased risk of dehydration. Although water intake varies from person to person, adults should drink between 8 to 12 glasses of water daily, according to Boston College.
References
- "Prescription for Natural Cures"; James F. Balch, M.D.; 2011
- "The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods"; James A. Duke; 2008
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; Atherosclerosis; July 2011
- "What the Drug Companies Won't Tell You and Your Doctor Doesn't Know'; Michael T. Murphy, N.D.; 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Potassium; May 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Possible Interactions with Celery Seed; March 2007
