Why Have Celery Seed Extract in Your Medicine Cabinet
Celery seed is found in the flowers of the celery stalk, are brown in color, and are said to have a strong, pleasant smell.
Properties such as flavonoids (antioxidants), coumarins (blood thinners), and linoleic acid (one of the omega-6 fatty acids), are what make celery seeds beneficial for one’s health and a favorite in Eastern medicine and has for thousands of years.
What is Celery Seed Good For?
Although celery seed extract is a common spice in many foods, there are several benefits to consuming celery seed such as:
Support bone health due to its mineral content of calcium, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus, which are all essential for strong bones. A lack of calcium in the body increases the risk of fractures and can lead to disease such as osteoporosis.
Vital for production of red blood cells. Celery seeds contain iron, which is necessary for the production red blood cells, which help deliver oxygen throughout the body.
Magnesium content in celery seeds has proven to help insulin sensitivity as it is common in diabetics to have low serum magnesium in the body. In other words, magnesium is necessary to help control blood sugar levels.
Celery seed extract can be beneficial to fight off infections such as H. Pylori (which has been linked to stomach ulcers), yeast, and mold.
Additional health problems that can be alleviated with consumption of celery seed extract include:
relief for arthritis pain and gout.
can help reduce muscle spasm often caused by a lack of minerals in the body.
helps reduce inflammation in the body (thanks to the omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants).
Consumption
Celery seeds can be found at grocery stores or health food stores in the form of whole seeds, crushed, ground, or supplements such as tablets and capsules. Make sure that the seeds are for consumption and not for gardening since many are treated with chemicals.
You can include celery seeds in your food as an added spice or take in supplement form (preferably under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider).
As with any herb, precautions should be taken to prevent possible interactions with other medications or supplements and includes individuals:
who have chronic kidney problems.
those who experience low blood pressure.
those who are allergic to birch pollen.
pregnant women, as it can cause uterine bleeding and/or contractions.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26462366
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/celery-seed-benefits
http://pennstatehershey.adam.com/content.aspx?productId=107&pid=33&gid=000231
https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/26/4/1147