Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Juice Celery Leaves







Celery leaves are highly nutritious and can be juiced with the stalks.


Celery juice is a hydrating juice with many nutritional benefits for the body. Many people who incorporate vegetables juices into their diet typically include celery juice for its fresh taste and nutritional content, but the leaves can also be juiced for additional benefits. Celery leaves contain a high amount of vitamin A and C, potassium, sodium and sulfur, whereas the stem contains different vitamins and minerals.


Vitamin A


According the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the vitamin A that is found in celery leaves "helps form and maintain healthy skin, teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucus membranes, and skin." Vitamin A, or retinol, also promotes good vision. Increasing your intake of vitamin A can strengthen the immune system and help fight diseases caused by viruses as well as cancer.


Vitamin C








Celery leaves are a good source of vitamin C, an important antioxidant for the body, states the NIH. This water-soluble cold-fighting vitamin boosts the immune system and fights off new diseases. It is essential in the maintenance of body tissue, bones and teeth and fights free radicals and other signs of aging.


Treating Ailments


As an alkaline food, celery and its leaves are good for treating conditions caused by excess acid in the body, according to Health Care Clinic. Most fruits and vegetables are considered alkaline foods, and eating them can help balance the body's pH level. The leaves are high in magnesium, which is important for hundreds of the body's chemical reactions, according to NIH.


Tips


Juice both the stalk and the leaves of a piece of celery to enjoy all the benefits of this vegetable. Make sure to juice the celery last if adding celery juice to another vegetable juice, as it can become stringy in the juicer. Celery juice can taste bitter, so add the juice of the stalk and the leaves to other vegetables such as carrots or cucumbers, or a sweet fruit such as a green apple.

Tags: Celery leaves, celery juice, Celery juice, immune system, leaves good