Why celery root is useful and how to use it correctly

Celery root contains a large amount of vitamins, micro- and macroelements useful for humans. The root vegetable is used in cooking, traditional medicine, for weight loss. About all its properties, benefits for the body and taste characteristics - further in the article.

Characteristics and features of root celery

Celery is a vegetable imported from the Mediterranean. Years of breeding have been spent making all parts of the plant edible - leaves, stem and root.

Initially, the root part was thin, threadlike. Now it is a rounded root vegetable with dense, juicy pulp. It grows up to 20 cm in diameter and weighing up to 900 g. Spicy pulp tastes sweet with bitterness.

Root celery is cultivated from seedlings; 150 days pass before ripening. It is unpretentious to care for, resistant to diseases and pests. Root celery forms beautiful, lush, fragrant leaves. They are suitable for consumption, but they are not plucked, since the growth of the root crop slows down from this. During the cultivation, the lateral roots are removed with a sharp knife, and in August the soil is shaken off from the root crop, exposing it - this is how it gains juiciness. Harvested in the fall, carefully digging one root at a time with a pitchfork so as not to damage the root crop. Only celery without dents, scratches and rot is stored until spring.

Composition and properties

100 g of root celery contains 1.5 g of proteins, 0.3 g of fat, 9.2 g of carbohydrates. The calorie content of the vegetable - 42 kcal - makes it a suitable ingredient for a dietary table. 100 g of plant root contains 1.8 g of fiber and 88 g of water. This balanced combination helps to eliminate toxins and toxins from the body.

Vitamins and nutrients

All parts of celery are rich in vitamins, useful elements and acids. But the root is a concentrate of all nutrients:

• vitamins B1, B2, B4, B5, B6, B9, C, E, K, PP, beta-carotene, niacin;
• omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, myristic, stearic, palmitic, linoleic, oxalic, oleic and glutamic acids;
• macronutrients - sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulfur, chlorine;
• trace elements - iron, copper, manganese, zinc, selenium, fluorine, chromium, iodine.

Flavonoids, purines and essential oils give a pleasant taste and aroma to celery dishes.

What is useful

Celery root provides health benefits, saturates the body with vitamins and other valuable substances. Useful properties of celery:

• reduces signs of anemia;
• lowers blood sugar levels;
• increases the elasticity of capillaries;
• reduces pressure;
• has a laxative and diuretic effect;
• accelerates metabolism;
• normalizes water-alkaline balance;
• neutralizes stress, relieves irritability;
• increases skin elasticity, restores the structure of hair and nails.

How to use celery root

The root vegetable is not only eaten in various combinations, it is treated with it, it has become the basis of the celery diet as a product with a negative calorie content.

In cooking

There are different uses for celery root in cooking. But before the root vegetable is eaten, it is prepared.

The washed root vegetable is placed on its side on a cutting board and the lower and upper parts are cut off. He is now stable. It is placed vertically and the peel is cut into thin strips from top to bottom. After complete cleaning, cut into cubes, bars, slices. Wash immediately in water with lemon or orange juice so that the root does not darken.

Reference. If the root is crushed to a minimum size during cooking, the aroma will be so intense that it will overpower the smell of all other ingredients.

How to prepare celery root:

• grated and used in salads in fresh form;
• prepare a root-based puree soup;
• stew together with other vegetables - carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes;
• fried with chicken or beef;
• make sauces with onions, apples, olives based on butter or vegetable oil;
• make juice;
• dried celery root in chopped form is used as a seasoning for soups and side dishes;
• added to the brine during conservation.

In folk medicine

Celery root is used as a cosmetic, therapeutic agent and for the prevention of various diseases. They are used in the form of infusions, tinctures, decoctions, juice, ointments and face masks are made.

The root infusion is prepared as follows: 2 tbsp. l. chopped vegetable insist in 250 ml of cold water. After 2 hours, the product is ready for use.

Celery infusion is taken:

1. For insomnia, depression and neurosis - 1 tsp. 3 times a day, regardless of food intake, until symptoms disappear. It calms the nervous system, improves sleep.
2. In the treatment of gastritis and stomach ulcers - 2 tbsp. l. before every meal. The affected mucosa heals faster.
3. For the treatment of allergic skin rashes, dermatitis and psoriasis - 1/3 cup before each meal.

Celery decoction is used:

1. For diabetes, to lower blood sugar levels. 20 g of root is poured with 250 ml of water, simmered for 20 minutes, cooled for 10 minutes, filtered and drunk at 3 tbsp. l. before every meal for a month.
2. For liver diseases, to accelerate cell regeneration. 20 g of celery is cut into slices, 200 ml of boiling water is poured, infused for 15 minutes and filtered. Take 0.5 cups 3 times a day before meals for 14 days.
3. With frostbite as an antiseptic, the affected tissues recover faster. Boil 200 g of dried root in 1 liter of water for 20 minutes, cool to a comfortable temperature and keep the limb in the broth until the liquid cools down. In case of frostbite on the face, a gauze napkin is immersed in the broth, then kept on the frostbite area until it cools. Then the affected area is dipped in cold water, dried and goose fat is applied. The procedure is performed every evening until the wound heals.

Root tincture treats:

1. Prostatitis - pain when urinating goes away. 2 tbsp. l. chopped celery root is mixed with 1 tbsp. l. celery seeds, pour 1 liter of vodka, insist in a dark place for 7 days, then filter. Take 30 g 2 times a day until the medicine ends.
2. Boils, abscesses, skin inflammation. Half a glass of crushed root is mixed with 0.5 tsp. salt and 0.5 cups of 9% vinegar and leave for 5-6 hours. Infusion is impregnated with gauze tampons and applied to the affected skin.

To prepare the juice, grate the root vegetable and squeeze the pulp through cheesecloth. Celery root juice helps:

1. For rheumatic pains and gout. It removes uric acid from the joints. Drink the remedy half an hour before meals for 2-3 tsp. within a month, even when the pains go away.
2. Warn oncological diseases, as it contains anticancer substances - phthalides and polyacetylenes. They drink fresh juice 1 time per day outside of meals. The admission period is not limited.
3. Difficulty emptying. Drink 1/3 cup of juice on an empty stomach. For chronic constipation, use 1 tbsp. l. before each meal for 1 month.
4. For diseases of the bladder and kidneys... To relieve inflammation, drink 1 tbsp. l. 2 times a day before meals for 1 month.
5. With osteochondrosis. Promotes the excretion of salts and normalizes the water-alkaline balance, the pain disappears. Take 1 tsp. 2-3 times a day.

Raw celery root helps:

1. For constipation. Fiber, which the vegetable is rich in, removes toxins and maintains the muscle tissues of the digestive tract in an active state.
2. For sexual problems. Celery contains the sex hormone androsterone, which increases potency in men. As a powerful aphrodisiac, celery root restores the female libido.
3. Remove signs of chapping, give the skin a fresh look. To do this, make a mask: grind the celery root to a pasty state to make 1 tbsp. l., mix it with fat cottage cheese (1 tbsp. l.) and warm milk (1 tbsp. l.). Apply on face for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water.

Dried celery root is used as a face and body scrub. The scrub renews the top layer of the skin and removes impurities. For cooking, grind ginger, nutmeg, cilantro (1 tsp of each ingredient), add 1 tbsp. l. chopped dried celery root and 2 tbsp. l. honey. Massage on the face and neck and rinse off after 10 minutes.

Root ointment heals cuts, wounds, ulcers that do not heal for a long time. 2 tbsp. l. crushed root is ground with 3 tbsp. l. interior fat. The ointment is applied to the problem area of ​​the skin daily until healing.

Important! All folk remedies are in addition to the medication prescribed by your doctor. Before using celery medicines, consult a specialist.

Slimming

The secret to losing weight on celery is in the negative calorie content of the vegetable and the presence of coarse fibers... The body requires a lot of energy to digest celery. To produce it, the body breaks down its own fatty deposits, and the weight goes away.

The coarse fiber contained in the celery root enters the intestines almost undigested and, like a panicle, cleanses it. Slags go away, the weight becomes less.

The aromatic root contains a lot of potassium and sodium, so dishes with vegetables do not require salt. Meals on a celery diet are tasty and not bland.

As a result of the diet, 3-7 kg go away, the waist becomes thin, the hair is shiny, the skin is elastic. Losing weight on a celery diet is possible for those who suffer from allergies, psoriasis and diseases of the genitourinary system.

There are several types of diet. The first is strict: for 3 days they eat only celery and water. Celery in any form is eaten until satiety. Drinks water at least 1.5-2 liters per day.

A more gentle 3-day diet of celery root vegetable soup. Before starting the diet, consult a doctor. To make the soup you will need:

• root - 200 g;
• stems - 300 g;
• tomatoes - 650 g;
• cabbage - 600 g;
• asparagus beans - 300 g;
• bell pepper - 3 pcs.;
• carrots - 2 pcs.;
• onions - 5 pcs.

Preparation of dietary soup: 2 onions, carrots and root cut into cubes, pour 1.5 liters of water and cook for 20 minutes. Then add the 3 remaining onions, peppers, celery stalks and asparagus beans, also diced. The peeled tomatoes are ground in a blender and added along with shredded cabbage to the soup. Simmer on low heat until cooked.

For 3 days they eat soup and fresh celery in any form. The number of servings is not limited - any amount eaten will lead to weight loss. They drink unsweetened green warm tea and water. Unloading is repeated only after 14 days.

Combined diet for 7 days

They eat in 3 receptions, dinner until 18:00. If hungry is acute, eat fresh root / stems or drink celery smoothie. Sports are allowed if you feel well.

Menu for the week:

1. Day 1. Root soup 3 times a day, portions are not limited. Between meals - an apple, grape, or fig. They drink unsweetened tea, fresh juice and water.
2. Day 2. Only soup, instead of fruits - fresh or boiled vegetables without peel.
3. Day 3. Soup, vegetables, except for potatoes and legumes, berries. From drinking - celery juice with water.
4. Day 4. Soup only. Yogurt for breakfast and between meals.Any drink.
5. Day 5. 200 g of lean beef, fresh tomatoes for breakfast and lunch. For dinner - soup. They drink unsweetened tea, fresh juice and water.
6. Day 6. Three times soup. In between - greens (spinach and lettuce) seasoned with olive oil.
7. Day 7. Breakfast - wild rice and one raw vegetable. Lunch and dinner - soup. They drink fresh and water.

They leave the diet by introducing eggs, nuts and dairy products into the diet, 100 g of each once a day. To prevent weight gain, do not eat beans, fried, baked goods and fast food. Alcohol is also prohibited. To maintain weight, dinner is replaced with a vegetable salad. The diet is repeated after 2 weeks.

How to cook root celery deliciously: best recipes

Celery has excellent taste, all dishes with it are aromatic. Those who eat celery dishes daily or every other day report improved well-being and recuperation.

Celery root is compatible with many foods. No matter how the celery is cooked, it will only benefit the body.

Celery salad with carrots

Ingredients:

• celery root - 1 pc .;
• carrots - 400 g;
• lemon juice - 3 tbsp. l .;
• sugar - 0.5 tsp;
• sour cream - 100 g;
• salt and black pepper to taste.

The celery root and carrots are washed and peeled, the carrots are cut into strips, celery - slices, mixed. In a separate bowl, mix sugar and lemon juice with a whisk, pour this mixture over vegetables and set aside for a while. Prepare the dressing: season the sour cream with salt and pepper to taste. Salad with celery and carrots is seasoned before serving.

Potato soup with celery

Ingredients:

• potatoes - 3-4 pcs.;
• celery root;
• onion - 1 pc .;
• butter - 2 tbsp. l .;
• flour - 3 tsp;
• salt - 0.5 tsp.

Peel the potatoes and celery, wash and cut into 1 cm cubes. Heat half the oil in a pan, spread the flour, fry it, stirring it, over medium heat for 5 minutes. Peel and chop the onion. Heat the rest of the oil and spread the onion. Fry over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

Boil potatoes for 15 minutes in salted water - ¼ tsp. salt in 400 ml of water. Strain, rub in a homogeneous puree.

Celery is poured into 600 ml of water, brought to a boil, salted (¼ tsp. Salt). Boil for 15 minutes with a low boil, put potatoes, chopped onions and flour. Add hot boiled water to bring the soup to a thin puree consistency. Warm up, not boiling, and immediately serve, sprinkled with herbs.

Fried celery

Ingredients:

• root celery - 400 g;
• vegetable oil - 3 tbsp. l .;
• lemon juice - 0.5 tsp;
• salt and spices to taste;
• greens for decoration.

The celery root is washed, peeled, cut arbitrarily, put into a container and sprinkled with lemon juice. Let stand for 10 minutes. At this time, vegetable oil is heated in a frying pan, celery is added and fried until tender and golden brown over medium heat. At the end of frying, salt and pepper to taste.

Council. Fried celery goes well with meat and poultry, but it is also eaten as a separate dish with pickled or fresh vegetables.

Celery stewed with vegetables

Ingredients:

• celery root - 600 g;
• tomatoes - 300 g;
• champignons - 300 g;
• onions - 150 g;
• vegetable oil;
• salt and pepper to taste.

The celery root is peeled, cut into cubes and boiled in salted water until half cooked. Cut tomatoes and mushrooms into cubes, onions into half rings. Fry the onion in vegetable oil until transparent, add celery. Stir and fry for 10 minutes. Then add tomatoes and mushrooms, mix, put pepper and salt to taste.

Celery, apples and olives sauce

Ingredients:

• celery - 1 root;
• sour cream - 5 tbsp. l .;
• apple - 1 pc.;
• olives - 20 g;
• leeks - 1 stalk;
• lemon juice - 5 ml;
• sugar and salt - 0.5 tsp each.

Celery is grated, mixed with apples, cut into small cubes. Leek with olives is cut finely. All are mixed and poured with sour cream, whipped with lemon juice, salt and sugar.Mix thoroughly and serve with meat dishes and side dishes.

Dried Root Celery

Root crops for drying are chosen dense, light, without rot and damage, cleaned from the ground, washed in running water. Peeled root vegetables are chopped on a coarse grater or cut into thin strips or rings 5 ​​mm thick. The thinner the root is crushed, the faster it dries.

Drying methods:

1. On air. Pour the chopped celery onto a sieve, baking sheet or wire rack in a thin layer and place in a dry and well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight. In the morning and in the evening, the slices are mixed. Drying time - up to 20 days.
2. In an electric dryer. Pour celery on the grates, set the temperature within + 50 ° C. The grates are changed every 1.5 hours to dry evenly. Drying time - 10 hours.
3. In the oven. Celery is placed on a baking sheet lined with parchment and placed in an oven preheated to + 50 ... + 60 ° C, the door is slightly opened. Dried until tender.

Cabbage with beets and celery for the winter

Ingredients:

• white cabbage - 1 kg;
• beets and celery root - 1 pc .;
• vinegar - 0.5 cups;
• allspice and hot peppers, salt to taste;
• water - 2 glasses.

Shred cabbage, put it in a bowl, salt it, wrinkle it with your hands. Washed and peeled beets are rubbed on a grater, mixed with cabbage, capsicum is added.

For the marinade: cut the washed and peeled celery root into cubes, put in water, add vinegar, allspice, bring to a boil. Put the cabbage with beets in a deep enamel bowl, add the marinade so that it is 2 fingers higher than the vegetables. Marinated for three days in a warm place, then laid out in jars, closed with lids, left to be stored in the refrigerator for the winter.

Contraindications and possible harm

Celery contains acids and essential oils, which are contraindicated in certain conditions and diseases. Doctors advise against eating a root vegetable when:

• varicose veins;
• acute pancreatitis;
• gastritis;
• colitis;
• cholecystitis;
• hemorrhagic vasculitis;
• stones in the kidneys and urinary system;
• diseases of the thyroid gland;
• epilepsy;
• pregnancy;
• breastfeeding.

Above the age of 65, you should consult your doctor about whether you can eat celery.

Attention! Celery does not harm a healthy person if it is consumed in moderation. The recommended rate is 150 g per day.

Celery root accumulates harmful substances and can cause poisoning. Celery grown without chemical fertilizers and growth stimulants will not be harmful. When buying celery in a store, be sure to ask for a certificate of conformity. Only he guarantees the safety of the product. In any case, before cooking, the vegetable is soaked in water for 30 minutes.

An excess of essential oils adversely affects the body - they increase gas production, which provokes an exacerbation of diseases of the digestive system. Due to an overabundance of essential oils, immunity is hyperstimulated, with this condition developing autoimmune diseases. The body perceives its own cells as foreign and destroys them. The etheric component increases blood pressure, which is unacceptable for hypertensive patients.

Celery in a dose of more than 80 g per day promotes the destruction and movement of stones in urolithiasis. This is a plus for patients with sand and stones up to 0.5 cm in diameter - they leave the body on their own. Large stones cannot come out on their own. They become lodged in the urinary tract and cause renal colic, which results in surgery.

Conclusion

The health benefits of root celery outweigh the potential harm. You can not eat celery with obvious contraindications. A healthy person can eat a variety of dishes from this vegetable, lose weight on a delicious diet, and use it for various diseases.It is recommended to include the vegetable in the diet in the fall to strengthen the immune system.