BEDA Day 8 - Apium graveolens

Apium graveolens aka celery is the topic for today's post.

Celery is a biennial plant that is used all around the world as a vegetable. Celery is one part of the Louisiana Creole Holy Trinity and helps make up the base for soups and sauces in the French mirepoix.

Besides from it's great taste, celery also has a lot of nutritional value. Celery contains a variety of minerals and nutrients including iron, zinc, potassium and vitamins A,B,&C. It is also a great source of dietary fiber.

Celery also said to have many health benefits and has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries. Celery has a large amount of vitamin C which acts as a antioxidant. It helps reduce the severity of the inflammatory conditions of asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The vitamin C also helps support the immune system and can reduce the symptoms of a cold.

It is also said to be helpful in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

I am not a hardcore fan of celery, but I will eat it, usually in soups or salads. I have started eating it as a snack. I make it as a version of ants on a log. For ants on a log, peanut butter and raisins are used.

I change it up a bit and use fat free cream cheese and top it with fresh chopped cherries. The fresh cherries add a healthy sweetness to the snack.

All in all, celery is a great vegetable. It does not taste horrible and it is good for you!