The cosmic power of celery

Can certain foods have negative calories? In other words, the more you eat, the more weight you lose?

Celery is one such miracle food if you’re trying to shed kilos. Although it doesn’t burn more calories than it packs, celery is by nature super low in calories, so you can munch on it without feeling guilty.

Low in calories

A cup of chopped raw celery has just 16 calories, which is just 1 percent of the daily limit in a 1500-calorie diet, and each large celery stalk has just 10 calories. Boiled celery has slightly more calories, at 27 calories per cup, but this still takes up less than 2 percent of your daily calorie budget on a 1500-calorie diet.  Despite the low calorie count, it keeps you feeling full and satiated, thanks to the added bonus of fibre.

High in nutrients

Celery also isn’t short on nutrition. Eating celery boosts your intake of essential vitamins to keep you active and healthy as you lose weight. You’ll get a generous amount of vitamin K – 37 percent of the daily value for a cup of raw celery, and 71 percent for the same-size serving of boiled celery,  which helps your blood clot, plus it supports bone health.

It also provides potassium, which helps your nerves function and supports cardiovascular  health. A cup of raw celery has 8 percent of the daily value for potassium, while cooked celery has 12 percent.

A versatile vegetable

You can snack on celery on its own or toss it up in a salad. Add celery to bulk up your meals without a ton of calories.

Finely chopped celery and carrots can work well as a meat extender for burgers and meatballs – simply mix the celery into the meat before shaping it into patties or balls. This technique can also add flavour to your meat. Simply sauté the chopped celery until it starts to brown, blot away excess water; then add it to the meat for mixing.

Add sliced celery to vegetable or meat soups to add bulk without calories. Add finely chopped raw celery to tuna or chicken salads to boost your portion size and get a satisfying crunch, or use extra celery in stir-fries.

Alternatively, try lightly coating celery stalks in a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil and roast them. Season with rosemary and sea salt until tender for a delicious side dish.

Brought to you by People Magazine

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