Can a diabetic eat Celery?
Yes, a diabetic can eat celery as it is low in sugar and calories. Celery has low glycaemic index (GI) which means eating celery does not cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Eating celery does not cause blood sugar spikes or weight gain. Many nutritionists recommend celery for diabetics. Celery is high in fibre and helps digestion and bowel movements. In the western world, celery is one of the most popular snacks for diabetics. Celery also helps regulate blood sugar levels and body weight.
Why is celery good for a diabetic? Is celery low in carbohydrates or calories?
Celery is a non-starchy vegetable that is not high in either calories or carbohydrates. For example, one cup of celery gives you about 3 gm carbohydrates and 16 calories. This makes celery one of the vegetables that are low in calories and carbohydrates. Being low in carbohydrates and calories makes celery great for a diabetic to eat. Celery helps a diabetic to lose weight which in turn helps reduce risk of diabetes complications.
Moreover, celery contains flavones. Flavones are a type of antioxidants that help regulate blood sugar levels. Any food that helps regulate blood sugar levels is great for diabetics. Antioxidants in celery prevents cardiac complications that arise from bad (LDL) cholesterol. All these facts make celery one of the best vegetables for diabetics.
What are the benefits of eating celery?
Celery is a negative calorie food. This means celery gives you fewer calories than it takes for yoru body to digest it. In a way, digesting celery is like a work-out for your body as you end up with even lower calories and can lose weight. Moreover, celery is very chewy. You end up spending few calories in chewing celery. Thus, celery helps your body to burn some fat and thereby lose weight. Eating celery can have positive impact in the way your body burns calories in both short and long term.
Celery has a high antioxidant content and thus, it is known to lower the risk of heart disease by preventing oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Eating celery regularly can have therapeutic effect on people with arthritis. Celery acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and helps alleviate joint pains and other inflammatory conditions.
Many people may not be aware of but, celery can help reduce stress, migraines and even risk of cancer. Celery has vitamin K in it. Vitamin K helps blood circulation and regulates blood pressure. Eating celery regularly can improve your skin health as it relaxes you.
