How to live longer: The juice that could ward off high blood pressure and boost longevity
Long life expectancy could be achieved with the addition of celery juice in your diet. Celery juice has gained ‘superfood’ status in recent years with claims it can help combat a range of ailments, from high blood pressure to high cholesterol. So how could celery juice help you live longer?
While there are few studies demonstrating the exact benefits of drinking celery juice, a lot of research points to how celery and its seeds can promote healthy living.
A study published in 2013 investigated whether the chemical 3-n-butylphthalide (3nB) in celery seed extract has antihypertensive properties.
Thirty participants with high blood pressure took part, and each consumed a capsule containing 75 milligrams of celery seed extract, twice a day for six weeks.
After this time, the participants experienced a significant decrease in blood pressure.
High blood pressure can lead to serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
But according to the researchers, 3nB may lower blood pressure by reducing the buildup of fatty deposits within the arteries and increasing the elasticity of artery walls.
Celery may also benefit a person’s cholesterol levels.
High cholesterol is when a person has too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in their blood.
Too much cholesterol can block the blood vessels and make a person more likely to have heart problems or a stroke.
But a 2014 study investigated the effects of celery leaf extract on the cholesterol levels of rats fed a high-fat diet.
The rats were fed celery leaf extract for 30 days, after which they showed a significant decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or ‘bad’ cholesterol when compared to rats that didn’t receive the extract.
Celery contains some beneficial antioxidants, one being luteolin.
A review published in 2016 found luteolin could halt the growth of some types of cancer cells in rodents.
Luteolin may also prevent cancer cells from invading other areas of the body or ‘metastasising’.
The antioxidant may also offer protection against certain brain diseases.
A study published in 2013 investigated whether luteolin could reduce inflammation and protect against neurodegeneration in rodents with diabetic encephalopathy (DE).
The researchers found rats that were continuously treated with luteolin had reduced brain cell damage and improved learning and memory.
A different review published in 2015 looked at the effect of different plant chemicals on rodents with Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers found apigenin, another antioxidant found in celery, limits damage to a variety of brain processes.
This could delay and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
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