the power of celery??

[MommaRuthie]

Hi all. I just started eating celery on this diet this week. I am eating 120-130 grams/day which is about 2 net carbs. I'm dipping it in blue cheese dressing. It is so yummy!!! Only thing is is that I'm peeing way more than normal ever since I started to eat the celery. Has anyone had this experience with celery? I'm drinking the same amount of water 60 -80 oz/day. Also, in the past my ketostix always were a light pink, no matter what I ate or how much I exercised. However, since adding the celery my sticks have been the darkest purple they can go, almost black. Does celery promote extra ketosis???

[rweeks]

THere is a ton of water in celery. That should account for the extra peeing. As far as the Ketostix readings, I have no idea. Good luck and Happy Holidays!

[APanthesilia]

Hmm...I think I'm going to buy some celery tomorrow!

[adreliluc]

I looove celery but for some reason it kicks off my cravings. I notice when I take it to work for a snack I end up wanting to eat all day. le sigh...
It's yummy stuff though.

[Chef Kevin]

celery has quite a bit of sodium naturally, which could be affecting your urination.

As for ketosis, I find the more fresh veg I eat, the darker the ketosis on the stick, maybe there are nutrients that you are missing that the celery is providing.

[Sherri]

Celery is a natural diuretic-

Effects of Celery on Blood Pressure

Effects of celery on blood pressure have been known to be positive. Celery is rich in apigenin which is classified as a chemical and is naturally found in a number of vegetables. Apigenin affects the blood pressure levels by means of dilating blood vessels. In addition, celery is also rich in 3-n-butylphtalide (3nb) - another chemical known to lower blood pressure by acting as a relaxant for the muscles that comprise the walls of the blood vessels. On top of that, 3nb also reduces the level of catacholamines which are well known stress hormones. Historically, in some of the oriental countries, patients have been prescribed to consume a daily portion of half a pound of to keep blood pressure levels stable. The research conducted at the University of Chicago indicates that animals, if fed a daily portion of celery, exhibit lower blood pressure readings that those animals that do not have celery as a nutrition supplement. In some cases, the difference in blood pressure levels between the two groups reached as much as 14 percent. That is also equivalent to 15 point decrease in systolic blood pressure. Another advantage of celery, that it, being naturally rich in sodium content, can satisfy the desire for salt for those people who are following a low-salt diet. Having a high potassium value is another plus. With such a combination of contents, celery makes for an excellent snack for people who are currently on hypertensive medications. The majority of vegetables, when cooked, drop the ratio of potassium and sodium more than tenfold from the original content. Eating fresh celery ensures that you are getting enough of what your body needs.
Salty foods, no matter how tasty and appetizing they are, facilitate water retention in the body. One of the elements known to replace the amount of sodium in your body is potassium. If potassium is not supplied, the sodium will continue to be retained within water inside the cells. That is why most doctors prescribe water removing pills, otherwise known as diuretics, to remove excess amount of water from your body. Taking this kind of drugs facilitates removing sodium from your body by that dropping the blood pressure. Potassium has a tendency to be flushed out of the system at the same time as sodium is removed. Therefore, in parallel with the water pills, doctors usually prescribe potassium supplements to supplement the major medication.
*In summary, celery lowers blood pressure by being a substance that *naturally contains diuretics. Therefore, for people with mild variations in blood pressure just eating celery might bring the levels of blood pressure to normal. It serves as a healthy natural supplement for those who have to have prescribed hypertension medication. Consuming celery on a regular basis can control high blood pressure and eliminate the use of drugs.

[MommaRuthie]

WOW!! Thanks Sherri! You rock! I'm glad I'm not on induction anymore... get to up my veggie intake and am currently in love with celery. I've been having problems on the WOE with low potassium levels and have been on prescription strength potassium supplements for the last month. just came off of them this week. Maybe that's why the celery tastes so good! hopefully when I go back to the MD to get tested I won't need to go back on the potassium pills. Thanks for the great info!!!!

[Sarina D]

I really enjoy celery as well. When I eat it I feel energized afterwards...like it gives me an energy boost...and oddly enough (I am a severe asthmatic) when I have breathing problems, I'll eat some celery and sometimes it helps alleviate some of the breathing struggle....it helps from time to time in that way too.

Sarina
---------------
Heaviest weight last year- 400 (2007)
Atkins start weight – 347 (July 19, 2008 )
(100 lbs. lost as of Oct 2, 2008 - Hit 300 lbs. on this day )
Current weight – 266
Goal weight - 150 – 160

[APanthesilia]

Sherri, you're such a star! Thanks so much for that explanation! I'm definitely going to buy celery today!

[Sherri]

You're welcome