What is celery seed extract good for?
While we are all familiar enough with the celery stalk as a nourishing and refreshing vegetable, the celery seeds themselves are less prominent in our cuisine, despite them being densely packed with nutrients.
Interestingly, they are technically not actual "seeds", but rather the fruit of the celery plant itself, although for all intents and purposes, and to reduce any confusion, calling them seeds is perfectly acceptable. They are slightly bitter in taste and have a distinct earthy aroma, and have been used in traditional medicine for millennia.
Nutritional value of celery seeds
In fact, they are a very generous source of iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese, calcium and phosphorous, all of which are essential minerals for human health.
Their aforementioned mineral content essentially makes them a sort of natural multivitamin, and the health benefits of celery seeds can directly be attributed to the same benefits we would otherwise obtain from the minerals themselves. For example, calcium, manganese and phosphorous all contribute towards building and maintaining healthy bone structure, while iron is essential for the production of red blood cells.
Antioxidant & anti-inflammatory properties
In addition to its mineral content, a growing body of research seeks to study celery seed extract's potential antioxidant properties, in particular through their polyphenol content, so we can expect more insight into the potential anti-inflammatory, and perhaps even anticancer effects of these valuable seeds.
When should I take celery seed extract?
Celery seed extract is best taken with a meal in order to maximize absorption and reduce the potential for any unwanted gastrointestinal discomfort.
In addition to that, certain chemicals in the seeds could be conductive to lowering blood sugar and blood pressure levels, leading to higher quality sleep, so taking celery seed extract with your evening meal, or the last snack of the day, should be ideal.
If possible, take celery seed extract with a meal that contains dietary fat, in order to take advantage of the seeds' vitamin E content, which is fat-soluble.
What should I avoid taking celery seed extract with?
Avoid with blood thinners or diuretics
Celery seed extract could potentially interact with blood-thinning medications, as well as diuretics, so it is advisable to take these separately from any celery seed extract supplements.
Celery Seed Extract data sources & further reading
Last updated by Asklepios on 30th January, 2025