"Worthless" Foods That Are Actually Good For You (Page 6)

5. Celery

No one’s been able to prove the myth that celery has fewer calories than are burned eating it, though it boasts just 16 calories per 1-cup serving. It also delivers a great dose of bone-building vitamin K (47% of the DV in just 2 stalks!). Not only that, celery contains luteolin, a flavonoid believed to reduce inflammation that can lead to cognitive decline. In a study published in the October 2010 issue of The Journal of Nutrition, mice that ate a diet that included luteolin had better spatial memory (e.g., how quickly they found a platform in a water maze) and less inflammation than mice who didn’t get any luteolin, reported Cheryl Forberg, R.D., in EatingWell Magazine. Celery is one of the top offenders on the so-called “Dirty Dozen”—the Environmental Working Group’s list of the produce that has the most pesticide residue—so if you’re concerned, buy organic.

Next: 6. Radishes »