📚 BRAIN EFFECTS:⁣⁣⁣⁣
There are a few different pathways to understand how Celery acts as an antidepressant. Firstly, Celery contains a hormone known as Androsterone, which has been shown to be a potent GABA-A agonist (Helms & Grant, 2011). GABA is highly linked with reduced anxiety, calmness and relaxation. The GABA agonism isn’t the only area it works through though. Androsterone was shown to significantly up regulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (Sun & Alkon, 2006). ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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💥HORMONAL EFFECTS:⁣⁣⁣⁣
Androsterone, DHT, and 5-alpha androstanedione are the three major aromatase inhibitors, however, Androsterone has shown to be the strongest at blocking the conversion of Testosterone to Estrogen (Killinger et al., 1987). Most guys are bombarded with excess Estrogen, so this would be a great food to incorporate as part of an Estrogen detoxifying protocol. Reduced Estrogen in men can translate to more defined muscle, less water retention, increased vascularity, tighter skin and waist. Estrogen is highly concentrated in the midsection (love handles/beer belly) so if you are looking to drop fat, Estrogen optimisation should be at the forefront of your goals. In addition, Androsterone can also act as a “backdoor” pathway into DHT, the most potent of all male hormones, which gives a man confidence and sex-drive (Henderson et al., 2003). ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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🔴 INCREASED METABOLIC RATE:⁣⁣⁣⁣
Androsterone actually works just like thyroid does (thyroid mimetic) by increasing oxygen consumption and basal temperatures. This was demonstrated when patients were administered T4 (thyroid), there cholesterol values dropped while downstream steroids and hormones increased (COHEN, HIGANO, ROBINSON, & LE BEAU, 1961).⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣