Many people, especially athletes, reach for Gatorade or a similar sports drink to replace electrolytes in their bodies. But did you know that since celery is so rich in vitamins and minerals, you can eat celery or add it to a smoothie or even juice it instead and it will work just as well as these not-so-good-for-you drinks? Celery is an amazing source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, E, and K. Since celery also has a healthy amount of vital minerals such as magnesium, potassium, folate, manganese, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, and sodium, it’s a great choice for adding to salads, smoothies, juices, and more. Celery also has many amino acids, including all 9 essential amino acids and it has been known to help lower blood pressure. Carrots were the go-to vegetable to be used as the base for juices, but since celery is so detoxifying and has been known to have a calming effect on our nervous system, celery is being used more and more. (Also, when carrots are juiced, they have a high glycemic index, which is not ideal for many people.) With all of these vitamins and minerals, it’s no wonder why more people are making sure to eat this delicious, crunchy, vegetable – and you should, too!
Other Ways to Enjoy Celery
In addition to adding celery to salads, smoothies, and juices, you can also try making this childhood favorite: celery filled with peanut butter! You can add any nut butter you want (even a homemade one if you want to get extra fancy :)) and enjoy! I also like to chop up vegetables and dip them in hummus, so maybe you can try that as well. The great thing about celery is that you can do so many things with it.
I always encourage my clients to try new things: eat healthy foods they’ve never had before, make a new recipe, join a fun exercise class, take a dance break in the middle of the day, and much more; perhaps adding celery to your diet can be a new thing for you to try. If you can, purchase organic celery, because this is one of the items that’s on the dirty dozen list.
Toss those sports drinks and reach for celery instead!
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