Celery: More Than Worth Its Salt

Some cannot tolerate celery’s stringiness. Just something about that texture makes them uncomfortable. Other people like it, referring to the strings as “Nature’s floss.” Crunchy and juicy, salty yet sweet, celery is an enigma in the vegetable kingdom. Celery’s root is considered a delicacy, yet the leaves are toxic and bitter. Its “half-pipe” rib shape makes it perfect for dipping into spreads or filling with treats.

Celery seems to go well with everything. People enjoy eating celery with nut or seed pâté as much as they enjoy it with berries, dates, blended with bananas, in salad, or as crudités. Celery boasts one of the lowest “calorie to bite” ratios of all foods, yet it is extremely satiating and nourishing. Celery travels exceptionally well. It stays fresh through an extended range of temperatures, withstands pressure changes admirably, and “lasts” quite nicely, even without refrigeration. Celery is more than just hardy, it’s almost supernatural. If the base of a celery “bunch” is put in water, not only will the celery stay fresh for weeks, it will actually resume growing.

But celery has a lot more than just good looks going for it. Nutritionally, it is a powerhouse, rich in alkaline minerals. It is refreshingly juicy, yet exceptionally low in calories. Among terrestrial plants, celery is considered one of the best sources of sodium. It is high in fiber, rich in phytonutrients, and contains antioxidants and vitamins galore.

Celery is exceptionally rehydrating, being high in both water and electrolytes. Thus, it is a wonderful food for those who are physically active. It supplies 18 different amino acids, including all eight of the essential amino acids, making it an exceptional source of complete protein. Though the outermost ribs of celery can be tough and even woody, the inner ribs are exceptionally soft, tender, and very easily chewed.

Celery is truly a food worthy of much praise. In a world where green foods are touted as some of the most nutritious on the planet, celery scores extremely high marks. Be sure to include this versatile vegetable in many of your soup, salad, and dressing recipes.

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About Dr. Doug Graham

Dr. Douglas Graham, a lifetime athlete and raw fooder since 1978, is an advisor to world-class and motivated athletes and trainers from around the globe. He has worked professionally with top performers from almost every sport and every field of entertainment, including such notables as tennis legend Martina Navratilova, NBA pro basketball players Ronnie Grandison and Michael Porter Jr., track Olympic sprinter Doug Dickinson, pro women's soccer player Callie Withers, championship bodybuilder Kenneth G. Williams, Chicken Soup for the Soul coauthor Mark Victor Hansen, and actress Demi Moore. As owner of a fasting retreat in the Florida Keys for ten years, Dr. Graham personally supervised thousands of fasts. He was in private practice as a chiropractor for twenty years, before retiring to focus on his writing and speaking. Dr. Graham is the author of many books on health and raw food including The 80/10/10 Diet, The High Energy Diet Recipe Guide, Nutrition and Athletic Performance, Grain Damage, Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries, and his latest, Perpetual Health 365. He has shared his strategies for success with audiences at more than 4,000 presentations worldwide. Recognized as one of the fathers of the modern raw movement, Dr. Graham is the only lecturer to have attended and given keynote presentations at all of the major raw events in the world for each of the last eight years. Dr. Graham has served on the board of governors of the International Association of Professional Natural Hygienists and the board of directors of the American Natural Hygiene Society. He is on the board of advisors of Voice for a Viable Future, Living Light Films, Vegetarian Union of North America, and EarthSave International and serves as nutrition advisor for the magazine Exercise, For Men Only. Dr. Graham is the raw foods and fitness advisor for The801010Forum.com. He taught the Health Educator program at Hippocrates Institute, served as the "source authority" for Harmonious Living, and authors a column for the magazines Get Fresh! and Vibrance (previously known as Living Nutrition). Dr. Graham is the creator of "Simply Delicious" cuisine and director of Health and Fitness Week, which provides Olympic-class training and nutrition for people of all fitness levels in beautiful settings around the world. He will inspire, motivate, educate, and entertain you like no one else in the health movement can.