Being plant based, I know that every snack and meal has to count to get the proper balance of nutrients my family needs. We enjoy eating celery with almond butter on it sometimes for lunch or as a snack. I love the quick preparation of it. And, it’s a “whole food”. Not processed. Tastes good, too. My kids eat it while I am taxying them to practices and games. This gives them the energy they need to give their best athletic performance. Not to mention it is very filling and holds them over before dinner. Most people really don’t realize how much vitamins and minerals are in this powerhouse snack that is sometimes taken for granted. Let’s take a closer look at the nutrient content in this wholesome snack and read what it really does for your body. This will be fun!
Celery
Celery is primarily made up of water, therefore hydrating your body. Celery will give you a good amount of potassium, folate, vitamin K, vitamin C, molybdenum, vitamin B6, calcium, vitamin B1, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin B2, phosphorus, and iron. There is 344 mg. of potassium in a stalk of celery.
Almond Butter
Eating 1 tbsp of almond butter will give you 2 grams of protein. This nut will give you a good amount of calcium, iron, folate, zinc, niacin (vitamin B3), phosphorous, and magnesium. Let’s break these vitamins and minerals down from both of these whole foods and see what these nutrients do for our bodies.
The mineral, potassium, an electrolyte, helps your heart beat, supports the filtering of blood in the kidney and supports muscle movement. Vitamin K supports the body’s process of blood clotting. Vitamin C helps support your immune system and my favorite, it helps to support the protection of skin from wrinkling. Molybdenum helps to support the breakdown of proteins. Vitamin B 6 supports the proper growth of your brain, skin, nerves and more. Helps support and maintain the health of the body’s heart. Vitamin B 6 also helps support the immune system as well as lessening the symptoms of PMS. There are many benefits of Vitamin B1 (thiamine). I like that it helps improve athletic performance. And, it also helps your body fight stress. Vitamin A comes in two types. Retinoids come from animal products. The other type comes from plants. This is called Beta Carotene. This antioxidant supports eye health and immune system. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) helps support the health of your skin, hair and nails. Calcium strengthens your bones and supports your heart’s rhythm. Iron helps your body transport oxygen throughout. Therefore, your energy level increases. Without enough oxygen in your body, you’ll feel lethargic. Evidence shows that folate (folic acid/Vitamin B9) can help protect against some types of coronary diseases. Niacin (vitamin B3) has strong evidence that it lowers the chances of having a second heart attack if you have had one already. It helps lessen the hardening of the arteries. Calcium needs phosphorus to support bone strength. Phosphorus also supports the growth and repair of all cells and tissues. Magnesium helps support the health of muscles and nerves. It also supports bone growth.
A simple snack like this, as you can tell, is highly nutritious to maintaining a healthy body. Not to mention, it’s yummy!!!!!