IS CELERY JUICE REALLY GOOD FOR YOU?

April 12, 2022

Have you heard of drinking celery juice in the morning as a way to cleanse your body, hydrate, and work on being more alkaline?

Celery has been shown to contain a variety of vitamins, minerals and trace elements such as: vitamin K, C, B vitamins, beta-carotene, which convert into vitamin A, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.  So, it is safe to say celery juice is a great option for a morning multivitamin drink, but can celery juice treat or prevent a variety of health conditions? 

Potential health benefits of celery 

1. Hydrating- Celery juice consists mostly of water and may help you stay hydrated. Staying hydrated is vital for your overall health and wellbeing, but many people don’t get enough water per day. Proper hydration helps manage blood pressure, body temperature, brain function, nutrient absorption, and waste excretion.
2. Low in sugar- Celery juice is a healthier option to sugary drinks. Choosing low sugar beverages like celery juice may cut down your overall calorie intake as well as improve gut health and digestion. 
3. Anti-inflammatory properties- Celery juice is high in plant compounds, which may reduce inflammation. These compounds act as antioxidants and help reduce oxidative stress. Antioxidant-rich diets are linked to lower heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers.  
4. Gut healthy- Celery juice has great potential as a probiotic drink. Packed with plant compounds believed to improve gut health, celery juice helps raise stomach acid, which is necessary to break down food (especially protein to keep your bowels moving regularly). On the flip side, it also provides fermentable starches that may cause stomach bloating in those with IBS and sensitive digestive systems. 
5. Nutrient dense - Celery juice is full of nutrients such as calcium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin K and more. One of the great things about juicing in general is that without the fiber, your body is able to absorb nutrients without working hard to digest food. That being said, fiber is a really important component of your diet, so make sure to balance out your juicing with high fiber whole foods. 

 

Possible downsides 

• Celery juice lacks fiber. One cup of celery juice made with half a bunch of medium stalks will be higher in nutrients than 1 cup of chopped celery, since more celery is made to make the juice. The juice, however, won't deliver the same amount of fiber - since that will be left in the pulp - and fiber is a key nutrient that most of us don’t get. For the most part, eating your calories is more satisfying than drinking them. Of course, a juice cleanse is always recommended by us at Just Add Water® (we love a good juice cleanse) but as far as replacing celery whole with celery juice all the time, we say to eat and enjoy the punch of fiber! 
• Celery juice is not a meal replacement. Celery juice is by no means a meal replacement as it lacks a good balance of essential macronutrients and micronutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, for us to function optimally. We recommend adding celery juice to your green smoothie meal replacements for added nutrients and a more satisfying snack. What’s more, you can supplement your smoothie with protein sources like yogurt or Just Add Water®, as well as fat sources like nut butter or avocado for an additional health boost meal replacement. 
• High sodium content - The main downside to drinking a lot of celery juice is that you are consuming a lot of sodium. One 16oz glass of celery juice contains about 430mg of sodium. The USDA recommends that we consume no more than 2,300mg of sodium per day, so if you’re eating a lot of sodium elsewhere, you will want to be cautious with celery juice.  A diet that is high in sodium can lead to cardiovascular problems. 
• Its miraculous benefits are not proven. There is no science that backs up some of the claims that celery juice cures disease. 

 

How should I prepare celery juice? 

Placing a few stalks of organic celery through your juicer at home is the most natural way to consume celery juice! If you don’t have a juicer, you can always use a blender and pour the result through a strainer to extract the juice. If you prefer to purchase your celery juice pre-made instead, make sure to look for a raw, organic, cold-pressed celery juice.

So should I be drinking celery juice or not?  

Celery does a lot more than just satisfy your munchies. As mentioned earlier, this veggie is a nutrition powerhouse. Celery juice does have health benefits, such as clearing up skin and aiding in weight loss. Switch your sugary soda or drink with celery juice to really get those benefits! Additionally, drinking low calorie beverages like celery juice before your meal may promote fullness and help you eat fewer overall calories.

Although celery juice is a healthy, low calorie beverage, the key to long-term weight loss does not lie with a single food, instead combining exercise with a nutrient rich diet based on whole foods and plants. If you don’t have high blood pressure or eat a diet that is really high in sodium, you are probably okay drinking a celery juice every day. We recommend drinking a large glass of cold-pressed vegetable juice every day, but for best results in overall health and wellness switch up the vegetables for maximum nutrient absorption. 

 

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