Celery juice started trending in 2019, and at one point, more people were Googling celery juice than the Mediterranean diet. Anthony Williams, aka "The Medical Medium," calls himself the originator of the celery juice movement. And he may well be, but his "credentials" are that he can talk to spirits—not that he went to medical school or studied nutrition—and he recommends drinking pure celery juice on an empty stomach. He claims it's a miracle juice that can heal chronic illnesses and improve digestion.
Here, we myth-bust the celery juice claims and tell you what you really need to know about celery juice.
I Drank Celery Juice Every Day for a Week, and Here's What Happened
Celery Juice Nutrition
Celery is an often-overlooked crunchy vegetable that happens to be delicious topped with peanut butter. And since it's a vegetable, yes, celery is good for you.
According to the USDA, 1 cup of chopped celery has:
Calories: 14
Total Carbohydrates: 3 g
Dietary Fiber: 2 g
Added Sugars: 0 g
Protein: 1 g
Total Fat: 0 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Sodium: 80 mg
Vitamin K: 30 mcg
Celery is very low in calories and doesn't have a mega amount of any one nutrient—although you will get a nice nutritional bump in fiber and vitamin K. And like all vegetables, celery does have health-promoting antioxidants. According to a 2019 review in Phytotherapy Research, celery has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Research also suggests that celery may lower blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Juicing vs. Eating Celery
One cup of celery juice made with half a bunch of medium stalks (4 to 5) will be higher in nutrients than 1 cup of chopped celery since more celery is used to make the juice—although some vitamins, like vitamin C, may diminish a little with heat and oxygen exposure from blending or being put through a juicer. 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 enough of.
Also, for the most part, eating your calories is more satisfying than drinking them. And while some people hype celery juice for being hydrating and "mostly water," the best hydrating drink is water. It's 100% water and very hydrating. Plus it's free and doesn't take any time to make.
Celery Juice Side Effects
Rachele Pojednic, Ph.D., assistant professor and program director of exercise science at Norwich University and a research associate at the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at Harvard Medical School, said it best with this Instagram post debunking the myths, "IT'S JUST JUICE."
And while Pojednic and other scientists acknowledge that celery has beneficial compounds, we don't know what the optimal dose is for humans. As Pojednic explains, "When you juice a ton of celery, it concentrates all of these chemicals. While that might sound great in theory, we don't know what an optimal dose of these concentrated phytochemicals is because studies haven't been done in humans (almost all studies are in cells and rats). And we know there are toxicants in celery—furanocoumarins and psoralens—which can cause skin issues and may result in liver damage from breakdown intermediates during metabolism (mechanism unknown). Yep, even celery can be too much of a good thing."
Celery juice may also interact with certain medications like blood thinners because of its vitamin K content, so talk to your doctor if you are going to start drinking celery juice regularly.
Celery underwent FDA testing, according to the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) evaluation. The EWG produces the Dirty Dozen list, which highlights the produce most contaminated with pesticide residue. Though celery was not included on the Dirty Dozen list, EWG experts advise opting for organic produce whenever feasible to lower pesticide exposure. Regardless of your choice, ensure thorough washing of celery to minimize contaminants.
The 2024 Dirty Dozen: 12 Foods You Should Buy Organic, According to the Environmental Working Group
What About Those Celery Juice Testimonials?
While there are lots of testimonials regarding celery juice out there—many from celebrities—it's unknown what other lifestyle and dietary changes they might have made. In other words, it's impossible to know if it was strictly the celery juice that was creating the changes they're claiming or if it was a combination of that along with other lifestyle factors.
And then there's the placebo effect. If people have bought into celery juice as being a miracle cure-all drink, they are much more likely to report feeling benefits, per the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).
We wonder—if people just started their day with 2 cups of plain water before they ate breakfast, would they see similar results?
The Bottom Line
Like any other food, celery juice isn't a miracle cure-all drink—so be wary of "gurus" who tell you otherwise. If you want to add celery juice to your diet, limit it to about a cup a day. Either way, drink plenty of water throughout the day. If you're looking for a quick and easy antioxidant-loaded drink, add tea to your beverage lineup. And eat more whole foods—fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy proteins and fats—for a well-rounded diet that will give you all the nutrients you need for good health.
Celery juice is low in sugar and contains potassium and vitamins A, C, and K. This popular drink may reduce inflammation and boost hydration, among other benefits. However, you shouldn't use celery juice to detox
detox
Detox diets are generally short-term dietary interventions designed to eliminate toxins from your body. A typical detox diet involves a period of fasting, followed by a strict diet of fruit, vegetables, fruit juices, and water. Sometimes a detox also includes herbs, teas, supplements, and colon cleanses or enemas.
A recent study found that several compounds in celery leaves and seeds act as powerful antioxidants in the body. These compounds include caffeic acid, ferric acid, tannin, and saponin. Enjoying celery, either raw or as a juice, can help you get enough of these compounds and lower your chances of cancer.
Bohlman says when it comes to wellness fads to proceed with caution. If it seems too good to be true — it probably is. “The fact that Anthony William states he has no medical training is a red flag. I believe in evidence-based recommendations, and celery juicing is not one of them right now.”
“Consuming celery first thing in the morning helps to detoxify the body. Since it contains a lot of fibre, it promotes weight loss and consuming it in the morning can quicken that process.” She also adds that celery is made up of 95 per cent water, which makes it an incredibly hydrating vegetable to consume.
You will also want to avoid mixing anything into your celery juice. Anthony William, also known as the Medical Medium, claims mixing it with anything—like lemon juice, collagen or apple cider vinegar—will take away from its health benefits.
Celery juice is low in sugar and contains potassium and vitamins A, C, and K. This popular drink may reduce inflammation and boost hydration, among other benefits. However, you shouldn't use celery juice to detox your body, as cleanses put you at risk of dangerous calorie restriction and nutrient deficiencies.
Celery juice may also interact with certain medications like blood thinners because of its vitamin K content, so talk to your doctor if you are going to start drinking celery juice regularly. You should also avoid drinking celery juice if you have an allergy or intolerance to celery.
“Juicing celery will mechanically break down its insoluble fiber, which is helpful in digestion, bowel regularity and sweeping our digestive tract as well as feeding the good bacteria in our gut,” says Richard.
On the flip side, a patient with constipation might see relief from drinking celery juice because of its laxative properties – leading to symptom relief! So some people may in fact feel less bunged up with celery juice (though there are other ways to go about it, too).
The renal system , liver , and digestive system support the body's complex detoxification processes. While staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet can keep the body's organs functioning properly, detox drinks and celery juice will not flush the body of toxins.
A lot of people drink celery juice to reduce belly fat, but there is a lack of scientific evidence to support this application. Of course, celery juice is low in calories, fats, and sugars, and it has many beneficial nutrients.
Those who follow this trend drink 16 ounces (475 ml) of the juice on an empty stomach every morning. To make your own, you can juice celery stalks — or blend them and strain out the plant fiber. One large bunch of celery, or about 9 stalks, makes 16 ounces (475 ml) of juice.
Consuming celery regularly can reduce asthma symptoms. Vitamin C present in celery prevents free radicals from damaging any organs and lessens the severity of conditions such as asthma. Celery eases menstrual discomfort to some extent. Celery can ease bloating during menstruation due to its high water content.
Celery juice can cause digestive discomfort in some individuals, leading to symptoms such as bloating, gas, or diarrhea. According to this study, published in Clinical and Experimental gastroenterology, the starch present in celery can ferment the gut and this can lead to bloating or discomfort.
Using celery in medicinal amounts with medications that slow clotting may increase the risk of bleeding. Some of these drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), dipyridamole (Persantine), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
While eating celery stalks is healthy and delicious in a salad, it is not the same as drinking pure cold pressed celery juice. 16 oz of juice is about one whole stalk, you aren't going to eat a whole stalk of celery, but you can get the nutrient density of a whole stalk with a glass of celery juice!
“Juicing celery will mechanically break down its insoluble fiber, which is helpful in digestion, bowel regularity and sweeping our digestive tract as well as feeding the good bacteria in our gut,” says Richard.
How long does it take to feel the benefits of drinking celery juice? It depends on what condition the person is in. Almost everyone feels benefits of some kind in their first week of drinking celery juice in the right amount and in the right way daily. Many people even feel benefits after their first juice.
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Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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