Celery juice is a popular trend among health-conscious people. There are many benefits of drinking celery juice, but it can also be confusing to know where to start.
It’s been found to be helpful for weight loss, detoxification, and more! But what exactly is it? Is it safe? When should you drink it? Who can drink it? These are all important questions that I want to answer in this post.
In this article, I will answer some of the most common questions about celery juice and give you the information you need to decide whether or not it’s right for you!
Is it safe to drink celery juice every day?
If you’re active on social media, specifically Instagram, you’ve probably at some point crossed paths with an influencer’s post where they shared the magic of including celery juice into your daily diet. This would have been inevitable in 2019 when #celeryjuice took over the app.
The trend took off after a healer and New York Times bestselling author Anthony William, also known as the Medical Medium, shared some of his knowledge on the matter. Explaining that, fresh celery juice is one of the most powerful and healing juices a human can drink.
Despite William not being a licensed medical doctor, many people around the world listen to his every word. And as we’ve learned time and time again, you shouldn’t believe everything you read online. This begs the question, is drinking celery juice every single day safe for you?
The answer is simple. Yes. Drinking celery juice every day is safe, however, you’ve probably heard of the phrase “too much of a good thing can be a bad thing”. This phrase applies to this situation. If you’re planning on drinking celery juice every day, make sure to do so in small amounts. The recommended amount of daily consumption of celery juice is 16 oz (473 ml). You should only aim to drink more if recommended to you by your doctor.
Does celery juice help lose weight?
When it comes to the magic of consuming celery juice daily, one thing many have claimed it does is aid weight loss. Whether or not this is true, has remained a debate up until this very moment.
Anthony William, one of the many people who believe that celery juice can help individuals lose weight, has explained that drinking celery juice correctly can in fact have a significant effect on your weight loss journey. However, others who are a little more skeptical such as Bondi-based dietitian Marika Day believe that “Just like any quick fix, or miracle cure if it seems too good to be true, it likely is”.
So, who exactly is right here? Well, both are.
Consuming celery as a form of a drink, can help with losing weight but not on its own. Replacing high-calorie drinks with celery juice will help you to lower your daily calorie intake, however, you would still have to take part in other things. Such as: eating healthier and exercising.
This is because many of the benefits that come from celery are lost during the juicing process, therefore it may be best to consume the vegetable in its whole form for better results. In fact, Marika Day explained that consuming celery this way will also lower your chances of experiencing any negative side effects that you may come across when drinking celery in a form of a drink.
So, will celery juice help you to lose weight? Yes. Celery juice can help you to lose weight, but if you’re looking for more significant results it’s better to consume it in its original form. This is because celery is 96% water, therefore incredibly hydrating. Celery also contains some fermentable carbohydrates, which can have a beneficial impact on your gut. It’s also rich in fiber.
What are the benefits of consuming celery juice?
Consuming celery as a whole will provide you with countless health benefits. These include:
- Celery is a great source of important antioxidants. These antioxidants help to protect cells, blood vessels, and organs from any oxidative damage. In one single stalk, you should expect to find at least 15 different kinds of antioxidant nutrients. Including Vitamin C, Beta Carotene, and Flavonoids.
- Celery reduces the risk of inflammation. Celery and its seeds have approximately 25 anti-inflammatory compounds that offer protection again inflammation.
- Celery is rich in vitamins and minerals with a low glycaemic index. When you eat celery, you’ll be provided with vitamin A, vitamin K, potassium, and folate. Celery is also low in sodium when it’s in its original form. It’s also having a slow and steady effect on your blood sugar.
As we’ve already discussed, during the juicing process the celery is stripped away from some of its health benefits. However, this doesn’t mean that it no longer has any health benefits. Some of the health benefits you’ll find in celery juice, include:
- Celery juice will help to keep you hydrated. As we know, staying hydrated is crucial to our health. Now, eating celery in order to obtain its hydrating properties may be difficult to continuously do throughout the day. Drinking it may make things a lot easier.
- Celery juice will detox you. By consuming celery juice on a daily basis, you will be able to purify your bloodstream, prevent migraines, relax your nerves, reduce your blood pressure, and best of all, clear up your skin.
- Celery juice acts as a gentle and natural diuretic and laxative. Drinking celery juice will aid your digestion. If you’re feeling bloated or constipated, you’ll feel a lot better after drinking celery juice. This is because celery juice increases circulation in the intestines.
What are the side effects of celery juice?
So, if you’re still reading and still feel compelled to try to include celery juice into your daily diet, you should definitely know about the potential side effects that you may experience if you exceed the daily recommended amount. Which, as a reminder, is 16 oz.
- Sun sensitivity
Like many other vegetables and fruits, celery contains a chemical known as psoralen. This chemical can react badly to sunlight when consumed in high amounts. Leading to blisters and damaged skin patches due to sun exposure.
- Negative reaction to medication
If you’re currently taking any medication, seek advice from your doctor before including celery juice in your daily diet. This is because celery juice is high in vitamin K, a vitamin that plays a key role in blood clotting. You should also avoid drastic changes in your daily vitamin K intake.
- Increased hunger
If you’re turning to celery juice to help you in your weight loss journey, you may find that you’re constantly hungry. This is because celery is low in calories as it’s made up of 96% water. The fiber in this vegetable is also stripped away in the juicing process. Therefore, replacing fiber-rich foods with celery juice may be a bad idea in the long run.
- High blood pressure
Celery juice is high in sodium. The recommended amount of daily sodium intake is 2,300 mg. Drinking a large amount of celery juice per day will lead to an increase in your sodium intake causing high blood pressure, which may result in heart attacks and strokes. Consuming a large amount of celery juice is especially dangerous to those who are sensitive to salt.
When to drink celery juice?
For better results, there are specific ways and times you should drink celery juice.
You should aim to drink at least one cup of celery juice, per day. Consistency is key. As we’ve mentioned above you should aim to drink no more than 16 oz each day, however, if you’re suffering from a chronic illness or symptom, you can increase the amount to 24 to 32 oz (709 to 946 ml). Although, we advise you to seek professional medical advice before doing this.
The best time of the day to consume your celery juice is in the morning before you eat anything. For better results, drink celery juice on its own with no further ingredients. Remember that you should still eat breakfast after consuming your celery juice. Celery juice is a medical drink and not a caloric one. Before proceeding to eat, wait at least 15 minutes after drinking your celery juice.
If drinking before eating is a challenge for you, worry no more because you can also drink 15 to 30 minutes after eating your breakfast.
Remember that you don’t have to drink 16 oz in one go. If you prefer, you can drink your celery juice in small amounts throughout the day.
How to make celery juice?
To make a basic celery juice, you will need a juicer. First, remove the outer strings and then cut off the bottom of your celery sticks. Next, place them into the juicer one at a time until you fill up 16 oz (473 ml).
Add a little bit of water to the mixture for a more diluted flavor.
To play with the taste, you can mix it with different vegetables like carrot, apple, or lemon.
For a bunch of celery, you will get around 1 cup of juice and you can drink it fresh, or store it in the fridge for up to 72 hours.
Conclusion
To ensure your success in increasing the health benefits of drinking celery juice on a regular basis, be sure to follow these guidelines:
- Drink fresh-pressed or bottled juice within 24 hours
- Store it below 32 degrees Fahrenheit
- Keep it out of direct sunlight for long periods of time (or use glass bottles)
I hope that this blog post has answered any questions you have about celery juice, but if not, let me know and I’ll get back to you with an answer!
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