When it comes to celery juice, most people jump straight to the “yuck” factor because celery is one of those vegetables that isn’t particularly loved on its own. On the other hand, you may have also heard of the juicing trend that seems to be sweeping the nation. Celery has recently become extremely popular for its potential health benefits. Here’s what you need to know about celery juice and its health benefits.
What Are the Benefits of Drinking Celery Juice?
While eating celery raw, or even cooked, has benefits, some believe that juicing celery is the best way to take advantage of the nutrients, minerals, and other benefits that this vegetable offers. Potential benefits of celery juice include:
- Gut Restoration: Celery juice can help balance the protein and acid necessary for proper digestion and gut function.
- Lower Cholesterol: Celery contains a compound that has been shown to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL).
- Lowers Blood Pressure: Some studies have shown that celery juice can help lower blood pressure by relaxing smooth muscles and improving the flow of neurotransmitters in blood vessels.
- Natural Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant: A compound in celery juice called Polyacetylene has been shown to reduce chronic inflammation. Some say that celery also has natural relaxing properties. Antioxidants are great at fighting free radicals and prevent the formation of cancer cells.
- Good for the Liver: Various studies show that celery juice can be beneficial to liver function. In theory, the nutrients in celery help reduce fat buildup and help flush out toxins
- Improved Digestion: Celery, even juiced, contains some fiber, which can act as both a laxative and diuretic
- Helps Fight Infection: Some preliminary studies have shown that celery juice has some antimicrobial properties, which means that it can help fight infection and boost the immune system. Because celery juice is also a diuretic, it’s great to prevent UTI’s and kidney and bladder disorders.
- Alkalizing Properties: Celery is considered alkaline, which means that it has a greater pH than 7. To put it in perspective, our gut pH is less than 7, meaning that it’s slightly acidic. Meanwhile, our blood is slightly alkaline. Some research suggests that an alkaline diet is beneficial.
- Nutritious: Celery is rich in minerals and vitamins, including vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, vitamin B6, potassium, and vitamin K. Celery also contains luteolin, a mineral that helps prevent UV-induced damage.
- Protection Against Neurodegenerative Diseases: Certain compounds in celery, like luteolin, are thought to be protective against neurodegenerative diseases such as encephalopathy.
How Long Does Celery Last?
Now that you have learned about some of the potential health benefits of celery juice, and celery in general, you may want to stock up. However, keep in mind that raw celery lasts about 3-4 weeks. If you’re buying a lot, you may consider freezing whatever you won’t consume in that period of time.
Likewise, if you make too much celery juice, you’ll want to refrigerate leftover juice as soon as possible. Celery juice goes bad fast when not properly refrigerated.
Is It Safe to Drink Celery Juice Every Day?
In general, it is safe to drink celery juice every day as long as you are consuming it in reasonable quantities. Drinking a bit of celery juice mixed with other vegetable juices, or even by itself, once a day is fine, but drinking pure celery juice for breakfast lunch and dinner is not healthy.
It is recommended that you intake more than 32 oz of celery juice a day. Celery is high in sodium, which means that it’s problematic for anyone who is pursuing a low sodium diet. Too much celery can have unpleasant side effects, including:
- Increased Skin’s Sensitivity to Sunlight: There’s a compound in celery which, when highly concentrated, can cause the skin to become extra sensitive to sunlight
- Diarrhea and Bloating: Because celery is rich in fiber, too much celery can cause diarrhea. Meanwhile, the high salt content can lead to bloating.
- Malnutrition: If you’re living off celery juice, you’re not eating a balanced diet, which means that you’re missing out on essential nutrients.
Does Celery Juice Help You Lose Weight?
While celery is very healthy and good for you, it’s not a magical weight-loss tool. In order to achieve healthy, lasting weight loss, you need a healthy diet and exercise regimen. However, swapping celery juice for high sugar drinks like soda can definitely help.
Should I Go on a Celery Juice Cleanse?
While the celery juice diet has become somewhat of a fad, eating a balanced diet is key to staying healthy. In fact, what some claim is celery juice detox symptoms may actually be the result of eating a balanced diet that is high in fiber.
While a celery juice cleanses probably isn’t as magical as the fads claim, you can still enjoy celery, and celery juice for their health benefits. Just don’t go overboard.
How to Make Celery Juice
Making celery juice is easy. All you need is some celery and a juicer:
- Take two stalks of celery
- Cut off the top and base before rinsing the celery in water
- Feed the celery through the juicer
- Serve the juice right away and store the rest in your refrigerator
- Alternatively, you can add a quarter cup of water
For a bit of variety and flavor, you can certainly mix other vegetables such as carrots, or even fruit, into the juice. There are plenty of celery juice recipes online, including tips for making celery juice in a blender.
Takeaways
- Celery, whether cooked, juiced, or raw, has plenty of great health benefits.
- Some feel that juicing celery is the best way to optimize its benefits and nutrients.
- Always carefully wash all produce before consumption.
- As with many other things, too much celery can be a bad thing.