Anyone who has been on Instagram lately has most likely seen celery juice in the feed, or the #celeryjuice hashtag. Perhaps you have seen celery juice recipes on Pinterest or other infographics detailing the “4 Amazing Benefits of Celery Juice,” or some click bait title of the like. Celery juice has gained recent popularity because of claims saying that it helps to relieve chronic pain, improve digestion, or help out those with asthma, adrenal fatigue, sinusitis, and more. All of this sounds amazing, but should you try drinking celery juice?
First and foremost, let it be understood that you can also eat raw celery to obtain its benefits. It is completely safe to eat multiple stalks a day and drinking celery juice isn’t going to harm the body, unless of course you have a celery allergy. What you should be aware of, should you plan on consuming celery juice, is that it is necessary to consume adequate fiber by including whole, plant-based foods in your diet.
Does Celery Have Health Benefits?
The short answer is, “Yes, it does.” Is it the cure-all ingredient that it is been hyped up to be? Not entirely. There is research-backed evidence supporting that the phytochemicals in celery work to decrease inflammation, fight oxidative stress, and reduce blood pressure. More research, however, needs to be conducted on whether or not celery can fight infections and viruses like the Epstein-Barr virus. Claims that celery cures viruses like that are anecdotal and based on personal experiences. Raw celery is extremely rich in fiber, fluids, and the following nutrients:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Folate
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Electrolytes
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Phosphorus
- Flavonoids
- Phytochemicals
Should You Join The Celery Juice Trend?
We said it earlier and we’ll say it again: there is nothing wrong with drinking celery juice if you enjoy it. Celery’s nutritional properties are not specific to its juice, though. You can absorb the same benefits by chomping on celery stalks. We actually prefer eating celery with other vegetables because you obtain fiber, which is necessary for energy, weight maintenance, and blood sugar balance, from eating the whole vegetables. If you are cleansing, you’ll find that celery stalks make wonderful snacks, especially when you dip them in raw almond butter.
Is There Any Science-backed Research On Celery’s Health Benefits?
The antioxidant properties in celery have been known to aid in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, urinary tract obstruction, gout, rheumatic disorders, and liver disease. Recent experimental studies have shown that celery contains antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, all of which may help remedy skin conditions like psoriasis, or respiratory diseases like bronchitis.
The Bottom Line
Eat celery because it’s good for you, but don’t think that it will cure every disease on the face of the earth.
