Celery juice is having a moment in the wellness world. With celebrity endorsements from supermodel Miranda Kerr and actress Busy Philipps to the abundance of #celeryjuice posts on your Instagram feed, it seems that lots of people are replacing their morning smoothies with the green concoction. So, should you jump on the celery juice bandwagon, too? Here’s everything you need to know about exactly what it is, the benefits behind it, and how to try it for yourself.
Why celery juice?
Celery, in its vegetable form, is incredibly healthy, says dietitian Lisa De Fazio. It’s not only abundant in enzymes and antioxidants, but it’s also loaded with essential minerals and vitamins such as folate, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and vitamin K. Basically, a stalk of celery packs a nutritious punch. Another bonus? Celery juice is good at keeping you well-hydrated, as it’s mostly made up of water.
But some people aren’t crazy about the texture of the fibrous stalks, so they prefer to consume the veggie in liquid form, hence juicing. “Celery juice’s claim to recent fame is that it is said to be an amazing way to drink in a wealth of vitamins and nutrients,” explains nutritionist and health coach Karina Heinrich.
However, she points out juicing compromises some of celery’s nutritional value. “It’s important to remember that celery juice doesn’t contain the beneficial fibre you find in raw un-juiced celery,” Heinrich says.
The benefits of celery juice
From your heart to your liver, celery juice proponents claim that it can benefit your health in major ways. According to De Fazio, celery contains a phytochemical called phthalides, which relaxes the tissues of artery walls. This helps to increase blood flow and lower blood pressure. And because it also has hefty doses of magnesium, it can boost your energy and aid in muscle recovery after a tough workout.
Celery is also a shield for your kidneys and liver, thanks to its high vitamin C, B, A and iron content. Its diuretic properties help flush toxins from the body.
For the ultimate beauty boost, celery’s sodium, potassium, and water will give your skin a healthy glow. “All of them work to keep skin hydrated, which is important if you want to avoid dryness, flaking, wrinkles and breakouts,” she says.
However, there’s little research to support that celery juice has the same powerful health benefits as its raw whole form.
Are there celery juice side effects?
Celery juice may be healthy, but those taking certain medications-such as warfarin or other blood thinners-should speak to their doctor before drinking it, warns De Fazio.
“Celery contains natural elements including volatile oils, flavonoids, coumarins, and linoleic acid. The coumarins are the enzymes of concern for patients taking warfarin,” she explains, since it may increase your risk of bleeding. Additionally, she says that celery’s vitamin K content makes it a concern for people taking blood thinners because it’s the nutrient that helps your blood clot.
Heinrich warns it can also be dangerous for those with a rare celery allergy. “Celery juice has a high allergenic potential for some people, especially in high doses,” she says. “Unlike many other vegetables, celery juice can cause swelling of the tongue, lips and throat," Heinrich explains. Therefore, in juice form, a strong reaction can occur.
How to make celery juice
Celery juice recipe
Making celery juice at home is easy. You just need a juicer and two to three stalks of cleaned and leafless celery. Simply blend 2/3 cups of water with around 1 cup of chopped up celery to make 1 1/2 cups of celery juice. Be sure to rinse the celery stalks in water before you add it to your juicer, and throw the pulp into a compost or reimagine it into a vegetable broth.
“Remove any pulp after juicing and drink the juice fresh to reap the health benefits of celery’s nutrients and vitamins,” De Fazio suggests. To enhance the taste and balance out celery’s bitterness, De Fazio says you can add some freshly squeezed lemon juice or ginger.
If you don’t want to miss out on celery’s fibre boost, Heinrich recommends blending it into your favourite smoothie recipe, eating it raw in salads, or consuming it as a snack with some hummus. “I recommend blending the celery stalks with water to make a refreshing, filling, and very healthy drink,” Heinrich says. “It’s low in kilojoules and ideal for a weight-loss plan, especially if this juice is taking the place of a snack,” she says.
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