Is Celery Juice Worth the Hype?

Celery juice is not new to the fitness and nutrition world. It’s a long-debated diet food “trend,” with some people praising its immune-boosting benefits and others saying it’s nothing but green goop. So, what’s the deal?

The Good

Most people look to Anthony William, or the Medical Medium, for starting the obsession with grinding celery down into pulp. He promotes celery juice as a healing juice that will restore natural stomach acid production, improve digestion, reduce inflammation and other detoxing.

There’s no denying that celery is a healthy food. Its phytochemical content is high and it boasts a wide variety of antioxidants, which prevent cellular damage and boost the immune system. It’s calorically low, full of water, and full of minerals and vitamins such as folate, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin K and potassium.

The Not-so-Good

However, one of the best nutritional aspects of celery is lost when juicing: Fiber. If you’re looking to keep some of that fiber for a healthy digestion, think about only slightly blending celery rather than juicing it.

Celery juice also shouldn’t be known as a detox or cure-all drink in any way shape or form. The human body is already built with its own natural detoxification system, which is the liver. Ta-da! Aren’t we lucky? So, we don’t need celery juice to do that.

According to a study by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, there is no compelling research to support the use of detox diets for weight loss or detoxification. While the study shows that cleanses such as celery juice might lead to initial weight loss because of the low calorie count, there are no studies on long-term detoxification diets.

The Truth

Should you drink celery juice? If you enjoy the taste, sure. Go for it. Any kind of vegetable, especially one like celery, in the morning is great. But should you be downing cup after cup because you believe it will be a cure-all for every ailment you have? No.

Experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine recommend celery juice only if you include it as part of a well-balanced, whole diet. It’s not a magical elixir, but it can be a perfect way to start the day off right.

In case you want to try it for yourself, we have a recipe below! Note: This recipe is suggested more as a smoothie than a strained juice. For a concentrated, pure celery juice, we recommend using only celery, water and a juicer.

Celery Juice

Ingredients

• 1 large bunch of celery (4-5 stalks)
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• 1/2 cup of cold water
• 1 cup spinach

Directions

In a juicer (or blender for thicker, choppier texture and more fiber) blend all ingredients. Not recommended to store and save longer than an hour, as ingredients may separate.