Does Celery Juice Live Up the Hype?

Celery juice received a lot of attention recently. Celebrities including Jenna Dewan, Kim Kardashian West, Nicole Richie and Kylie Jenner are all reporting on instagram that noticeable health benefits found in drinking celery juice in the morning on an empty stomach such as increased energy, weight loss and improved gut health. A search for #CeleryJuice on instagram returns over 94,000 posts and many social media users say that drinking celery juice has cured them of mental health problems and infertility. Others credit it with healing eczema, acne, and ease digestion. Does celery juice live up the hype?

credit: nutritionstripped.com

Celery is a crunchy vegetable that is related to parsley. It gives you fair amount of vitamins (vitamin C, A , K and Bs) and minerals for very little carbohydrate and calories. One medium stalk contains around 6 calories and 1.2 grams of carbohydrate. Half of the carbohydrate content in celery comes from fiber - celery stalks are rich in cellulose, a complex carbohydrate found in the cell wall of plants that is edible but indigestible in humans.

Celery is also high in magnesium and iron, which helps oxygenate the blood cells and able to replenish and replace fluid and minerals lost due to sweating and dehydrating, in return, helps to reduce bloating. It sounds great right, however, there is no scientific evidence to support the majority of health claims about drinking celery juice. Meanwhile, juicing celery strips away the beneficial fiber that helps you feel fuller longer, improve intestinal health and feeds the healthy bacteria in your gut.

Despite how loud the health benefits are, celery juice is not for everyone.

If you are allergic to birch pollen or mugwort, you are also likely to react to celery. Symptoms can include itching and rashes, swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, and throat, dizziness and stomach upset. A more severe reaction called anaphylactic shock is marked by lightheadedness, a drop in blood pressure, rapid pulse and difficulty breathing. Anaphylactic shock is a serious medical condition that can lead to coma and death.

Pregnant women should avoid large doses of celery and celery seed as it can induce bleeding and uterine contractions. Occasional consumption as part of a well-balanced diet is not an issue.

credit: goodhousekeeping.com

Celery is a common component of weight-loss diets, as it is low in calories and high in nutrients. If you enjoy the flavor of celery juice, have at it. Just do not jump on the social media bandwagon, hoping that celery juice will be the cure-all you've been searching for all your life. We also provide green juice at our Landmark shop, in case you need an energy boost you know where to look for!