Is CELERY JUICE REALLY GOOD FOR HEALTH?
Celery juice is rich in nutrients and drinking it can provide many health benefits.
In fact, it can cure diseases like cancer, obesity, thyroid problems, and acne.
This article tells you all you need to know about celery juice, including its nutrients, benefits, and downsides.
Celery juice nutrients
Just 1 cup (240 mL) of celery juice provides:
- Calories: 42.5
- Protein: 2 grams
- Starch: 9.5 grams
- Sugar: 5 grams
- Calcium: 8% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Magnesium: 7% DV
- Phosphorus: 5% DV
- Potassium: 14% DV
- Sodium: 9% DV
- Vitamin A: 7% DV
- Vitamin C: 16% DV
- Vitamin K: 74% DV
It is also rich in many other nutrients, such as zinc, copper, folate, biotin, B vitamins and many antioxidants.
Health benefits of celery juice
Celery juice may offer a number of benefits when consumed as part of a healthy diet.
Moisturizing
Celery juice consists mainly of water and can help you stay hydrated.
Staying hydrated is very important for your body, but many people don't drink enough water every day.
Proper water intake helps control blood pressure, body temperature, brain function, nutrient delivery, waste excretion, and kidney health.
Less sugar
Celery juice is a healthier alternative to sugary drinks.
One cup (240 mL) provides only 5 grams of natural sugar.
Meanwhile, sugary drinks like soda, energy drinks and specialty coffees account for up to 50% of added sugars in the diet.
Depending on how much you drink, these drinks can easily add an extra 500 calories to your daily intake.
Choosing low-sugar beverages like celery juice can cut down on sugar and overall calories.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Celery juice contains many plant compounds called phytonutrients, which can reduce inflammation.
These compounds act as antioxidants and help reduce oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when unstable molecules called free radicals build up in the body.
Diets rich in antioxidants are associated with lower rates of chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and some cancers.
Can celery juice help the gut?
Celery juice can affect the gut in several ways.
Contains beneficial plant compounds
Celery juice contains luteolin and pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), two plant compounds that are thought to reduce inflammation in your gut.
Luteolin is also found in many fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, peppers, and spinach.
A 12-week study in rats fed a high-fat diet found that the mice had healthier guts when given fermented celery juice. Because, fermented celery juice is different from fresh juice because it is fortified with beneficial bacteria for the gut.
Defect
While celery juice can be nutritious, it also has some downsides.
Contains sodium
One cup (240 mL) of celery juice contains about 215 mg of sodium (1).
Most healthy adults should limit their daily sodium intake to no more than 2,300 mg. And a glass or two of celery juice may contain more than the recommended amount of sodium.
In particular, people on a salt-restricted diet should limit their intake of celery juice.
Low fiber
Most celery juice is filtered to remove the fiber.
While juicing can produce more vitamins per cup (240 mL), fiber is a healthy nutrient that keeps you full for longer.
Without it, your body will digest the juice quickly, which can make you feel hungry soon after drinking it.
Replacing a nutritious, low-fiber breakfast with celery juice can leave you hungry and make you eat more later in the day.
Additionally, fiber has been linked to many health benefits, such as weight maintenance, gut health, and lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
If you want to increase your fiber intake, you can also opt for fresh celery.
Who should drink celery juice?
Celery juice can be a great refreshing drink as part of a healthy diet.
Enjoy it with a balanced meal or as part of a snack if you prefer.
People with digestive issues like IBS or other conditions need to stay away from celery juice as it contains a starch that ferments in the gut and can cause digestive upset, bloating and discomfort.
Also, people with heart disease or high blood pressure should keep its sodium content in mind, especially if they are following a low-sodium diet.
People who are pregnant, especially those in the early stages of pregnancy, should avoid celery juice because this drink can cause uterine contractions leading to miscarriage.
Finally, people taking certain medications should avoid celery juice. These medications include tranquilizers, medications to treat thyroid function, and drugs to control bleeding, clotting, or blood pressure:
- levothyroxine (Synthetic)
- lithium
- clonazepam (Klonopin)
- furosemide (Lasix)
- Warfarin (Coumadin)
- aspirin
- clopidogrel (Plavix)
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve)
- amlodipine (Norvasc)
How to make celery juice
If you want to add celery juice to your diet then don't worry as it is very simple to make at home.
Using a juicer is the easiest way to do it. Just wash 3-4 celery stalks and put them through the juicer. If you like, you can enjoy with ice cubes.
If you don't have a juicer, cut 3–4 washed celery stalks and blend until smooth. Place a sieve or mesh cloth over a wide rimmed jar, pour liquid into the sieve and press down to get all the juice out. You can also retain some of the fiber in the drink.
For a bit of flavor, try adding green apple, fresh ginger, cucumber, fresh mint, or lime juice.
You can also buy celery juice from many grocery stores. Try to avoid those with added sugar or flavoring.
It's best to drink this juice with a meal full of fiber, healthy fats, and protein to keep you feeling full and nourished.
