Celery Juice: Why and How to Drink It
All over social media people have been raving about celery juice. Is it really a magical healing potion or is it just another health fad that will come and go?
Since first hearing about this miracle drink a few weeks ago, I decided to do a little research of my own. With all the testimonials, articles and even celebrities swearing by it, I was definitely interested to learn more.
To be completely honest, it was going to take a lot for me to drink liquid celery. I don’t mind having a celery stick here or there dipped in hummus or blue cheese dressing. But plain, raw celery is not on my list of favorite foods.
On top of that, I’ve never been able to drink green juices. I love eating vegetables, but the thought of drinking kale or spinach has always grossed me out. I know I’ve probably been missing out on tons of nutrients and health benefits, but I just haven’t been able to get past the visual.
However, with all that I was learning, I decided I had to give celery juice a chance!
What really caught my attention was the incredible impact it was having on chronic skin conditions like eczema and acne.
I’ve struggled with both of these for some time and I’ve found that common medical approaches DON’T WORK. Topical creams and antibiotics are just band aids that covers up the root cause, but don’t actually address the issue. It’s a temporary fix, but not a way to heal. Skin issues like eczema, acne, and psoriasis are a sign of a deeper problem going on within.
Based on what I was reading, celery juice was healing acne and eczema sufferers from the inside out. That, along with the many other reported health benefits prompted me to join #teamceleryjuice and try it for myself.
Why Drink Celery Juice?
The source of this celery juice craze is Anthony William, author of New York Times-bestselling Medical Medium series. He writes about the natural healing power of fruits and vegetables and their ability to cure almost any illness. I’m in the middle of reading his newest book, The Liver Rescue and it’s been extremely eye opening. It’s a fascinating approach to health and natural healing. I highly recommend it!
According to William, incorporating celery juice into your diet can have life changing effects on your health. We all know that celery is good for us, but I wasn’t aware of just how many vitamins, minerals, and nutrients celery contains.
It’s very high in antioxidants and has antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. A great source of vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, folate, manganese, calcium, riboflavin, magnesium, and vitamin B6. It also has a high percentage of water and electrolytes that keep you hydrated and flushes the system.
Surprisingly, celery is high in sodium due to its mineral salts. These special salts have been shown to starve out bacteria, potentially killing viruses in the body.
Benefits of Celery Juice
There seems to be some controversy over the true benefits of celery juice and whether or not claims are scientifically supported. But studies have shown that celery has the potential to improve a wide range of health concerns and conditions. Here are just a few of the reported benefits of drinking celery juice.
- Cancer Prevention
- Lowers Inflammation
- Supports weight loss
- Improves Digestion and IBS
- Helps heal eczema, psoriasis, and acne
- Builds the immune system and fights against infection
- Stabilizes blood pressure
- Reduces cholesterol
- Balances PH levels
- Restores gut health
- Protects Liver Health
- Helps with Infertility
- Fights Autoimmune Disease
- Improves Mental Health
- Prevents UTIs and Yeast Infections
How to Make It
There are two ways that you can make celery juice: using a juicer or a high speed blender. Luckily, I was able to borrow an old juicer from my mom, so that is the method I’ve been using. It’s pretty quick and easy. But both will get the job done.
The recommended amount to drink is 16 oz and, depending on the size of your celery, you will need about 1-2 bunches. To allow the celery juice to fully cleanse your digestive system, it is recommended that you drink celery juice every morning on an empty stomach. It’s also best to make it fresh and drink as soon as possible to get the most nutrients. But it can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container (like a mason jar) for up to 24 hours.
If you’re using a juicer, just wash and cut up your celery (into thirds) and put it through your juicer. I also like to strain it at the end so it’s perfectly smooth and not pulpy, but that’s completely optional. And if you’re using a newer juicer you may not have to worry about this at all.
Prepare your celery the same way if you’re using a blender. Blend the celery with a little water (about ¼ cup). Strain out the juice with a nut milk bag or cheesecloth and enjoy!
Organic vs. Conventional Celery
Organic celery is preferred but either can be used. If you’re using non-organic celery, then you may want to take extra care when washing to get rid of any pesticides or other chemicals that might be on it. One trick I learned is to soak your celery (or any produce) in baking soda and water to help dissolve any hard-to-wash substances from the surface.
I’ve tried both organic and regular celery, as some stores don’t have a wide selection. And organic celery can be pretty expensive and usually smaller in size than conventional. But I will say, I can taste the difference between the two.
I’ve tried celery from a few different stores--Trader Joe’s, Giant, Food Lion, Costco, and a local farmer’s market. No matter the source, I’ve found that juice made from organic celery tastes a lot better! Non organic celery juice is a little more bitter and has a thinner, more watery consistency.
If organic celery isn’t easily accessible, then regular celery is perfectly fine and still has the all vitamins and nutrients you want. I’ve used both with good results. I got lucky and found organic celery for a great price at Costco. Otherwise, I would be primarily using non-organic. But it’s completely up to you!
The Taste
Everyone has a different reaction to the taste of celery juice. Honestly, I thought it was pretty disgusting the first time I drank it. But now I actually enjoy it. It really is an acquired taste!
If you find that it’s a struggle to get all 16 oz of pure celery juice down, here are a few tips:
- Start small - I started drinking about 6 oz and slowly increased the amount overtime. Now I can drink 16 oz with no issue and I’m considering upping it to 24 oz.
- Add an apple - To get the full benefits you want to drink pure celery juice. But, juicing an apple in with the celery really helped me adjust to the taste. After about a week I was able to wean myself off and have the celery juice straight.
- Use a straw - something about sipping the juice through a straw rather than taking gulps makes it easier to drink.
- Drink it cold - I can’t imagine drinking warm celery juice. I store my celery in the fridge before using. After juicing, I put my cup of celery juice back in the fridge for a bit while I wash out my juicer. It’s much more refreshing when cold. I’ve read that the process of blending warms the juice, so if you’re using a blender you may want to refrigerate for longer before drinking.
My Experience
I’ve been drinking celery juice every morning for about 2 weeks, so not that long. But I’ve really been enjoying celery juice as a new addition to my morning routine. It feels good knowing that I’m doing something wonderful for my health first thing everyday. Of course there’s no quick fix to improving your health, but I have seen some positive results from drinking celery juice in this short amount of time.
I've already been working on building up my gut health and celery juice has had a major impact on my digestion. I don’t want to get into too much detail, but celery juice has definitely helped things move along and made me more...well...regular. Additionally, I don’t have as many cravings and feel more satisfied after meals. I also have more energy and haven’t felt the need for coffee or tea in the mornings.
I haven’t seen a major change in my acne or eczema yet. It does seem like breakouts are healing a little faster, but I’ll need more time to see if the celery juice is having a real impact on my skin.
One weird thing I’ve noticed is that I started experiences more headaches after I began drinking celery juice daily. This could be a coincidence and have nothing to do with the celery juice. But if anyone else has experienced this let me know! Could it be a possible side effect?
Overall, my results have been good and I’ve enjoyed the challenge of getting outside my dietary comfort zone. I’m going to continue drinking my daily celery juice and will keep you posted on my results.
If you haven’t tried celery juice yet, I highly recommend it! Even if you’re not into green juices or are worried about the taste, believe me it’s doable and it’s worth it. If I can drink it, anyone can!
Have you tried celery juice? What were your results?
