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Celery juice is everywhere.
So much so, that the two New York Whole Foods locations I’ve gone to in the past two weeks have been out of celery.
“We’re sold out of celery. People buy it in bulk – four, five bunches at a time”, an employee tells me when I ask if there’s a secret celery stash I can get my hands on.
Now that Kim Kardashian is hopping on the trend, I might have to find an underground celery seller or seriously learn how to regrow it in a pot.
Dubbed as “one of the most powerful and healing juices we can drink” by Anthony William, also known as Medical Medium, celery juice has been rising in popularity within the health and wellness world.
If you’re on Instagram, there’s no doubt someone you follow has been raving about the benefits of celery juice, making you wonder if you should give it a go, too.
Many well-known names within the wellness industry and celebrities are vouching for celery juice and its benefits. Look up #celeryjuice on Instagram and you’ll find over 61,000 posts praising the green “magic” potion.
Celery juice is often seen during Instagram stories takeovers over on @breakfastcriminals – many people have shared that drinking celery juice is a non-negotiable step in their morning routine. That includes Gwyneth Paltrow’s personal “body whisperer” Lo Roxburgh and zero waste activist Stevie Van Horn.
In this post, I will share my personal experience with celery juice, testimonials and empirical evidence from other regular people (non-doctors and non-nutritionists), as well as the information I’ve obtained by doing a survey of functional medicine doctors.
I will share how to make celery juice at home (that includes the best celery juicer and how to make celery juice in a Vitamix), share answers to the most common celery juice questions based on my research.
What celery juice mornings at BreakfastCriminals HQ Look Like
Why the sudden rise to popularity?
The juice has become a hit thanks to Anthony William and his army of followers, which include goop and Pharrell. While the Medical Medium has been preaching about celery juice for the past 20 years, it’s gained momentum in the past year thanks to media and raving reviews from those who follow his celery juice protocol. Many claim that drinking celery juice daily transformed their health and digestion in as little as one week.
Disclaimer:
I am not a medical professional. This post is based on my personal opinion and research, and by no means is medical advice. Please consult a nutritionist or a licensed medical professional if you have questions about incorporating celery juice into your routine.
If you’re someone who needs scientific proof to back your decisions, this post is probably not for you. I’ll tell you right away that at the time of the last edit of this post (September 2019), there simply isn’t enough research to prove the benefits of celery juice.
Right off the bat, here are two different opinions I got from two functional medicine doctors when asked to comment on the practice of drinking celery juice:
Here’s what Gaby Safdieh, MD, physician at Parsley Health said:
“Drinking celery juice is safe, but it’s not something I have or would recommend because there simply isn’t enough research to support it. Celery does have antioxidant properties and contains many vitamins, so it’s a good food to incorporate into your diet. Experimental research also shows that celery has antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.”
Here’s an opinion from another functional medicine expert and author of “Ketotarian” Dr. Will Cole, who you can get to know in this podcast interview.
“Clinically, as a functional medicine practitioner, I have seen bringing celery juice in to one’s diet make a dramatic improvement in digestion and gut health. All it involved is freshly juicing celery! That simple.”
Instead of heading to labs, I’m going to turn to empirical evidence that I have gathered from my community – which happens to be mind-blowing.
Ultimately, I invite you to take all opinions and research and into account, and listen to your own body to make decisions on what’s best for you.
What sparked the idea to write this post was the response to my Instagram post about experimenting with celery juice – it was astounding. Scroll down to see the highlights.
Here’s what other influencers you may know from Instagram are saying about their experience with drinking celery juice.
Hannah Bronfman, founder of HBFIT, swears by drinking celery juice every day:
“I’ve seen a huge improvement in my digestion when I consume celery juice on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. When I first started with celery juice I saw lots of impurities come to the surface of my skin, meaning a lot of the toxins were being purged from the inside out. It was very hard not to pick at my skin (can anyone relate?) but after 2 weeks of my celery juice routine my skin was glowing! I also have seen an increase in my energy – so much so that I don’t have any cravings for coffee which is almost a little annoying because I love making my lattes now I move my latte ritual to the afternoon.”
Blogger Jordan Younger, aka @thebalancedblonde:
“The MM celery juice trend is getting a lot of flack in the media. It’s being deemed as a “fad” that “really has no benefits beyond hydration” and honestly — it makes me sad to see because the media absolutely loves knocking things it doesn’t understand. It makes me sad because the deep healing celery juice provides is next level, and something that should at least be given a chance (everyone is different of course).”
Yoga and Pilates teacher and mother Melissa Wood-Tepperberg of @melissawoodhealth:
“Who knew I’d be having a straight up love affair with celery juice… There were only 3 bunches left on the shelves because there is a legit celery shortage in NYC – people come up to me on the street about this craze… I’ve been drinking celery juice for 6 months now and have noticed such a difference in my morning energy levels -especially now that my placenta pills are gone 😫. My skin glows, my gut health is on point, my postpartum inflammation has gone down tremendously and I just feel so damn good.”
These are the benefits I have personally experienced from consistently drinking celery juice in the morning:
- My skin feels more hydrated and smooth
- I feel less hungry
- I feel more nourished
- My eyes feel more clear
- I don’t experience occasional bloating anymore
I feel overall great when I drink green juice. But the thing is, buying green juice is expensive, making it is too complicated (you have got to have a fridge stocked with greens). On top of it, I don’t enjoy drinking green juice without added fruit for sweetness, while celery juice tastes just fine on its own.
Here are more celery juice benefits and risks that can be associated with drinking it.
Here’s what some of the members of Breakfast Criminals community shared about their experience with celery juice:
CELERY JUICE TESTIMONIALS
“A health coach put me on celery juice back in 2015 before I knew it was from Medical Medium. It was life-changing and healed my gut!” – @katduse
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“I have been drinking celery juice for a little over 6 months now and always notice a difference when I have it first thing in the morning — improvements in digestion, more energy, reduced cravings and overall just a lot less inflamed. I am so grateful for the supportive role it has played in my healing journey.” – @the_dreamerie
“The most immediate effect I see is on digestion, you definitely notice the flow😀! And I can attest that it’s probably great for removing toxins as my skin looks much clearer and brighter when on a daily basis!! I have been drinking it first things in the morning, after my lemon water, for almost a year now (except for days when I have to dash to work at 6am 🙃)! I love it!” – @joshi_shilpi
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“I’ve been doing it daily for about 7 weeks … I have SIBO and started this on the tail end of treatment and testing negative. This is the longest I’ve ever gone without relapsing!! I haven’t changed anything else, so I attribute it to this practice. It definitely helps one stay regular as well!” – @burnandfirmpilates
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“I started doing celery juice a couple of months ago, first thing in the AM on an empty stomach, and it’s the only thing that seems to be helping my migraines. I was getting 10-12 migraines a month and over the last three years I’ve tried everything (eastern and western) and nothing has worked so this seems like a miracle ✨🙏🏻.” – @tarah.smith.evans
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“I started juicing straight celery juice after hearing about it a few weeks ago and I will never go back! When I drink it I have so much energy, like wired, but in a good way 😄 and of course it CLEANS you out! My skin is cleaner since starting, my digestion is better, almost no bloating whereas before I was always bloated, it took away my craving for coffee, I literally stopped cold turkey and didn’t have any side-effects and I’ve been drinking coffee for almost 20 years 😁. My brain fog disappeared on day 2 and has not returned, my thinking is crystal clear whereas before it was so foggy. I hate celery, always have, but I will never stop drinking it first thing in the morning, it has literally changed my life. One bulk in my juicer every morning 🙌🏼.” – @wellness_obsessed
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“I can personally vouch for celery juice and just how well it can help with IBS. I’ve been dealing with IBS-C flareups for the past 3 years which leaves me bloated, lethargic, and constipated. I have tried a countless amount of things — both prescribed and natural — but nothing has helped me as much as drinking celery juice daily! I started drinking celery juice after hearing how much it had helped my best friend’s grandfather with some of his ailments and seeing it all over my Instagram feed. After drinking it first thing in the morning for a week I was hooked. Within a few days, my stomach was significantly less bloated, I felt like I had more sustained energy, and I was much more regular. I will admit, the taste of the juice was a bit much when I initially started drinking it but I now find myself craving it in the mornings! Celery juice has been a great addition to my morning ritual, and to my health overall.” -@backatitagainatkrispykreme
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“Been drinking it for 8 months now… life -changing 🙏🏼.” – @themindfulblonde
“I’ve been doing this every morning for three weeks straight now. I noticed immediately more energy! Mind you I cut out coffee almost three months ago, so being able to notice that difference was nice. Also helps with the💩 .” -@rubberducky789
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Celery juice has become popular even for those who do not pay close attention to trends in the wellness community. Our editor Ellen’s best friend’s granddad, who is in his late 80’s (and not on Instagram), swears by drinking celery juice daily. He heard from a family member about celery juice reducing inflammation. He had been dealing with arthritis and decided to try drinking celery juice daily to help with this. Within a month his arthritis pain went away and he was able to stop taking a painkillers every day. It has been almost half a year since he’s started drinking celery juice and he says he’s never felt better.
Have I piqued your interest yet? Ok, let’s dig into celery juice nutrition, benefits and preparation.
CELERY JUICE NUTRITION
Celery juice contains little macronutrients with only around 1 gram of protein, 5 grams of carbohydrates, and no fat. However, celery juice is rich vitamins and minerals.
Celery is rich in:
- Vitamins A, K and C (almost 16 percent)
- Potassium
- Antioxidants
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Natural sodium
CELERY JUICE BENEFITS
The benefits of celery juice seem to be endless. Some it the benefits of celery juice according to Medical Medium are:
- Celery juice is alkalizing
- Celery juice flushes out viruses
- Celery juice restores digestion
- Celery juice removes bloat
- Celery juice heals the gut
- Calms down inflammation
One of the main benefits of drinking celery juice daily is better digestion. The juice helps soothe your digestive tract, which then helps decrease inflammation in your gastrointestinal tract. This means less bloating, especially for those with IBS and Crohn’s. On top of digestive benefits, celery juice is said to be beneficial for energy levels and immunity. Celery juice is also known to help reduce cravings for sugary, salty, greasy snacks, which has inadvertently led some who drink celery to lose weight. At the least, it helps decrease bloating.
If all of that wasn’t enough, drinking celery juice can also help balance your blood pressure, is said to help relieve arthritis pain, plus helps with chronic illness. Wondering what else celery juice can do? Take a look at the Medical Medium’s list of conditions he believes could benefit from drinking celery juice.
HOW DOES CELERY JUICE WORK?
The natural sodium content in celery along with the potassium it contains helps make it a diuretic, and good for flushing out toxins. Celery is also a way to alkalize your gut, which helps increase the pH and yet again, rids your body of toxins.
HOW OFTEN CAN I DRINK CELERY JUICE?
Celery juice can be consumed daily. You’ll get the maximum benefits of drinking celery juice by drinking it each day.
HOW MUCH CELERY JUICE SHOULD I DRINK A DAY?
The Medical Medium states that 16 ounces is the magical number when it comes to how much celery juice we should drink a day. Not sure if you can drink 16 ounces? Start off with drinking only 8 ounces and work your way up. According to Dr. Will Cole, functional medicine expert and author of the book “Ketotarian”, “since celery juice is very cleansing on digestion, it’s best to start slow at 6-8 oz. per day, and work all the way up to 16 oz., depending on your particular digestive sensitivity.”
DOES THE CELERY JUICE HAVE TO BE ORGANIC?
Celery is on the “dirty dozen” list, which means that it’s highly recommended to buy it organic. The “Dirty dozen” includes conventionally grown produce that is likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues. Read more about it on Environmental Working Group’s website.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO DRINK CELERY JUICE?
Celery juice has the best results when it is consumed on an empty stomach. Drinking it first thing in the morning can help with digesting foods you eat throughout the day. However, if you can’t drink it first thing in the morning, it’s best to drink it around 15-30 minutes before or after eating.
CELERY JUICE ALTERNATIVES
If celery juice is too harsh for your stomach, try out adding an apple or a cucumber to the mix when you’re juicing your celery. Alternatively, try pure cucumber juice – it still has many benefits like celery juice, however, it may be more gentle on your digestion.
Functional medicine expert Dr. Will Cole suggests that another great option is consuming other green vegetables and plants, specifically cilantro and spirulina. Acupuncturist and herbalist Adrianne Oswalt, LAc., MSTCM, also recommends drinking warm lemon water, which is a fantastic morning ritual to develop – before you consume any other morning beverages.
CAN I ADD OTHER INGREDIENTS TO CELERY JUICE?
There are varied opinions on this. While adding some lemon and an apple may help with the flavor of celery juice, it may dilute the drinks’ benefits. According to Dr. Will Cole, it’s ok to add lemon, lime, ginger and sea salt to your celery juice.
Acupuncturist and herbalist Adrianne Oswalt reminds us that “by adding something else to the celery juice, you are putting in another substance that has its own action and intention, which is fine as long as it is appropriate for what the juice is being consumed for.”
IS IT OK TO MAKE CELERY JUICE THE NIGHT BEFORE?
While it’s best to drink the juice immediately after juicing, it is OK to make the night before. It is recommended to drink your celery juice within one to two days of juicing. Use an airtight container, like a mason jar, to keep your celery juice fresh in the fridge.
DO YOU HAVE TO DRINK CELERY JUICE ON AN EMPTY STOMACH?
According to Dr. Will Cole, celery juice is best drank first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, but after lemon water is fine as well.
CAN I MAKE CELERY JUICE IN A VITAMIX?
Yes, see below.
HOW TO MAKE CELERY JUICE
Making celery juice doesn’t have to be hard! Here are the three methods that I use.
1. Juice It
For best results, use a juicer to make celery juice.
Cut up the amount of celery depending on how much celery juice you want. A large bunch of celery typically equals 16 ounces of juice. Once your celery is chopped, run the pieces of celery through your juicer (I recommend Hurom Slow Juicer to make celery juice). Once you’ve juiced all of your celery, pour the juice into a cup and it’s ready. For two people, I typically use two bunches of celery with peeled ½ lemon. Peel only the top layer of the skin, leaving the “meaty” white part of the skin on as it’s very nutrient dense. Sometimes we add ½ apple into the mix.
2. Blend it
When I don’t feel like cleaning up my juicer or don’t have access to one, I use a blender combined with a nut milk bag or cheesecloth.
Here’s how to make celery juice in a Vitamix or another high-speed blender (Vitamix Experian changed my life!):
- Chop the celery (I use about 10 stalks per person per serving to make about 12oz of celery juice)
- Place it in the blender
- Add a little bit of water if desired (for easier blending)
- Blend until smooth
Then, place a nut milk bag over a large bowl, and pour your blended celery through. Squeeze the bag well until you get all of the celery juice out. Discard the pulp.
3. Buy It
When I’m on-the-go, I get celery juice from Evolution Fresh (it’ organic) or Pressed Juicery (where you can get 5 bottles of 15-oz celery juice with a bit of lemon juice for $20). Unfortunately, this juice is not organic. Juice Press also sells organic celery juice in 12-oz bottles. I will be giving it a try soon!
Know other places that carry good celery juice? Please let me know in comments.
IS CELERY JUICE JUST A WELLNESS FAD?
According to acupuncturist and herbalist Adrianne Oswalt, “In some cases with Chinese Medicine it is recommended to drink a cup of celery juice on an empty stomach first thing in the morning for a duration of time. This is a common treatment of hypertension. So it is not just a fad, but an actual old and revered dietary/herbal practice.”
Sources:
- http://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/healing-power-of-celery
- http://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/celery-juice
- https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-drinking-celery-juice-healed-my-gut
- https://www.livestrong.com/article/378821-nutritional-facts-for-celery-juice/
- https://thethirty.byrdie.com/celery-juice-benefits/slide4
- https://www.healthline.com/health/celery-juice
- https://www.thebalancedblonde.com/2018/11/13/medical-medium-low-histamine-protocol-for-lyme/
- https://www.foodmatters.com/article/5-powerful-healing-benefits-of-celery-juice
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Medical Disclaimer:
This post is intended for informational purposes only and not intended to serve as professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor and your own body on what works for you.