Celery – you’ll either love it or loathe it. A member of the carrot family, it’s most often used in soups or salads, and I think we’ve all probably eaten it as crudité.
It’s often the last resort for dipping in the hummus once the carrots and cucumber have disappeared! But did you know there are many benefits of juicing celery? You may be surprised to hear that it’s one of the best superfoods out there.
Along with its unique earthy taste and crunchy bite, celery boasts several health benefits. Each stalk contains an impressive amount of vitamins C and K, as well as traces of vitamins A, B-2 and B-6. Celery is also a good source of important nutrients such as Folate, Potassium, and Antioxidants, which purify our bodies and flush out harmful toxins.
Recently, an increasing number of people have been ditching raw celery sticks in favor of juicing. You only need to type #CeleryJuice into Instagram and the trend is plain to see. But is it worth the hype?
Here I’ll uncover some of the health benefits of juicing celery and discuss the latest celery juice detox trend. I’ve also included a few of my favorite celery juice recipes, with something for everyone to enjoy.
So let’s get started!
Health benefits of juicing celery
1. Hydrates the body
Celery contains a significant amount of water and electrolytes aplenty. Consuming this vegetable raw or in a healthy juice will help to keep your body hydrated.
2. Reduces inflammation
Celery has been linked with reducing inflammation in the body because of chemicals it contains, known as phytonutrients. These chemicals are effective antioxidants and have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Celery also contains two beneficial antioxidant compounds called apigenin and luteolin, which are effective in treating several inflammatory-related diseases including IBS, acne, and eczema.
3. Boosts cardiovascular health
Keep your cardiovascular system in check by eating or juicing celery. Studies have found that consuming celery, which is rich in vitamin K, can help to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce plaque in your arteries and even prevent strokes.
4. Fights against cancer
One of the most surprising benefits of celery is that it can help to protect your body from cancer. Celery contains bioactive flavonoids, which have been linked with preventing the development and growth of cancer cells in the body.
5. Reduces liver damage
I’ve already touched on the antioxidant benefits of juicing celery and how it flushes out toxins from the body but it’s worth highlighting its positive effect on your liver. The polyphenols in celery are great for removing free radicals from your body and preventing liver damage.
6. Supports nervous system
Did you know that drinking celery juice helps maintain a healthy nervous system? The minerals and vitamins found in celery provide a calming remedy for the nervous system. In particular, they can help those suffering from insomnia and other issues caused by the nervous system coming under stress.
7. Combats hair problems
There are plenty of celery juice benefits for hair too. For one, drinking celery juice will help to hydrate your scalp and keep your hair in good condition. The vitamin A found in celery can also help to maintain healthy hair, from root to end.
Some studies have even linked celery with preventing premature graying and stimulating hair growth. If you’re concerned about losing your hair or going gray too early, it’s definitely worth giving celery juice a try.
Celery juice detox – does it work?
The celery juice detox is a juicing trend developed by Anthony William, who you may recognize as ‘The Medical Medium.’ Although he’s not a formally licensed medical professional, Williams has gained fans from all over the world, including celebrities like Pharrell, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Naomi Campbell.
William describes celery juice as a ‘miracle juice’ and claims it has healing properties for all sorts of ailments. His celery juice detox involves juicing celery on an empty stomach, first thing every morning. He suggests that juicing celery makes the nutrients more potent and by drinking it on an empty stomach, it’s easier for your body to absorb all of the goodness. You don’t need any other ingredients. It’s all about the benefits of juicing celery, which he claims will detox the body, flush out toxins and cure everything from acute illnesses to chronic conditions.
However, many health professionals aren’t convinced by his claims and say there is little science behind the whole celery juice detox. Most agree that the best way to get nutrients from vegetables like celery is to eat them whole, with the fiber intact. However, if you don’t like the taste or texture of certain vegetables, juicing is the next best thing.
Although there are mixed opinions as to whether the celery juice detox works, as always, I suggest making up your own mind. What works for you might not work for someone else and vice versa. It’s all about listening to your body and seeing if there are health benefits of juicing for you.
READ MORE: 5 Main Benefits of a Juice Cleanse
Is it safe to drink celery juice every day?
It’s perfectly safe to enjoy the benefits of juicing every day. Start slowly, making sure you’re only consuming around 6-8oz of celery juice a day. In time, you can gradually build up to around 16oz. You need to give your body time to get used to it.
Although there are lots of benefits of juicing celery, it’s no good if you’re allergic to it. Celery is a known allergen, so if it’s something that doesn’t agree with your body, it’s best to try healthy vegetable juices with alternative greens like kale, spinach, and broccoli instead.
6 Celery juice recipes
1. Pure celery juice
Whether you’re a newbie that’s ready to explore the benefits of juicing or want to try the celery juice morning detox, I recommend giving this pure celery juice recipe a go. If possible, use organic celery for additional health benefits.
Ingredients (1 serving):
- 1 bunch of celery
Method:
- Rinse the celery under running water
- Cut off the top and bottom of each celery stalk
- Feed through your juicer
- Serve and drink immediately for maximum benefits
If you’re not fond of the taste of pure celery juice, you could always try pairing it with these tasty ingredients:
- Apple
- Mint
- Cucumber
- Lemon
- Ginger
2. Celery, Orange and Carrot Juice Recipe
A sweet juice that will energize your body and make you feel great on the inside.
Ingredients (2 servings):
- 4 celery sticks
- 3 medium carrots
- 300ml freshly squeezed orange juice
Method:
- Wash, scrub and top and tail the celery and carrots
- Push through your juicer one-by-one
- Add freshly squeezed orange juice and mix until smooth
- Serve and enjoy
3. Beet and Celery Juice Recipe
Beet juices look pretty and taste delicious. The beet in this juice will counterbalance the earthy taste of the celery with its sweetness.
Ingredients (1 serving):
- 1 beet
- 7 celery stalks
- ½ lemon
Method:
- Wash your veggies
- Top and tale your celery
- Peel beet (if preferred)
- Add to your juicer
- Serve and enjoy
4. Celery, Cucumber and Apple juice recipe
If you’re after a refreshing celery juice with a little sweetness then this one’s for you.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 1 large cucumber
- 3 large celery stalks
- 1 apple
Method:
- Wash ingredients
- Cut off the ends of the celery and core the apple
- Chop into smaller pieces if necessary for your juicer
- Feed through your juicer
- Serve and drink straight away
Exploring the benefits of juicing celery and wondering what to do with all of your leftover celery leaves? Chop them up finely and add them to a salad or vegetable stock. You could also try creating a tasty pesto by blending the celery leaves with garlic, walnuts, Parmesan and olive oil.
5. Celery, Parsley and Pineapple detox juice recipe
This is a great celery detox juice to enjoy in the morning, before breakfast. It’ll kick start your digestive system and prepare your body for the day ahead.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 3 large celery stalks
- 3 sprigs of parsley
- 3 slices of fresh pineapple
Method:
- Wash ingredients
- Push through your juicer
- Serve and enjoy
6. Green veggie medley juice recipe
Looking for an easy way to get more greens into your diet? The green veggie medley juice, featuring celery, is packed full of lots of healthy vitamins and nutrients.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 3 large celery stalks
- 1 cup of baby spinach or kale
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 medium apple
- ¼ lemon
- 1 inch piece of fresh ginger
Method:
- Wash, prep and chop product into juicer-friendly pieces (if required)
- Feed each ingredient through your juicer one at a time
- Serve cold or over ice
Although I recommend drinking all of these juices straight away to get all of the wonderful health benefits, you can store them in tightly sealed jars in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours.
Discover the health benefits of juicing
Now you’re clued up on the benefits of juicing celery and have several recipes in your repertoire, it’s time to get juicing. If you haven’t already, purchase a juicer and start experimenting. It’ll be one of the best things you do for your health and is the easiest way to get more superfoods like celery, into your diet.
Have you tried the celery juice detox?
Share your experience in the comments below!
Celery juice becomes a hot and trendy topic nowadays. Due to its useful health factors, it becomes very popular and is shared on social media every now and then. Besides, TV shows and cooking shows are also promoting and talking about this continuously.