11 Shocking Benefits of Celery Juice (Plus 3 Delicious Recipes)
Don't let this nutritious veg wilt at the bottom of your crisper. Juice it!
Celery is one of those vegetables that we often forget about. It sits in the bottom of the crisper and only gets used as the base of soups or as part of a crudite platter. But celery is so much more. Celery and more specifically, celery juice, is loaded with beneficial nutrients that are fantastic for your health, inside and out.
The Health + Beauty Benefits of Celery Juice
According to Mia Stern, certified health coach, raw food chef, and founder of Brooklyn Culinary Arts, celery is easy to juice because it’s water-rich and pairs well with so many fruits and veggies. But on its own, says Stern, celery juice is full of health and beauty benefits. Here are a few reasons why Stern can’t get enough celery juice:
- Restores hydration, which can be particularly important in the morning when you’ve been without water for over seven hours.
- Restores pH balance to your blood. It’s very alkaline which is important to optimal health.
- Great for the gut because it balances stomach acid. It restores the balance of hydrochloric acid in the body which is important for gut health. As we age, hydrochloric acid in the stomach is reduced, making it more difficult for the body to absorb nutrients.
- Anti-cancer benefits. It contains apigenin and luteolin, two very powerful anti-cancer flavonoids.
- Contains a compound called pthalides, which relaxes the artery walls. As a result, it’s beneficial for reducing cardiovascular disease.
- It’s a diuretic, which makes it really good for cleansing the system and for weight loss. It also helps with de-puffing throughout the body, especially reducing under eye bags.
- It contains natural salts which are great for restoring electrolyte balance post-workout.
- Great for digestion, helps in particular with constipation.
- Reduces inflammation. The flavonoid luteolin controls inflammation throughout the body.
- Cleanses the liver.
- It contains anti-aging flavonoids which stave off wrinkles.
A study published in the April 2013 issue of Natural Medicine Journal, found that celery extract causes a statistically significant decrease in both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure. This makes it a really good food for cardiovascular health. Another study published in June 2011 issue of Food Science and Technology showed that celery contained beneficial antioxidants. The study also found that steaming celery left most of the flavonoids intact.
Studies published in the April 2011 issue of Molecular Nutrition and Food Research as well as the 2010 issue of the journal Nutrition and Cancer, found that celery may have a number of anti-cancer benefits as a result of flavonols like quercetin and kaempferol, dihydrostilbenoids, phytosterols and furanocoumarins. It also counteracts proteins that are linked to inflammatory problems.
Celery Juice Uses
Celery juice is great first thing in the morning, says Stern, because it gets your body started right by rehydrating and loading up with nutrients and antioxidants all at the same time. Unlike dark leafy greens, which are really trendy right now, celery juice isn’t so harsh on digestion. You can drink a lot of it without any negative side effects. Stern likes to have a celery juice a few times a week first thing in the morning but she says you could have a celery juice every morning if you choose.
You can also add the juice to a salad dressing with olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice or a summer soup with avocado and cucumber. If you don’t have time to juice, you can also add celery to a salad or dip it in almond butter for a truly tasty snack. Stern says that celery juice or celery is good combined with healthy fats like olives or nuts because it makes nutrients more bio-available.
Celery Juice Recipes
When it comes to celery juice, Stern says that because it contains so many natural salts it can take some getting used to but mixing it with cucumber and lemon, for example, makes it delicious. Check out some of Stern’s favorite recipes:
Mia Stern’s Favorite Celery Juice
Serves 2
Ingredients
1 whole bunch of celery
2 cucumbers
1 lemon, peeled
Directions
1. Wash your produce and pass everything through your juicer. Drink right away.
Super Hydrator Juice Recipe
Serves: 2
Ingredients
4 ounces coconut water
4 celery stalks
1 cucumber
1 lime
Directions
1. Using a vegetable juicer, juice the celery, cucumber, and lime. Pour in the coconut water and gently stir juice to blend. Consume immediately.
Recipe: Dr. Axe
Carrot, Apple, Celery Juice
Serves 2
Ingredients
3 carrots
½ cucumber
1 apple
2 celery stalks
Directions
1. Wash all fruits and vegetables well.
2. Cut off the ends of the carrots. Run through the juicer and drink immediately.
Celery Juice Tips:
- Always use organic to avoid synthetic pesticides and ensure that your chosen veggies were grown in healthy soil.
- Try and ween off the sweeter fruits and vegetables so that eventually you’re enjoying mostly celery juice without any sugar. (Even though the sugar comes from fruits and vegetables, it’s still sugar.)
- After juicing, consume your fresh juice immediately. Juice is best consumed fresh because once fruits and vegetables are exposed to air, they begin to oxidize and lose their nutritional value. Just like you wouldn’t leave a sliced avocado or apple in the air to brown, it’s best not to let your fresh juice oxidize.
Should You Buy Celery Juice?
For the most part, says Stern, it’s difficult to find celery juice on its own. If you don’t have a juicer, combine a bunch of celery with 1 1/2 cups of filtered water and run through a high powered mixer. Add water as needed to get to your desired consistency. If you don’t have a high powered mixer, you can go to fresh juicing bars and ask for celery juice on its own.
Do you drink celery juice? What do you think? Does it make you feel healthier? We want to know! Drop us a line via Twitter @OrganicAuthorit.
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