It seems that everywhere I go at the moment, people are talking about the benefits of celery juice and how it has been changing lives. My friends are doing it, it’s all over the internet, it’s all over the place!
People are claiming that it heals autoimmune diseases and improves gut health as well as your sex life!
Not entirely convinced, I decided to do some research into it. So in this post, I’m going to give you the full low down starting with a couple of stories from my friends who have been doing the celery juicing.
Cinta
I caught up with my friend Cinta the other day and the first thing I said to her was…
…You look amazing… what have you done? Your skin is glowing, and your eyes seem brighter or something…
You guessed it! Celery juicing.
She wanted to lose some weight and also improve her gut health so someone recommended that she read the Medical Medium which says that you should drink around 450mls of straight celery juice on an empty stomach every morning.
The Results:
Cinta had been doing it for only a couple of weeks when we chatted and already she said that she had lost 2 kgs, her digestion had improved and she had less bloating.
She also said that she was feeling so good that she was more determined to eat healthy foods and exercise. It just seemed to put her into a healthier mind set and gave her more energy to do just that.
Tammy
I have another friend with IBS who was really sceptical to try the juicing. She said that on an IBS Facebook group there was a discussion as to whether it would harm or help a person with IBS as celery isn’t a food that you should eat too much of whilst on the FODMAP diet.
A couple of people in that Facebook discussion said they tried it, but it made them very ill. Tammy gave it a go anyway and stuck with it even at the beginning when she was running to the toilet. She started with a smaller amount than recommended and built herself up.
The Results:
Tammy said that even though her stomach was in a bit of pain at the beginning that it has been totally amazing! She seemed to go through a detox phase which started out with headaches and a skin break out.
BUT! It pushed out all of the nasties, her gut health has improved and (long story short) she told me that it has been “LIFE CHANGING”.
The Facts:
Ok, so after those two conversations, I needed to find out what this was all about… so here are the facts:
1. Fresh celery provides a source of vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, folate, manganese, calcium, riboflavin, magnesium, and vitamin B6. It has a high percentage of water and electrolytes that can help prevent dehydration. Celery is also a great source of fibre, but only in its whole form.
2. Multiple studies have shown that celery contains several compounds with remarkable antioxidant attributes that help restrain free radical activity. One particular flavonoid, apigenin, shows anti-inflammatory potential (this is great for any digestion disorders).
3. The Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine reports celery might help prevent cardiovascular and liver diseases, rheumatic disorders, and urinary tract issues through assistance in detoxification and elimination. Celery also helps lower blood glucose, fats and pressure. Experimental research suggests it has antifungal characteristics as well, which again, can assist gut issues.
The reason for this is the characteristics of the antioxidants found in the celery along with the oils and tannins which contribute to the production of protective mucus that coats tissues in the digestive tract. This also helps prevent problems such as ulcers and reduces the symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) which affects thousands of individuals every year.
4. Celery juice contains many of the nutrients of the plant into a bioavailable form the body can absorb quickly and affectively. Juicing provides a simple and fast way to intake the vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that may be more appealing than chewing stalks. For picky eaters who would normally turn away from eating celery whole, this may be an effective way to sneak added nutrition into the diet.
5. Celery contains androsterone, an odourless hormone released through male perspiration and turns women on. This is one of the best-known aphrodisiacs.
6. On the downside, celery has been on the Environmental Working Groups ‘Dirty Dozen” list for several years. The list includes the top twelve veggies and fruits found to have the highest amount of pesticide residue and hence it is recommended that you choose to go organic when consuming.
7. Celery juice contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties. This means it’s highly beneficial for people who suffer from autoimmune diseases such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and celiac disease.
According to the Medical Medium, celery is perfect for reversing inflammation, because it starves the pathogens, including unproductive bacteria and viruses such as Epstein-Barr (EBV), that create it.
Wrap Up
Celery is certainly easy to get into your daily fresh vegetable juice and with all the known benefits its worth trying to incorporate into your daily regime. It is however best to choose organic to avoid the nasty pesticides and chemicals found in the conventional form and don’t forget to eat it whole as well, especially before you hit the bedroom.