You might remember it from your after school snack when it was smeared in peanut butter and raisins. It is also that green thing that comes with your buffalo wings but never gets eaten. There’s no denying that celery is having a moment right now but, in another form,—juice.
But is celery juice all it’s cracked up to be? Here’s everything you need to know about the benefits of celery juice for autoimmune disease. Note that the information presented here is for informational purposes only. Always talk to a healthcare professional before starting any diet or cleanse.
Health benefits of celery juice
Why, you might ask, would anyone want to juice a vegetable so, well, not juicy? After all, there are plenty of other fruits and vegetables that are full of juice.
Well, for one thing, celery has a surprising amount of nutrients hiding inside its crunchy interior. It’s packed with nutritious vitamins and minerals, including potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin K, vitamin C, and folate. So, even if the idea of drinking a glass of celery isn’t appealing, the nutritional value of the vegetable should be enough to get you to consider.
The main reason people began juicing celery is because of many mentions from celebrities and influencers that celery juice can help with autoimmune diseases. Proponents say it can help with a range of symptoms, including brain fog, reducing inflammation, and helping with gastrointestinal problems. (Within 30 minutes of drinking celery juice on an empty stomach, you’ll feel like your entire system is being flushed out.) Anyone who suffers from painful bloating might get some relief after having just a few ounces of celery juice.
There are claims that celery juice can combat autoimmune conditions and target viruses such as Epstein-Barr or even the shingles virus, which has noted for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, it should be noted that claims of drinking celery juice alone won’t miraculously heal any disease. It would instead be more beneficial in combination with a healthy lifestyle.
Unfortunately, celery juice has not been backed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yet. But some results have been promising. In fact, the celery juice craze wasn’t started by a medical doctor, but rather by a man named Anthony William (also known as the Medical Medium).
In his book Medical Medium Celery Juice: The Most Powerful Medicine of Our Time Healing Millions Worldwide, William claims that celery juice fights autoimmune disease thanks to its combination of hormones and sodium cluster salts, which kill off the viral neurotoxins found in people with autoimmune disorders.
How to make celery juice
The claim is that drinking just 16 ounces of celery juice a day will help you detox your body. While the jury is still out on whether or not celery juice actually has healing properties, it probably won’t hurt to try it. After all, it’s just a liquid form of a whole, healthy vegetable that’s full of nutrients. Plus, celery juice is stupidly easy to make.
Are you ready for this incredibly simple celery juice recipe? Here we go:
Ingredients
One bunch celery
½ to 1 cup water (if blending)
Instructions
- Cut celery into smaller pieces. (You might be able to skip this step if you have a juicer that can juice whole vegetables).
- Place in juicer or blender
- Hit “on”
- Drink. (Strain before drinking if using a blender)
Considering how easy and relatively inexpensive it is to make (assuming you already have a juicer or blender), it could be worth trying celery juice to see if it helps you feel any better.
What really happens when you drink celery juice?
The answer to this question varies from person to person. Some people say they feel almost immediate results, including feeling more awake. There have also been claims of a better digestive experience (i.e., they can “go” with ease), and having more energy.
For others, the digestive issues cause too many problems to make the ritual worthwhile. Having to run to the bathroom during the workday could get in the way of your routine and make you feel worse instead of better.
My advice is to try celery juice on a weekend or on a day when you don’t have to go anywhere. That way, you can gauge how it affects your body to decide if you want to keep drinking it.
It’s also a good idea to start small, with a 4-ounce serving to see how that goes instead of chugging all 16 ounces at once.
If your body feels noticeably better after drinking the celery juice, but you just can’t stand the taste, keep in mind that you can still get the awesome benefits of celery by eating it raw. You can also cut celery up and mix it in salads, put it in soups, or toss it in dips to get the health benefits without having to eat it plain.
One thing the celery juice trend is doing is helping people stay hydrated and get more veggies into their bodies. So, regardless of whether celery juice can help with autoimmune diseases, it’s not likely to hurt you if you try it. Ease into it, and don’t feel like a failure if it turns out celery juice just isn’t your thing.
Kate Williams has a Ph.D. in English and freelance writer. She is also the CEO of People First Content, a…
