Is the Celery Juice Diet Healthy?
Celery juice diets are trending, but is there any real science behind them? I’m answering your top nutrition question today on whether celery juice is really a health tonic, or just another diet fad.
Question: Does celery juice really have all the health benefits that it touts? –Laura
Answer:
Like all vegetables, celery is a healthful plant food. It contains vitamins C and K, B vitamins, fiber, minerals (copper, manganese, calcium), and phytochemicals and polysaccharides with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. These phytochemicals include a variety of compounds that have been linked to helping prevent inflammation in the digestive tract and blood vessels. However, I believe the benefits of celery have often been overblown, as there is no evidence that it will “cure” conditions you read about over the Internet, such as Epstein-Barr, bloating, acne, and psoriasis. Quite simply put: It is not a magic bullet.
So, what about doing celery juice daily? Any benefits to that habit? Well, I think that enjoying celery on a regular basis could probably help you reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, as many vegetables do when consumed on a regular basis. However, we need more research to see if this really happens in humans that drink celery juice daily. In addition, celery juice could furnish your body with important nutrients, like minerals, vitamins, fiber, and phytochemicals. But drinking celery juice every day is not going to be a miracle cure for all that ails you. Celery juice could be part of a healthy diet. But drinking other plant-based juices, such as blueberry, tomato, or other fruit-veg juices also has benefits along these lines. Further, you’re better off eating the whole plant food in most cases, rather than juices, which strain away some of the fiber and nutrients.
Remember that there is no magic bullet. Try eating a rainbow of plant foods for multiple benefits. Each vegetable has different nutrients and plant compounds which have unique benefits. Instead of focusing on one, have dozens of them in your diet.
Eat and Live Well,
Sharon
Check out other nutrition questions I’m answering at The Plant-Powered Dietitian:
Is Coconut Oil Healthy?
Should I Try a Keto Diet?
Do Turmeric and Hemp Prevent Cancer?
How Can I Make the Switch to a Vegan Lifestyle?
About Ask Sharon
As part of my program “Ask Sharon”, I am answering the top question of the month submitted through my blog, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to answer here. You can even win a prize! Don’t forget to submit your burning nutrition question this month via my blog, or other social media.
