This originally appeared on Scoop Charlotte 

The Benefits of Celery Juice

Celery juice has been a hot topic the last few years. Many people have claimed that it can cure conditions like obesity, thyroid issues, acne and even cancer. But it’s a controversial subject. Does it actually work? How often do you need to drink it? Why drink it? And what are realistic expectations of juicing celery? Let’s take a look.

Celery Juice Nutrition

Let’s first cover the basics: celery is low in calories, high in Vitamin K, and rich in nutrients such as zinc, copper, folate, biotin, other B vitamins. It also contains antioxidants – said to protect your cells against free radicals. Celery is also rich in phytonutrients, which may reduce inflammation.

Benefits of Drinking Celery Juice

The biggest said benefit of juicing celery is to lower inflammation. This is due to the antioxidants within celery – notable two compounds apigenin and luteolin. To keep this as clear as I can, these may help with: allergies, arthritis, cancer, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. To read more on each of these issues, I suggest reading this post. If you want to keep reading a realistic experience with it, read on.

Why I Tried Juicing Celery

About 6 months ago, I had my breast implants removed. Now there is a lot that’s involved in this topic, so let’s not forget why we’re here – but it was after my surgery that I started juicing celery. Another controversial topic, I chose celery juice to help my body detox. Now you may or may not believe in doing cleanses and/or juicing, but my stance is this: I’m not doing a full on cleanse. I like both smoothies (well I don’t love them but I’ll have them) and juices. I mean, can there really be much wrong with getting fresh organic produce into your body? Yes, you’ll get more fiber with smoothies, but I was willing to try celery juice. And here’s what I found:

1. My skin looked clearer. I just had a glowing look.
2. My digestion was good, but honestly I don’t have a lot of digestion issues post explant surgery.
3. I felt good about starting my day off with a green plant.

I listened to Morgan Kline’s podcast about juicing for a month and she (along with others) felt less bloated.

All in all – I liked it!

Tips on Drinking Celery Juice

1. Use organic celery.
2. Drink celery juice on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. No coffee first!
3. Start off slow – 4-6 ounces is a realistic start! You can build from there.
4. Wait 20 minutes after consuming celery juice to eat or drink anything else.

To Make Celery Juice:

1. Cut the base and ends off of celery.
2. Wash with a vegetable brush and let dry.
3. Feed celery through a juicer. Immediately bottle (I like to store in Mason jars) and refrigerate.
4. Consume within recommended time based on your juicer (some juicers keep nutrients fresh longer than others).

Celery Juice Considerations

If you decide to try celery juice, know that celery has 30 mg of sodium per stalk. Be mindful of your sodium consumption.

Some people are allergic to celery and may have symptoms ranging from skin reactions, digestive upset, and respiratory problems.

I have enjoyed drinking celery juice, but it’s not for everyone. I’d love to hear if you’ve tried it and liked it!