Learn more about the benefits of celery juice.

Many people swear by the health benefits of drinking 16 ounces of fresh celery juice every morning on an empty stomach. But does this new health trend really live up to the hype?

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What Is Celery Juice?

Celery juice, which is extracted from stalks of fresh celery, is the latest veggie to hit the juicing trend. This bright green drink has been touted as a cure for digestive issues, bloating, acne, eczema, and weight loss, as well as a super-rich source of condensed nutrients to kickstart your day. But are these claims true?

What Are the Benefits of Celery Juice?

According to UPMC registered dietitians, celery is a low carbohydrate source of potassium, vitamin K, flavonoids, and antioxidants. Celery also has low levels of other nutrients, such as magnesium, calcium, and folate, so it is a healthy food option that nutritionists encourage people to eat.

Celery juice may be easier for some people to digest than raw celery, and certainly is a healthier choice than a sugar-filled soda or sports drink.

What Are the Cons of Celery Juice?

Although celery juice has nutrients, UPMC experts say there is no science to back up the claims that celery juice is a cure-all for a variety of health problems. The juice from celery does not deliver any added benefits than you would get from eating it fresh.

Juicing may actually reduce celery’s nutritional benefits since you are no longer getting fiber from the fresh celery. The nutrients you get from drinking the celery juice are just as available when you eat the vegetable itself.

Finally, drinking celery juice can have an adverse effect on weight loss. Drinking the juice may not be as satisfying as chewing the raw vegetable and could leave you feeling less full, leading you to eat more calories.

The Bottom Line on Celery Juice?

Is this latest fad worth all the time and effort for the health benefits it claims to offer? We say skip the juice and munch on celery instead.

If you want to try celery juice as a healthy beverage, here’s a recommended recipe:

Remove four to five stalks of celery and wash them thoroughly in water to remove any dirt.

Cut each stalk into four or five pieces and add the pieces to a juicer. For a little extra flavor, add 1.5 tablespoons of lemon juice, one cored and sliced Granny Smith apple, and/or a 2-inch chunk of peeled fresh ginger. Turn on juicer to extract juice. Refrigerate and drink cold.

About UPMC

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, UPMC is a world-renowned health care provider and insurer. We operate 40 hospitals and 800 doctors’ offices and outpatient centers, with locations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, and internationally. We employ 4,900 physicians, and we are leaders in clinical care, groundbreaking research, and treatment breakthroughs. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside as one of the nation’s best hospitals in many specialties and ranks UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on its Honor Roll of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals. We are dedicated to providing Life Changing Medicine to our communities.