When You Drink Celery Juice Every Day, This Is What Happens To Your Body

Celery juice has been all the rage of self-proclaimed wellness gurus. As such, people all over social media have begun praising the trend. There seems to always be a wellness trend that becomes a hit one year and then is proven ineffective the next, but celery juice doesn't seem to be going anywhere any time soon. 

Anthony William, the health guru in Los Angeles, California, who dubs himself the "originator of global celery juice movement" told the New York Post that celery juice is "a powerful herbal medicine that's killing bugs in people's bodies." Goop claims that drinking a glass of celery juice on an empty stomach can "restore" the health of people with "chronic and mystery illnesses."

Yes, celery juice has many purported benefits, such as weight loss, reduced inflammation, and detoxing properties, but what really happens to your body when you drink the beverage every day? Let's wade through the claims and find out.

Drinking celery juice every day means getting more celery in your diet, of course, which in turn means you'll also be getting a ton of nutrients in your diet as well. In addition to being low in calories and hydrating, celery juice also has a lot of vitamins and minerals that are essential for your body to function optimally.

In fact, according to Healthline, celery juice contains essential nutrients including, but not limited to, beta carotene, iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, as well as vitamins A, K, and C.

That isn't to say that drinking celery juice every day will give you all the nutrients your body needs to fuel you, but it's definitely a good start. After all, there's nothing wrong with adding more veggies into your diet. Plus, celery juice is a quick and easy way to boost your nutrient intake.

Having high blood pressure is no joke, and it's not rare in the United States, either. According to the American Heart Association, over 100 million Americans struggle with high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes, dementia, and so much more. Fortunately, drinking celery juice every day may be able to lower your blood pressure.

According to Healthline, "Celery contains a phytochemical that relaxes the tissues of the artery walls. This causes increased blood flow and may lower blood pressure." Additionally, a report published in the Pharmacognosy Review (via NCBI) found that celery was able to actually reduce hypertension in 14 of the 16 total patients the study looked at.

However, it's important to note that celery juice was combined with honey in this particular study and the patients drank eight ounces three times a day for one whole week.

Some chronic diseases don't seem to have one perfect cure, or even cause, which makes them all that much more frustrating, and potentially heartbreaking, to deal with. Thankfully, if you drink celery juice every day, you may be able to reduce your risk.

Researchers have discovered that flavonoids may be able to prevent chronic diseases and according to Healthline, celery is high in flavonoids. In fact, this veggie is one of the largest sources of flavonoids out there. 

While there is still a lot of research to be done, one study published in a 2014 issue of Food and Function noted "antioxidant activities" in the flavonoids of celery. According to Healthline's summary of the study, "The flavonoids were tested in vitro (using samples in a lab) and in mice. The antioxidant activity took place in the heart, liver, and kidney of the mice." So, drink up.

"Inflammation" has almost become a buzzword in the health and wellness industry. People will wax poetic about how important it is to avoid inflammation and how certain foods, like those that contain gluten and dairy, cause inflammation, but it raises the question: What even is inflammation and why is it supposedly so bad? Well, according to Harvard Medical School, inflammation seems to play a role in the development of the four "major degenerative diseases," otherwise known as coronary artery disease, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer's.

As it turns out, inflammation is a big deal. Fortunately, drinking celery juice every day could just help your reduce your inflammation. According to an American Chemical Society study, the flavones in celery "possess unique anti-inflammatory properties." However, celery isn't the only food that can reduce your inflammation.

"An anti-inflammatory diet is one that focuses on vegetables, fruit, and whole grains, nuts, and limited animal protein — and celery can certainly be a part of that diet," Christine Palumbo, a registered dietitian nutritionist based in Naperville, Illinois, explained to Everyday Health.

One of the prevalent claims regarding celery juice is that it will help to detox and cleanse your body. Naturally, people who want to rid their bodies of toxins have flocked to the wellness beverage. However, if you drink celery juice every day, your body won't actually detox any better than it already does.

"There is no evidence that drinking celery juice, or any juice, has any detoxing or cleansing benefits," Lindsay Krasna, a registered dietitian told Vice. "Our kidneys and liver are the vital organs responsible for purifying our blood and ridding our bodies of harmful toxins. They do that beautifully whether we're consuming celery juice or eating a burger." Your body is already made to cleanse itself of the toxins that you consume, so if you only try celery juice detoxes, then you're wasting both time and money.

Famous fans of celery juice believe the beverage is best consumed on empty stomach in order to give the body the digestive support it needs. It may be easy to believe that celery juice would help with digestion. But, in reality, it may not to do much.

"There's no research to support the idea that drinking celery juice on an empty stomach helps with digestion," Rachael Hartley, registered licensed dietitian and certified intuitive eating counselor told Insider. "Most of the digestive health claims I found cited a rat study that was done using celery extract to treat gastric ulcers, but it's a big leap to say that means drinking celery juice will help with digestions in humans!"

Even if you drink celery juice every day, that routine alone isn't going to be the thing that changes your digestive track. However, adding more vegetables to your diet will be able to help with your digestion.

As a vegetable, celery itself has a ton of nutrients and vitamins that are great for your overall health, including fiber. But, as with any fruit or vegetable, when you juice celery, it loses a lot of its fiber, one of the key nutrients found in the vegetable.

As JJ Virgin, a celebrity nutrition and fitness expert, told Healthline, you are taking in hardly any fiber if you choose to drink celery juice every day as opposed to deciding to eat a whole stalk of celery. "Not to mention that you'll be missing out on all the other health benefits of fiber," she explained. "Many foods contain nutrients in the peel, pulp, and other components that are lost when they're converted to juice form." You could save yourself the hassle and just eat it whole.

Many people rely on coffee to give them the energy boost they need to get them up and out of bed in the morning, there may actually be a more health-conscious way to stay energized. As it turns out, celery juice can actually give you energy. If you make it your routine to drink celery juice every day, you may find you no longer need coffee, tea, or energy drinks to give you that boost.

According to Healthline, celery juice is able to energize the body without all of the calories that you find in a lot of other caffeinated beverages. This is probably because celery juice is packed with so many nutrients and vitamins, including beta-carotene, which, according to WebMD, " is converted to vitamin A, an essential nutrient." Additionally, vitamin A is an antioxidant that helps to "protect cells from damage." If you replace your AM coffee with celery juice, you may find yourself with more energy.

There's no denying the fact that it's super important to stay hydrated. It's not uncommon to be told to "drink more fluids" when you're sick or to drink lots of water throughout the day to stay healthy, but the fact of the matter is, most Americans are still habitually dehydrated.

Citing a 2013 study, CBS Miami explained that "most people know that they are supposed to drink water, but up to 75 percent of Americans may be functioning in a chronic state of dehydration." Fortunately, drinking celery juice every day may be able to help.

As Healthline reported, celery is high in water and electrolytes, as well as other vitamins and nutrients, so consuming celery in any form will hydrate you. Of course, that isn't to say that celery juice should replace your water intake throughout the day. But, getting more water by adding celery juice to your diet isn't a bad thing. "Drinking fluids is crucial to staying healthy and maintaining the function of every system in your body, including your heart, brain, and muscles," Harvard Health Publishing explained. "Fluids carry nutrients to your cells, flush bacteria from your bladder, and prevent constipation."

Drinking celery juice every day may actually work to prevent kidney stones. Not familiar with the condition? According to the American Kidney Fund, "Sometimes, when you have too much of certain wastes and not enough fluid in your blood, these wastes can build up and stick together in your kidneys. These clumps of waste are called kidney stones." Kidney stones can be quite painful, which means they're well worth avoiding if at all possible. Thankfully, that's made easier with celery juice.

According to Healthline. "Celery juice is thought to clear away toxins that contribute to kidney stone formation and has long been used in traditional medications. It also helps flush out the body so you can pass the stone." Not only can celery juice help prevent kidney stones, but it can also make managing them easier. Really, it's a win-win.

Being bloated can be seriously frustrating and feel awful. And, while there are many products out there that might claim to help reduce bloat, celery juice is a great natural alternative that has been shown to help with bloating.

Holistic health coach Molly Alliman told Well+Good that "celery is a powerhouse vegetable with antioxidants, enzymes, and phytonutrients." She continued, saying, "Celery [root] is a natural diuretic, and along with its ability to help the liver flush toxins, it also can reduce bloat." Lori Welstead, a registered dietitian and nutritionist at the University of Chicago, agrees. She explained to the Chicago Tribune that, due to celery's high water content, it's able to curb bloating. Really, why wouldn't you drink celery juice every day if it could help you be less bloated?

Because celery juice is able to reduce bloating, it can also serve another function. "While celery juice isn't a magical cure for weight loss (is anything really?), it can help you lose weight," body image consultant and fitness and wellness expert Jennifer Cohen explained in an article for Forbes. "This is because it reduces bloating and aids the rest of your body to function at a more optimal level."

If you've never been one to eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables, drinking celery juice every day has the potential to change a lot in your body. Not only will you be getting more nutrients than you would have without the celery juice, but you'll also probably have to go to the bathroom even more.

As Glamour reported, celery juice is thought of as a natural laxative for your body, which means if you drink on the regular, you'll be seeing a lot more of your toilet than you were before. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can be. Glamour revealed that celery is a high FODMAP food. "FODMAPs are compounds thought to trigger digestive problems," according to the publication. For people with irritable bowl syndrome, celery juice could be more trouble than its worth.

However, if you deal with constipation, celery juice may be very helpful. "If you have digestive issues, constipation, bloating or any sort of stomach issue, adding celery juice to your diet can potentially reverse these problems," body image consultant and wellness and fitness expert Jennifer Cohen explained in an article for Forbes. "This is because celery contains hydrochloric acid, which restores function and helps heal the gut."

If the term "oxidative stress" sounds confusing, don't stress about it. It's actually a lot easier to understand than you might assume. According to Medical News Today, "Oxidative stress is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body, which can lead to cell and tissue damage." If this kind of stress goes on for too long, Healthline explained that it can actually "damage your DNA and other important molecules in your body." And, if you have too much oxidative stress, it can lead to chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes. But that's where celery comes in.

Erin Palinski-Wade, a registered dietitian, told Healthline, "It is true that there is supportive research on the phytochemicals in celery helping to reduce blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and fight against oxidative stress. These same nutrients are found in whole celery as well as celery juice." So, whether you eat celery whole or drink celery juice every day, you'll be getting the benefits of reducing oxidative stress, which also lowers your chances of developing chronic illnesses.

Making your own juice with celery is expensive and time-consuming, and buying it is even more expensive. But, are the health benefits worth it? Should you really bother to drink it?

Rachael Hartley, registered licensed dietitian and certified intuitive eating counselor doesn't think so. Hartley told Insider that it's healthy, sure, but not exactly entitled to all the praise it receives. "Celery contains a nice dose of vitamin C and folate, and its high water content makes it extra hydrating in the summer. But celery doesn't have any magical curative properties!" The expert continued, saying, "While celery is a perfectly nutritious addition to a balanced diet, no single food has the ability to completely transform health."

If you drink celery juice every day, you'll definitely reap plenty of health benefits, but if you don't especially enjoy the taste or it isn't feasible for you to make it a part of your routine, don't stress too much about it.