Benefits and Side Effects of Celery Juice

There is a lot spoken about celery juice and its benefits. It is believed to have many health benefits and that it can help cure certain conditions like obesity, and acne, and prevent cancer.

With the air of healthy living around, you may wonder what is right and what is not. It is necessary to know the benefits and side effects of celery to take the right decision.

Experts believe that the substances present in different parts of the plant can have various effects on the body that may also help to improve sleep and reduce blood sugar, and blood pressure.¹ While there are claims that it can be used in treating rheumatoid arthritis and gout, and can be used as a mosquito repellent, more research is needed to confirm the benefits of celery in these areas.

Before having celery juice for the claims that it can cure medical conditions, there should be some scientific backing. Let us look at the nutritive value of celery and its benefits.

Celery is a plant from the apiaceae family that grows in high moisture and lower temperature. Celery seeds, leaves, and essential oils are often used for various purposes. Celery contains phytochemical compounds like carbohydrates, flavonoids, alkaloids, and steroids.² The reason why celery is popular in traditional medicine is that it contains these compounds, flavonoids along with vitamin A and vitamin C.

Some of the health benefits of celery include:

Staying hydrated is the most important wellness tip for all. Having foods that contain water can help and celery tops the list. Proper hydration helps you maintain body temperature, and blood pressure, and manages waste removal and detoxification.

Celery contains 90% to 99% water and can be the best option to maintain hydration. Along with other nutrients, celery juice can be a great health drink to have during hot weather, after strenuous exercises or just to refresh yourself.

Celery is rich in plant compounds, polyphenols, and flavonoids. These compounds help to remove free radicals and hence show antioxidant properties. With this, such plants are known to provide antioxidant benefits, protect from cell damage and act as an anti-inflammatory. Celery contains the compounds caffeic acid, ferulic acid, apigenin, luteolin, tannin, and saponin, which have strong antioxidant properties. Other compounds present in celery in different concentrations have different healing effects.

Owing to these benefits of celery, it is believed to be useful in preventing certain conditions associated with inflammation and cellular damage. Celery juice may offer these antioxidant properties but the amounts in which it must be taken for these health benefits is not clear.

Celery contains natural sugars and has a refreshing taste. Celery juice is not only rich in water but also contains vitamins and minerals making it a healthy drink compared to other sugary beverages.

Due to the presence of natural compounds in celery and its anti-inflammatory properties, it is popular in managing conditions like metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome includes abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and hypertension.³ These conditions increase the risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease.

Celery contains compounds like phenolic acids, flavones, flavonols, and antioxidants like vitamin C, beta-carotene, and manganese. These act as antioxidants, can reduce oxidative damage, and prevent inflammation. These mechanisms play an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis. The most active ingredients in celery A. graveolens are found to have hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, and hypotensive properties. As celery juice offers these properties and antioxidant benefits it can be beneficial to prevent or manage the metabolic syndrome.

A study conducted in 2019 concluded that celery has high concentrations of bioactive compounds apigenin, luteolin, and kaempferol that can help in the production of inflammatory mediators and cytokines. It is in nutraceutical industries regarding the use of plant extracts and plant bio-actives as possible functional food substances to prevent inflammatory diseases.⁴

Owing to the compounds present in celery, it can be beneficial in the treatment of certain conditions. Other benefits of celery as given by some studies include:²

• Celery can help prevent cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, jaundice, urinary tract obstruction, and joint problems such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
• Celery has antifungal properties.
• Celery seeds are useful in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, fever, vomiting, and tumor.
• The essential oils of celery have anti-bacterial effects.
• The root of celery acts as a diuretic and can also be used in the treatment of colic.

There is no harm in having celery juice once in a while or adding celery to your diet in some amounts. When you add celery to your salads, soups, or other foods the quantity you take is less compared to that when you prepare celery juice. So, if there are any side effects, particularly of taking in large amounts, you should be aware of it. Let us look at the side effects of celery juice:

Celery contains plant compounds that may offer various health benefits. It can also improve gut health and cleanse the gut.

Some people sensitive to certain compounds present in celery may not tolerate it well. While small amounts of celery sticks or when added to dishes may not cause harm, having a glass of celery juice can be troublesome for some. People with irritable bowel syndrome, those with a sensitive gut, or those who have digestive troubles may not be able to tolerate celery juice.

Celery has its own nutritive value and can be a healthy food choice. Including celery in your diet in various ways cannot only be healthy but also give a variety. Having celery juice may offer those health benefits but the amount in which it is taken should be well tolerated and the frequency of intake is best decided on how it suits you to avoid any side effects. The health benefits of celery may be more useful to maintain good health but for treatment of medical conditions, it is advisable to seek a medical opinion.

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