Celery juice is probably popping up all over your Instagram feed these days (and if it isn’t, just follow a few more influencers and you’ll see what I mean). Busy Phillips even gushed about the stuff on her Instagram Stories earlier this year.
FWIW, though, celery juice isn’t the worst Instagram trend (that award goes to detox teas). In fact, it’s actually pretty good for you. “Celery juice is healthy because celery is healthy,” says Amy Shapiro, founder of Real Nutrition.
Yep, that’s right, the benefits of celery juice are pretty real:
1. It’s hydrating.
I mean, duh, it’s a beverage. But whole celery is actually packed with water, meaning you’ll be getting a solid dose of H2O when you juice the stuff.
2. It might help you de-bloat.
A cup or two a day could help if you feel like you’re lugging around a food baby. “Some may benefit from drinking celery juice if they feel bloated,” says Shapiro, adding that because celery is a natural diuretic, it’ll release some water retention while keeping you hydrated.
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3. It’s packed with antioxidants.
“Celery is also loaded in antioxidants and is anti-inflammatory, so these nutrients can help you feel good and fight illness,” says Shapiro. You’ll get more of its benefits in concentrated juice form than you would eating the stalks, since you get around four stalks per five ounces of liquid. So yes, efficiency is definitely at play here.
4. It’s a good source of magnesium.
Shapiro notes that celery, and therefore its juice, is high in magnesium, which promotes muscle health, digestion and sleep.
“It’s also rich in nitrates, which help dilate blood vessels, enhance blood circulation, and decrease blood pressure for those who suffer with it,” she says. Finally, celery has anti-inflammatory properties that promote gut lining health and regulate digestion.
5. It’s low in sugar.
Whole celery contains just one gram of sugar per chopped cup, according to the USDA. Even if you juice four or five cups of whole celery, you’ll still be downing less sugar than what’s in a cup of orange juice (about seven grams).
6. It’s low-calorie.
Chopped up, this veggie only contains about 15 calories (62 kilojoules) per cup, according to the USDA. (But again, you’ll definitely have to juice more than a cup of the stuff to get an entire glass.)
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How to make celery juice
Celery juice is a bit of an…acquired taste. “Celery juice tastes much like you’d expect. It’s relatively bland and salty, however, it also has a fair amount of bitterness and can be difficult to swallow,” says Desiree Nielsen, a registered dietician.
Still, at least it’s easy to make. “Just add washed celery to your high-speed blender and blend until liquefied. Once you’ve blended, strain the juice using a fine sieve or nut mylk bag to remove the very fibrous pulp,” says Nielsen. For a less earthy taste, add water.
So, is celery juice worth all the hype?
“So all in, celery is healthy and good for you, [but] my recommendation, however, is to enjoy the whole food first,” says Shapiro. The reason: When you juice a veggie, you’re missing out on most of its fibre. “I always recommend clients eat veggies instead of juicing them because the fibre is important for weight loss, blood sugar regulation, and the feelings of satiety.”
This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com
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