Celery Juice

 
The latest trend in nutrition is taking the Internet and social media by storm and this time it’s not kale or quinoa, or any of the highly touted brightly colored veggies. It is the humble celery stalk.
 
Did I just say celery? Yup.
 
Even as a certified nutritional therapist, celery was always very low on my veggie totem pole. I remember studying its hydrating qualities but that’s all I remember other than my reaction of, “Meh” before I moved on to the more exciting vegetables like broccoli and kale. But could I be wrong? Could celery have more locked inside it than water and a few minerals?
 

What Spirit Knows

 
According Medical Medium Anthony William, celery juice’s most famous evangelist who channels “Spirit”, drinking celery juice can restore digestion in those who are constipated, eradicate bacteria and viruses, heal eczema, psoriasis, and acne. It also fights autoimmune disease and tackles acid reflux. He says science hasn’t discovered the properties responsible for the miraculous benefits of celery yet.
 
I’ve read his book, Medical Medium and am intrigued.
 
In my herbalist training program I vaguely remember learning that celery juice is very cooling and puts out the fire of inflammation fast. In herbal medicine any plant with cooling properties can do that. I also remember my instructor telling me that he gave a man having a psychotic episode celery juice once and he calmed down and became normal. Or was that cucumber juice? Hmm… Still intrigued, so I set out to look for some studies to back up Anthony’s bold claims.
 

What Science Knows

 
It turns out celery can prevent cardiovascular diseases,[1] jaundice, liver and liver diseases,[2] urinary tract obstruction,[3] gout,[4] and rheumatic disorders.[5] Research on rats shows that ethanol extracts of celery leaves increases spermatogenesis[6] (That’s sperm count) and also improves fertility.[7]
 
Celery reduces glucose, blood lipids,[8] and blood pressure, which can strengthen the heart.[9] Experimental studies show that celery has antifungal[10] and anti-inflammatory properties.[11] Moreover, its essential oils have antibacterial effects.[12]
 
Hmm… I thought, perhaps I was wrong about this unassuming vegetable. I found further studies that show celery seeds are useful in the treatment of bronchitis,[13] asthma, chronic skin disorders, including psoriasis,[14] vomiting, fever, and tumors.[15]
 
The root of the celery is diuretic and it is also used for the treatment of colic.[16]
 
Many studies examined the effects of celery antioxidants. Phenolic and antioxidant compounds of celery have been studied by several scientists.[17]
 
One study compared celery against conventional drugs and found one possible advantage of celery extract over conventional drugs used in high blood pressure is that beta-blocker, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers tend to significantly lower cerebral blood flow. While this effect is helpful in reducing the likelihood of stroke, it often leaves patients taking these drugs feeling tired, depressed, dizzy, and forgetful. In contrast, celery extract has been shown in animal studies to help prevent stroke[18], improve blood flow[19], and act to protect the brain[20] and enhance energy production.[21] It has produced dramatic recovery in neurological and brain function.
 
Looks like it may have been celery after all that my herbalist mentor used for that psychotic episode.
 

Do we really need to juice it, though?

 
According to Anthony William, Yes. Here is an article from his site on Celery Juice 101. How to use celery to get the most benefits: https://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/celery-juice-101
 
Many people including the popular Dr. Axe, known for his more alternative approach to healing through diet, don’t think the celery juice craze lives up to its hype. A Google search brings up much doubt over the validity of the celery movement.
 
But what of those whose lives have been impacted by celery directly? There are people everywhere online and on social media testifying to celery’s healing properties with before and after photos that are more than impressive. Testimonies abound of people who have gotten rid of horrific skin conditions, improved digestion, increased energy, lost weight and much more.
 
It seems there are two camps; those who testify to the amazing healing properties of celery, and those who find it to be, like I used to, simply ‘Meh.’
 

What does all this mean?

 
Nothing really. At Good Decisions when I choose an All-Star Food it has to meet certain criteria. For instance, Papaya seeds can kill parasites and are used in third world countries all the time. That’s impressive. Beets can heal hemorrhoids, how cool is that? And Turmeric can very impressively put out the fire of inflammation.
 
So when delving into celery I had my doubts. I decided to try it myself. Now, let me preface this with the facts that I did have a large Epstein Barr infection at one point and I generally fight with fatigue. So I went into this experiment with hopes that might be able to increase my energy. I also have sluggish digestion and have had to ensure that I drink plenty of water and eat lots of veggies daily to keep my poop shoot moving. I decided to test celery’s claim to improving digestive function.
 
I just ended my 3rd week of drinking 16 ounces of celery juice every morning and this is what I experienced:
 

  1. I definitely feel like I am more hydrated. Deeply hydrated, and I feel good.

 

  1. After week 2 I started having a normal bowel movement every day. This is not just a bowel movement. It is an easy full evacuation with minimal wipeage. You know, the bowel movements people dream about and afterwards hear angels sing and the earth moves? Was Spirit with me too I wondered? Sorry, I digress.

 

  1. My energy level has increased dramatically. I used to long for my 3pm nap and now I can rock it all the way through until 6 without getting tired.

 

  1. Increased mental clarity. Yes, my brain has somehow turned itself on and even these witty comments I am coming up with in this article are coming out of no-where.

 
I will definitely continue to drink celery juice and have included it in Good Decisions list of All-Star foods. If not for anything else than it’s ability to give it’s users full, complete, and most satisfying bowel movements. That it effectively treats gout, and supports the cardiovascular system are additional boons.
 
Does it reduce viral load like Anthony claims? Hard to say. I did not find any study to support this claim. I can only attest to the fact that it did ease my own fatigue.
 
Because of celery’s cooling properties I swapped out celery juice for red wine in one of my clients eating plans who had hot flashes and it worked like a charm.
 

Are there any side effects to drinking celery juice?

 
If you would like to try celery juice on your own, there is no reason not to. Dinking celery juice will certainly do you no harm. I did not find one study that showed celery juiced killed someone.
 
I am actually very surprised at all the people against celery juice. I mean, you could do so much worse than start your morning with a glass of green. My best advice is to try it yourself. If it works, and like me you can thank the angels for a perfect bowel movement, awesome! If not, nothing lost and perhaps there were some nutrients gained.
 
[1] Sowbhagya HB, Srinivas P, Krishnamurthy N. Effect of enzymes on extraction of volatiles from celery seeds. Food Chem. 2010;120:230–234.
[2] Nadkarni KM. Indian Materia Medica. 2nd ed Mumbai, India: Popular Prakashan; 2010.
[3] Bhattacharjee SK. Handbook of Medicinal Plants. 4th ed Jaipur, India: Pointer; 2004.
[4] Nadkarni KM. Indian Materia Medica. 2nd ed Mumbai, India: Popular Prakashan; 2010.
[5] Karnick CR. Pharmacopoeial Standards of Herbal Plants. New Delhi, India: Sri Satguru Publications; 1994.
[6] The Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Apium graveolens Leaf on the Number of Sexual Cells and Testicular Structure in Rat.
Kooti W, Mansouri E, Ghasemiboroon M, Harizi M, Ashtary-Larky D, Afrisham R
Jundishapur J Nat Pharm Prod. 2014 Nov; 9(4):e17532.
[7] Zare Marzouni H, Daraei N, Sharafi-Ahvazi N, Kalani N, Kooti W. The effects of aqueous extract of celery leaves (Apium graveolens) on fertility in female rats. World J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2016;5:1710–1714.
[8] Kooti W, Ghasemiboroon M, Asadi-Samani M, et al. The effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of celery on lipid profile of rats fed a high fat diet. Adv Environ Biol. 2014;8:325–330
[9] Ethnomedicines used in Trinidad and Tobago for urinary problems and diabetes mellitus. Lans CA J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2006 Oct 13; 2():45.
[10] Mosquitocidal, nematicidal, and antifungal compounds from Apium graveolens L. seeds. Momin RA, Nair MG J Agric Food Chem. 2001 Jan; 49(1):142-5.
[11] An extract of Apium graveolens var. dulce leaves: structure of the major constituent, apiin, and its anti-inflammatory properties. Mencherini T, Cau A, Bianco G, Della Loggia R, Aquino RP, Autore G J Pharm Pharmacol. 2007 Jun; 59(6):891-7.
[12] Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of some Jordanian medicinal plant extracts. Atta AH, Alkofahi A J Ethnopharmacol. 1998 Mar; 60(2):117-24.
[13] Nadkarni KM. Indian Materia Medica. 2nd ed Mumbai, India: Popular Prakashan; 2010.
[14] Khare CP. Indian Medicinal Plants. New Delhi, India: Springer; 2007. [Ref list]
[15] Kritikar KR, Basu BD. Indian Medicinal Plants. 2nd ed Vols 1 and 2 Dehradun, India: International Book Distributors; 2008.
[16] Kritikar KR, Basu BD. Indian Medicinal Plants. 2nd ed Vols 1 and 2 Dehradun, India: International Book Distributors; 2008.
[17] Yildiz L, Başkan KS, Tütem E, Apak R. Combined HPLC-CUPRAC (cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity) assay of parsley, celery leaves, and nettle. Talanta. 2008;77:304–313. [PubMed]
[18] Yu SR, Gao NN, Li LL, Wang ZY, Chen Y, Wang WN. The protective effect of 3-butyl phthalide on rat brain cells. Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao. 1988;23(9):656-661.
[19] Yu SR, Gao NN, Li LL, Wang ZY, Chen Y, Wang WN. The protective effect of 3-butyl phthalide on rat brain cells. Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao. 1988;23(9):656-661.
[20] Chong ZZ, Feng YP. dl-3-n-butylphthalide attenuates reperfusion-induced blood-brain barrier damage after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Chung Kuo Yao Li Hsueh Pao. 1999;20(8):696-700.
[21] Yan CH, Feng YP, Zhang JT. Effects of dl-3-n-butylphthalide on regional cerebral blood flow in right middle cerebral artery occlusion rats. Chung Kuo Yao Li Hsueh Pao. 1998;19(2):117-120.