HEALTHNUT | Celery Juice is a Joke

Screw quinoa, berries and especially whole vegetables. The newest health trend: celery juice. Throw some stalks in the blender, and liquify the heck out of those bitter twigs. If you’re following anyone important on Instagram (the Kardashians, Gwyneth Paltrow, Pharrell, etc.), you’ve most definitely seen this so called “miracle juice”.

According to the “ Medical Medium,” Anthony William, celery hosts a ton of undiscovered sodium clusters which “cling to toxic, dangerous salts from poor – quality foods and help draw them out of your body.” These mysterious salts have the power to automatically flush all viruses and bacteria out of our bodies by detoxifying our livers. There are even claims it cures eczema and acne! Sounds like magic to me.

This guy’s blog has somehow attracted millions of supporters, despite admitting he’s not a licensed healthcare provider. His knowledge comes from an all-knowing health and wellness spirit he’s been in contact with since childhood… Sooo what’re the real deal scientists saying?

As celebrities endorse the #celeryjuicechallenge, in which half of America drinks celery juice first thing in the morning for 5 days straight, experts produce more and more research that debunks all of William’s claims over and over, again and again. Celery will not detox your liver.

Lindsay Krasna, a registered dietitian based in NYC, states “There is no evidence that drinking celery juice, or any juice, has any detoxing or cleansing benefits. Our kidneys and liver are the vital organs responsible for purifying our blood and ridding our bodies of harmful toxins. They do that whether we’re consuming celery juice or eating a burger.”

However, it is known that celery offers tons of fiber, Vitamin K, folate, potassium and antioxidants to help your gut! But, this doesn’t translate to magic. According to Cynthia Sass, RD, CSSD, research on celery juice is “scant”. There’s not a ton of evidence of its benefits, and there’s especially not a ton of research on the optimal amount or frequency of consumption, nor the potential risks for some people and medicines.

There’s no one food that’s going to cure your cold, disease or cancer. And celery is no better than any of those other green veggies we hear about (KALE). It’s the healthy lifestyle that’s associated with eating green and prioritizing wellness (let’s not forget Kim’s personal trainer and at-home chef).

If anything, celery juice is super hydrating and full of micronutrients, the things essential for keeping us alive. So if you’re looking to up your Vitamin A or hydration, a glass of celery juice can only do good. But it’s not going to magically heal you, so don’t waste six dollars on bottled celery juice from whole foods. Instead, try buying some real food.