Celery is going viral.
I’m guessing you never thought you’d see those words in the same sentence, but it’s true! That green, stalky vegetable kept in the back of your fridge only to be used occasionally as ants on a log is getting a whole new hype.
That hype is all thanks to self-proclaimed '"Medical Medium" Anthony William. If the term medical medium is a bit foreign to you, you’re not alone. Anthony believes he was born with an ability to communicate with a spirit who provides him with health information that is revolutionary. Although he is not a licensed doctor, he has written multiple books on healing foods that many people are saying is life saving. And that brings us back to celery.
Anthony has single-handedly created a global celery movement, and has millions of people all over the world swearing by its medicinal abilities. Influencers are taking to social media with all of the improvements they’ve felt from improved digestion, lower cholesterol, to asthma and arthritis relief.
But before you go home and start munching and crunching what used to be your least-favorite vegetable, you’ll need to know the rules. Anthony says that celery is most beneficial to the system when juiced. You should also drink 16 ounces every morning on an empty stomach.
Needless to say, I was intrigued.
I decided to jump on the bandwagon and give this whole celery juice thing a try. I headed to my local Nektar, where I was quickly informed that celery juice is a BIG deal. In fact, they have been selling out nonstop for weeks. The six 16-ounce bottles came in a cute blue bag with instructions to drink a juice every morning before eating breakfast. And as the very healthy-looking employee handed me the bag, she said, “I drink one everyday.”
So for a steep $45, I purchased a six-day celery cleanse.
I was eagerly awaiting Day One to see if this beverage was even drinkable based on how unpleasant celery juice sounds. Well, my friends, it tasted like celery. Not any better and not any worse. All in all, it’s doable, especially if it really delivers on all of it’s health proclamations.
So, is it a miracle potion? The first two days of drinking the juice, I didn’t notice much of a difference. However, by Day Three, I felt more awake, and I also felt as though I was subconsciously making better health decisions throughout the day. Starting my day with celery juice as opposed to a cream and sugar-filled coffee felt good. I was starting my day off on the right foot.
I also noticed that I felt more hydrated. I never drink enough water throughout the day at work, and as a busy mom, I’m not necessarily replenishing in the evening either. Needless to say, 16 ounces first thing in the morning was a huge help.
I became a little concerned about drinking something every single day without the OK from a dietitian, even if it’s just celery juice. So, I went to someone I knew would give me a raw answer.
Julia Zumpano is a registered dietician at the Cleveland Clinic, and she had a very clear-cut answer for me.
She said there’s zero research that shows that celery juice will provide all of these benefits to the human body. However, she acknowledged that there are a lot of good properties in celery, and starting your day with 16 ounces of fluids is always beneficial.
She mentioned that there could be a little placebo effect happening when people take part in the celery juice trend. Celery juicers may be subconsciously eating and drinking better throughout the day because they are starting their day on a healthy note. Who wants to go eat a donut after they just drank 16 ounces of celery juice, right? Julia also noted that it’s very important to check with your doctor before you start any changes to your diet.
In conclusion, I will say that for me, it is hard to tell how much is placebo and much my body is truly benefiting. I completely agree with Julia. Would I recommend it? Sure.
Maybe you will find that drinking it every once in a while provides you with that boost that you need.
Do I think it’s the miracle potion that some are claiming? No.
In my opinion, there is no one thing that is going to change your life when it comes to food. Our bodies are complex and require care from every angle. Can celery juice help? Absolutely. Here’s to whatever makes you a little bit healthier!