Celery Juice Weight Loss: Does Celery Juice Help You Lose Weight 2024?

Losing weight can be a struggle; that’s why we searched for green juices as magical solutions. Drinking celery juice on an empty stomach is one of the detox trends promised to cure all health problems. Unfortunately, this is too good to be true. Just one food can not fix it all, right? But how about weight loss? Does celery juice help you lose weight? 

This article will tell you both misconceptions about celery juice benefits and the scientific facts behind the possible health benefits of celery.

The blood sugar level is one of the determinants of weight management. Now, the question comes to mind. Even though there is no scientific evidence showing celery juice’s effectiveness on weight loss, some research revealed the beneficial effects of celery extract, not celery juice, on blood glucose levels.

In a study,^[1] 750 mg of celery leaf extract was given to elderly patients with prediabetes which is characterized by blood sugar levels of 100 mg/dl but less than 125 mg/dl and can lead to serious chronic diseases like diabetes if it remains untreated. Patients taking celery leaf capsules had significantly lower blood glucose levels before and after meals. However, the study was conducted with a small group of patients, and the trial was held for just 12 days.

Importantly, drinking celery juice is unlikely to replace the effects of 750 mg of celery leaf extract. Thus there is no evidence of the effects of drinking celery juice.^[1]

What Are Celery Benefits?

Celery, Apium graveolens,^[2] is considered a medicinal plant. It is rich in fiber, Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. 

Let’s learn the potential health benefits of celery backed by science.

Celery Seed Extract May Reduce Blood Pressure And Cholesterol Levels

In a clinical study, celery seed extract capsules of 1.34 g were given to patients with hypertension. Patients who took capsules for four weeks showed significantly lower blood pressure than the placebo group. 

HDL, known as good cholesterol, was higher, and triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL, known as bad cholesterol, were lower in patients taking capsules.

Researchers concluded that celery seed extract^[3] could be used as a supplement in hypertension management. However, the study’s sample size was limited, and diverse ethnicity and genetics were not considered in the analysis.

Celery Seed May Improve Sexual Dysfunction In Women

Female sexual dysfunction is a health problem experienced as difficulty during the sexual response. It is prevalent since 40 – 45% of women worldwide are affected by it.

A recent clinical study^[4] evaluated the efficacy and safety of celery seed, again not juice, for female sexual dysfunction. Forty women took 500 mg of capsulized celery seed three times per day for six weeks, and the other 40 women took a placebo. Women who took celery seeds showed increased sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, and decreased pain. Notably, no side effects were reported concerning hypertensive/allergic reactions in the study.

Celery Can Enhance Antioxidant Capacity And Reduce Inflammation

Celery is rich in antioxidant molecules like vitamins A, C, and flavonoids which are powerful nutrients in removing free radicals and reducing free radicals that normally occur in metabolic processes. However, lifestyle, nutrition, and environmental factors can contribute to higher amounts of free radical production.

The solution to reducing inflammation caused by free radicals is eating antioxidant-rich foods. More than 11 celery cultivars were analyzed to assess antioxidant activities^[5] and the composition of flavonoids. Apigenin was the major antioxidant flavonoid in celery.

Celery Extract May Protect The Stomach Against Ulcer Formation

An animal study^[6] evaluated the effects of celery extract in rats that had experimentally induced gastric ulcers. Rats given celery extract showed a dose-dependent decrease in gastric lesions. In rats, celery extract showed protection against stomach ulcers; however, no study was done on humans. 

Side Effects Of Celery Juice

Daily celery consumption should not be a problem for most people. Some negative effects can be experienced in a higher intake of pure celery juice and celery extract.  

Higher Intakes Of Celery Can Induce Hyperthyroidism

A case study^[7] reported a 36-year-old female who consumed 8 grams daily of oral celery extract for weight loss. Researchers concluded that the patient’s thyroid function test was abnormal due to celery extract intake. The patient was advised to discontinue celery extract in addition to treatment for the thyroid disorder.

Daily Sodium Intake Can Go Higher Than Desired

Eating celery is not the same as drinking celery juice. Falsely, 16 ounces of daily straight celery juice consumption is commonly promoted. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture,^[8] 16 ounces of celery juice^[9] contain approximately 380 mg sodium, equivalent to 6 large boiled eggs^[10] or two slices of multigrain bread, or more than 30 avocados.^[11]

According to The U.S. Department of Health, 16 ounces of celery juice^[9] makes up 16% of the maximum sodium intake,^[12] so it contains a large amount of sodium for just one drink.

The high amount of sodium attracts water into blood vessels, leading to increased volume in the bloodstream resulting in higher blood pressure and later heart disease. In the long term, high blood pressure disturbs the elastic walls of blood vessels and causes unwanted plaque accumulation. This makes the heart work harder to pump the blood the body needs, which can lead to cardiovascular diseases.^[13]

Celery Can Interfere With Some Medications

People using anticoagulants such as warfarin have to follow a specific diet low in Vitamin K not to lower the effectiveness of the medication.

Celery is one food that contains a high vitamin K, so its consumption should be limited in the use of anticoagulant medications.^[14]

Celery Can Cause Allergy 

Celery can induce an allergic reaction in some people leading to respiratory disorders and even an anaphylactic reaction^[15] in which the body’s immune system^[16] releases chemicals. As a result, blood pressure suddenly drops, and airways narrow as well as block breathing.^[17]

Why Do People Drink Celery Juice?

Some people drink 16 ounces of celery juice in the morning on an empty stomach because they believe celery is a calorie-deficit superfood that cleanses the body and promotes weight loss.

Unfortunately, a celery juice cleanse is not a true theory. Our liver naturally cleanses the body from toxic metabolites and chemicals.

Contrary to common practice, there is no scientific evidence to recommend drinking specific amounts of celery juice every day.

2 Delicious Celery Recipes to Add to Your Diet

You can try the below recipes to add celery to your diet. After eating those, going back to the celery juice recipes won’t be easy, and this is for the best. Eating a meal enriched with complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats is a far better option than celery juice weight loss recipes.

Making A Bowl Of Colorful Salad

A salad enriched with protein is a great way to eat a balanced meal rich in fiber. You’ll like the aromatic taste of Celery with boiled eggs and nuts. Adding cheese would be great too.

You’ll need (for one serving): 

• 1 egg
• 4 walnuts
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• Black pepper
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 1 cup celery leaves
• 3 cups tender lettuce or your choice of green leafy vegetables
• 2 celery stalks

Make a dressing with mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Then mix the dressing with celery stalk, celery leaves, and lettuce.

Add roasted walnuts for about 8 to 10 minutes and boiled egg to the salad. For more flavor, you can add some blue cheese, too.

Celery To Nourishing Soup        

Try this whenever you want to eat flavorful and creamy soup, you won’t regret it.

 You’ll need (for 2 cups):

•  2 tablespoons olive oil
•  1 medium onion
•  2 garlic cloves
•  1 1/2 pounds of celery
•  1 large potato
•  6 cups vegetable broth
•  salt & pepper
•  1/2 fresh parsley leaves
•  1 tablespoon lemon juice
•  1 cup bread cubes

First, cook the onion, celery leaves, and stalks for about 10 minutes; when they get soft, add diced garlic, and cook for one more minute. Then add vegetable broth, potato, salt, and pepper.

After the potatoes are cooked, which will take about 20 minutes, add parsley leaves and cook for about 5 minutes. Then puree the soup until it gets perfect green juice that is smooth and creamy. Lastly, stir the soup with lemon juice and add bread cubes.

The Bottom Line

Celery should take its place in a rich, diverse, and healthy diet for its antioxidant activity, fiber, and micronutrient ingredients.

Celery juice is a low-calorie beverage. Still, celery juice, or green juices in general, should not be the first option to reach a healthy weight since a healthy and balanced diet along with regular physical activity is one of the best ways to promote weight loss that is scientifically approved.

Roots stems, leaves, and fruits/seeds of celery have different bioactive compounds. Since juicing involves just the celery leaves, the juicing process causes fiber loss which is highly needed for better digestive health. 

If only consumed in moderation, low-calorie celery juice can be an alternative to high-sugar, high-caffeine, or acidic beverages with respect to its high antioxidant and low-sugar composition.

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