Can Celery Juice Help You Lose Weight and Belly Fat?

Medically Reviewed on 1/27/2023

What are the nutrients in celery?

Celery is a popular vegetable that has few calories and is rich in nutrients like fiber. A lot of people drink celery juice to reduce belly fat, but there is a lack of scientific evidence to support this application.
Celery is a popular vegetable that has few calories and is rich in nutrients like fiber. A lot of people drink celery juice to reduce belly fat, but there is a lack of scientific evidence to support this application.

Many people drink celery juice for weight loss. Celery is a popular vegetable that has few calories and is rich in nutrients like fiber. It is a healthy addition to your diet if you’re trying to limit your calorie intake. 

Read on to learn more about celery juice and weight loss, as well as the nutrients in celery, its health benefits, and side effects. 

Celery (Apium graveolens) is a nutritious vegetable commonly used in cooking. You can consume celery in salads or cook it in various dishes. You can also make raw celery juice using its stalks to enjoy its health benefits. 

A 100-gram serving of celery juice contains the following nutrients:

  • 95.4 grams of water
  • 14 calories
  • 0.69 grams of protein
  • 0.17 grams of fat
  • 2.97 grams of carbohydrates
  • 1.6 grams of fiber
  • 40 milligrams of calcium
  • 0.2 milligrams of iron
  • 11 milligrams of magnesium
  • 24 milligrams of phosphorus

It also contains minerals like potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium, in addition to vitamins that include vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, folate, choline, vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin K. It also contains antioxidants like beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. 

What are the health benefits of celery?

Celery has the following health benefits:

Prevents oxidative stress

Research shows that celery contains powerful antioxidant compounds with healing properties. These include vitamin C, apigenin, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, luteolin, tannins, and saponins. These antioxidants prevent oxidative stress and cell damage by destroying harmful toxins like free radicals that attack your cells and can cause diseases over the long term.

Reduces inflammation

Studies suggest that celery has anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a natural immune response to injury or infection, but if it persists over the long term, it can cause various diseases.

Celery contains nutrients like antioxidant flavonoids and other bioactive compounds like apiin and apigenin. Animal studies have shown that these nutrients have anti-inflammatory effects. However, more studies are required to confirm their effects in humans.

Fights microbes

The antioxidant effects of celery give it antifungal and antibacterial properties. Celery has protective bioactive nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that boost immunity and prevent fungal and bacterial infection. Studies show that celery extract is effective against harmful bacteria like Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. It also fights fungi like Aspergillus and Candida.

Protects heart health

A study in rabbits shows that celery extract decreases blood pressure. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help protect the heart and prevent inflammation. It can help prevent chronic heart problems and maintain heart function.

Maintains blood sugar levels

Animal studies show that butanol in celery seed extract helps regulate antioxidant enzymes, reduces stress, promotes weight loss, and improves blood sugar levels associated with diabetes. However, studies in humans are required to more widely confirm these effects.

Protects the liver and kidneys

Research shows that drinking celery juice can detoxify the liver and kidneys. Its anti-inflammatory properties help protect the liver and kidneys from inflammation and diseases.

Lowers cholesterol and blood lipid levels

Studies in rats and mice show that celery extract reduces fat and cholesterol levels in the blood. It can help prevent atherosclerosis or blockage in blood vessels that occurs due to fat accumulation. It can also help treat metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of heart disease, stroke, obesity, and diabetes. However, human studies are needed to prove the medical applicability of these benefits.

Prevents cancer formation

Celery seed oil contains bioactive compounds called phthalides, which protect your cells from cancer. Antioxidant compounds such as coumarins in celery destroy harmful free radicals and prevent cancer-causing mutations in cells. 

Drinking celery juice can similarly prevent cells from becoming cancerous.

Is celery juice good for weight loss?

A lot of people drink celery juice to reduce belly fat, but there is a lack of scientific evidence to support this application. Of course, celery juice is low in calories, fats, and sugars, and it has many beneficial nutrients. Celery juice with pulp also has a lot of fiber, which keeps you full for longer and reduces hunger. This makes celery juice a healthy, low-fat option if you’re trying to limit calorie consumption. 

Additionally, a study in diabetic rats showed signs of weight loss following treatment with butanol extracted from celery juice. Another study of mice that were fed a high-fat diet revealed that fermented celery juice promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut and prevents obesity. However, there is no conclusive evidence concerning celery’s effects on weight loss in humans. 

Still, research shows that low-calorie drinks fill your stomach and may reduce your calorie intake, which can lead to weight loss. Celery juice may not directly cause fat loss, but it can be a great addition to a healthy diet that supports weight management

To maintain a healthy weight, follow a well-rounded diet that includes different fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats along with regular exercise.

What are the side effects of celery juice?

Celery juice is generally considered safe, but eating whole pieces of celery may be more nutritious than juicing it. When strained, celery juice loses at least some of its fiber content. Fiber is essential to keep your gut healthy and aid in weight loss. 

Celery also contains compounds called oxalates. Drinking a lot of celery juice can cause oxalates to build up in your body. This is harmful to people prone to a certain type of kidney stone. If you have kidney stones or are at risk of getting them, consult your doctor or nutritionist for dietary advice.

How to make celery juice

You can easily make celery juice at home. First, wash and rinse some celery under running water. Peel and trim the brown parts and leaves. Cut the stalks into pieces. Add them to a blender. You can strain the pulp using a sieve, but it’s best to avoid removing the pulp from the celery juice, as this reduces the fiber content.

You can also try blending celery with other juices to get even more nutrients and maintain a balanced diet.

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Medically Reviewed on 1/27/2023
References
SOURCES:

Food & Function: "Beneficial impacts of fermented celery ( Apium graveolens L.) juice on obesity prevention and gut microbiota modulation in high-fat diet fed mice."

Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine: "A Review of the Antioxidant Activity of Celery (Apium graveolens L)."

Nutrients: "Low Calorie Beverage Consumption Is Associated with Energy and Nutrient Intakes and Diet Quality in British Adults."

Phytotherapy Research: "Beneficial effects of celery (Apium graveolens) on metabolic syndrome: A review of the existing evidences."

Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy: "Review on the Pharmacological and Health Aspects of Apium Graveolens or Celery: An Update."

UC Davis Health: "Celery juice: Are the benefits real?"

USDA: "Celery, raw."