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It’s the health food craze taking over social media: drinking 470ml of celery juice each morning on an empty stomach. Started by Anthony William “the Medical Medium” a New York Times bestselling author who has 1.6 million followers on Instagram, celebrity fans of the bright green juice trend include Gwyneth Paltrow, Jenna Dewan and Kim Kardashian. Should you try it?
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What are the benefits of celery juice?
According to the Medical Medium website the powerful antioxidants in celery juice can help with everything from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diabetes, eczema, acne and inflammation, as well as a host of mental health issues including depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.
If it sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is, says accredited practicing dietitian Robbie Clark, who says that the celery juice craze is nothing more than a testament to our desire for quick fixes. “Celery is a nutrient-dense vegetable, it’s packed with vitamin B6, C, A and K as well as potassium, folate, fibre and over a dozen types of antioxidants. But boiling down the complexities of chronic disease to a single food, without scientific evidence or consensus from medical experts is misguided. Anthony “Medical Medium” William has absolutely no medical or health credentials and he relies on medical advice from the spirit world.
Is the celery juice trend for you?
Clark says that while drinking celery juice won’t do you any harm, you should proceed with caution if you take medications for blood pressure, anxiety, cholesterol or blood thinners as some ingredients in celery can interact with them, so check with your GP first. “Drinking celery juice is fine if you want to do it, but I would not reply on it to cure all your woes. You need a balance of nutrients from a variety of whole foods.”
