Celery juice has become a popular health trend in recent years, with claims that drinking it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning can provide various health benefits. Some people also enjoy celery juice at other times of the day or evening. But is it okay to drink celery juice at night? Here is a detailed look at the potential benefits and downsides of drinking celery juice before bed.
Potential Benefits of Drinking Celery Juice at Night
There are a few reasons why some people choose to drink celery juice in the evening:
- May promote relaxation and sleep – Celery juice contains compounds like apigenin and luteolin which may have mild sedative and sleep-promoting effects.
- Hydration – Celery juice is mostly water, so it can help with hydration before bed.
- Supports digestion – Drinking celery juice could aid digestion after dinner when the body’s metabolic activity starts to slow down.
- Easy to digest – Since it’s a juice, celery requires minimal digestion compared to eating solid foods at night.
- Nutrient boost – Celery juice packs in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that may help replenish nutrient stores at the end of the day.
So for some people, drinking celery juice in the evening can be a way to stay hydrated, support the digestive system, and obtain beneficial plant compounds right before bed.
Potential Downsides of Drinking Celery Juice at Night
However, there are also some potential cons to consider when deciding whether to drink celery juice in the evening:
- Diuretic effect – Celery has a natural diuretic effect to increase urine output, which may disrupt sleep if you have to get up and pee multiple times.
- Stimulating – Even though celery contains some compounds that may be relaxants, for some people drinking juice before bed can be overly energizing.
- Blood sugar – Celery juice has natural sugar, which may spike blood sugar before bed in diabetics or prediabetics.
- Gas and bloating – Raw celery is hard to fully break down and may cause gas, abdominal discomfort, and bloating at night.
- Reflux – The high water content could trigger reflux symptoms when lying down.
- Nutrient timing – Some nutrition experts recommend not drinking calories too close to bedtime for optimal sleep.
So the diuretic effect, potential stimulation, and digestive issues may present problems for some people when drinking celery juice in the evening or close to bedtime.
Tips for Drinking Celery Juice at Night
If you want to try incorporating celery juice into your evening routine, here are some tips to make it more comfortable and minimize side effects:
- Drink it at least 2-3 hours before bed to allow time for digestion and bathroom trips before lying down.
- Have a small glass, around 4-6 oz to limit stimulation and diuretic effects.
- Avoid other diuretic foods and beverages near bedtime like caffeine and alcohol.
- Mix your celery juice with soothing herbs like chamomile, passionflower, or lemon balm.
- Reduce high-fiber foods like whole grains earlier in the day to prevent gas and bloating.
- Stick to low-sugar fruits and veggies for dinner if concerned about blood sugar spike.
- Avoid lying down right after drinking. Stay upright for 30 mins to minimize reflux.
Modifying the timing, size, and other components of your evening celery juice can help reduce unwanted side effects.
Who Should Avoid Celery Juice at Night
While some people may feel fine drinking celery juice in moderation in the evening, it’s best avoided at night altogether by:
- Those with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn – Can aggravate symptoms lying down.
- People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – Raw celery fiber may exacerbate intestinal issues.
- Those with urinary conditions like overactive bladder or prostate enlargement – Can increase urination.
- Anyone on diuretic medications – Too much diuretic effect.
- Diabetics – May impact blood sugar control at night.
- Those sensitive to diuretic foods and herbs – Likely to cause disrupted sleep.
- Anyone prone to gas, bloating or diarrhea from raw veggies – Hard to digest.
For these populations, it may be wise to reserve celery juice for a morning ritual only due to the potential impact at night.
The Bottom Line
Here’s a quick summary of the key points on whether or not you can drink celery juice at night:
- Potential benefits: Hydration, digestion, nutrients, relaxation
- Potential downsides: Diuretic effect, stimulation, blood sugar spikes, gas and bloating, reflux
- Tips if drinking at night: Have 2-3 hours before bed, small amount, mix with herbs, reduce gas-causing foods
- Avoid at night if you have: Reflux, IBS/IBD, overactive bladder, diabetes, diuretic use, gas/bloating issues
Drinking celery juice at night may be fine in small amounts if you don’t experience any negative side effects. But for many people, it may be better to consume earlier in the day. Listen to your own body’s response and adjust the timing accordingly.
Overall, moderation and smart timing are key if you want to add celery juice to your evening routine while avoiding unwanted bathroom trips, discomfort, and disrupted sleep.
| Benefits | Downsides |
|---|---|
| Hydration | Diuretic effect |
| Digestion aid | Stimulation |
| Nutrient boost | Blood sugar spike |
| Relaxation | Gas and bloating |
| Reflux |
This summarizes some of the key potential benefits and downsides of drinking celery juice in the evening.
