Is it better to drink celery juice before bed or in the morning?

Celery juice has become an increasingly popular health trend in recent years. Many people swear by drinking 16 ounces of fresh celery juice every morning on an empty stomach. Proponents claim it provides a wide range of health benefits, from reducing inflammation to aiding digestion and detoxification.

But some people find drinking celery juice first thing in the morning doesn’t agree with their digestive system. This has led some to start drinking celery juice before bed instead. So when is the optimal time to drink your daily celery juice – morning or night?

Benefits of Drinking Celery Juice

First, let’s examine some of the proposed benefits of drinking daily celery juice:

• Hydration – Celery juice is mostly water, providing hydration first thing in the morning.
• Nutrients – Celery juice contains vitamin K, folate, potassium, and antioxidants like flavonoids and polyphenols.
• Alkalizing – It’s thought to promote an alkaline state in the body to balance acidity.
• Detoxification – Celery juice may support liver and kidney function to flush out toxins.
• Anti-inflammatory – Compounds like apigenin and luteolin have anti-inflammatory properties.
• Digestion – It may stimulate stomach acid production and bile flow from the liver.
• Gut health – Celery juice contains beneficial compounds that may feed good gut bacteria.
• Weight loss – By reducing bloating and promoting healthy digestion, it may aid weight loss.
• Lower cholesterol – Celery juice is thought to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.

Keep in mind that many of these benefits are anecdotal and need more scientific research. But there is evidence that celery juice does provide antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that can benefit health.

Potential Benefits of Drinking Celery Juice in the Morning

Here are some theorized perks of drinking your daily celery juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach:

• Better absorption of nutrients – Drinking celery juice when you wake up before eating maximizes absorption of nutrients since your body has been fasting overnight.
• Stimulates digestion – The water and electrolytes in celery juice can help activate your digestive system and stimulate contractions in your GI tract to keep things moving.
• Provides hydration – Starting your day with the high water content of celery juice hydrates your body after sleep.
• Energizing – Some find that morning celery juice provides an energy boost to start their day.
• Suppresses appetite – Drinking celery juice before breakfast may curb hunger and prevent overeating later.
• Aids detoxification – The hydration and nutrients in celery juice support liver function to potentially flush out toxins first thing.

This makes a case that drinking celery juice on an empty stomach allows maximum benefits. Proponents say starting your morning with celery juice on an empty stomach provides the best environment for absorption and digestion.

Potential Benefits of Drinking Celery Juice Before Bed

However, not everyone’s digestive system responds well to celery juice first thing in the morning. Here are some potential advantages of drinking celery juice before bed instead:

• Better tolerated – People with sensitive stomachs may find drinking celery juice before bed prevents diarrhea, gas, or bloating that can happen first thing in the morning.
• Improves sleep – Celery juice contains magnesium, which relaxes muscles and nerves to promote restful sleep.
• Calms digestion – Drinking celery juice before laying down allows your body to optimize digestion while at rest overnight.
• Hydrates before bed – The high water content replenishes fluids before a long night of no eating or drinking.
• Nutrients before fasting – You provide your body essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants before your overnight fast.
• Detoxification overnight – The nutrients support liver function as you sleep to clear toxins overnight.

For some people, drinking celery juice before bed is better tolerated than first thing in the morning. This allows your body to utilize the nutrients and hydration while you rest and digest overnight.

Optimal Timing May Vary

The ideal time to drink celery juice really depends on your unique body and needs. Here are a few factors to consider:

• Digestion – Pay attention to when celery juice causes or alleviates digestive symptoms like gas, cramping, bloating, etc.
• Routine – Choose a time that works best with your schedule and when you can drink it consistently.
• Sleep – Avoid close to bedtime if celery juice gives you energy or disrupts your sleep.
• Medications – Take on an empty stomach if drinking for optimal nutrient absorption.
• Health conditions – Those with autoimmune diseases or inflammation may benefit from morning celery juice for optimal anti-inflammatory effects.

Consider your overall health goals as well. For example, some reasons you may want to drink celery juice in the morning include:

• Losing weight
• Lowering cholesterol
• Increasing energy
• Improving skin health

And some reasons to consider drinking celery juice at night:

• Relieving constipation
• Promoting restful sleep
• Improving gut health
• Reducing joint pain

Pay attention to your body and take note of how drinking celery juice makes you feel at different times of day. This can help determine the optimal timing for your needs.

How to Make Celery Juice

To make fresh celery juice, you’ll need the following equipment:

• A juicer – Celery is tough and fibrous, so a high-quality juicer like a masticating juicer or centrifugal juicer works best.
• Knife and cutting board
• Glass to collect juice

Then follow these steps:

1. Wash and trim 1 to 2 bunches of organic celery, cutting off ends.
2. Chop celery into pieces that fit your juicer’s feed tube.
3. Run celery pieces through your juicer, collecting juice in your glass.
4. Drink immediately for best nutrient content.
5. Store any leftover juice tightly sealed in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Aim for 16 ounces of pure celery juice daily. You can start with a lower amount like 8 ounces and work your way up.

Potential Side Effects

Celery juice is safe for most people when consumed in normal food amounts. But drinking large quantities like 16 ounces per day could cause:

• Diarrhea
• Gas and bloating
• Upset stomach
• Allergic reactions
• Photosensitivity (increased sun sensitivity)
• Kidney problems if consumed in excess

Introduce celery juice gradually and pay attention to your digestive health. Talk to your doctor before starting if you have kidney disease or take certain medications.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I drink celery juice at night if I have insomnia?

It’s best to avoid celery juice close to bedtime if you have insomnia or trouble sleeping. Celery juice contains electrolytes and can have an energizing effect, which could disrupt your sleep.

2. Is it okay to add anything to celery juice?

For the purported health benefits, it’s best to drink plain celery juice without any additives. But if you need help with the flavor, you can add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice.

3. How long until I see results drinking daily celery juice?

It varies a lot person to person. Many people report noticing positive effects like better digestion, increased energy, clearer skin, and reduced bloating within 1-2 weeks of starting daily celery juice.

4. Can I drink celery juice while pregnant?

Yes, celery juice is likely safe during pregnancy when consumed in normal food amounts. But check with your doctor before drinking large quantities if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

5. Is celery juice safe for kids?

In small quantities, celery juice is likely safe for older children. But talk to your pediatrician before giving babies or young children 16 ounces of straight celery juice daily.

The Bottom Line

The ideal time to drink celery juice depends on your digestive health, routine, sleep habits, and health goals. Pay attention to your body’s signals to determine what works best. Have celery juice on an empty stomach when possible and aim for daily consistency to get the most benefits.

Evidence of Benefits

Here is a look at some of the scientific evidence related to the potential benefits of celery juice:

Benefit	Evidence
Antioxidant effects	Celery contains flavonoids and polyphenols that demonstrate antioxidant activity in studies. This can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. (1)
Anti-inflammatory effects	Compounds in celery like apigenin and luteolin have demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting certain pathways. This may benefit conditions like arthritis, IBD, and autoimmune disorders. (2)
Lowering cholesterol	Animal studies show celery juice can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels. This may be due to its bile acid binding properties. (3)
Antihypertensive effects	Celery contains phthalides that can help relax artery walls and lower blood pressure in animal studies. More human research is needed. (4)
Diuretic effects	The high water content in celery juice acts as a natural diuretic by increasing urine output. This may help flush bacteria and toxins from the urinary tract. (5)

Overall, moderate scientific evidence exists for some benefits of compounds found in celery juice. But human clinical trials are still needed on drinking straight celery juice specifically.

Conclusion

Drinking 16 ounces of fresh celery juice daily may provide antioxidants, hydration, and nutrients that can benefit your health in many ways. Pay attention to your body to determine if morning or night works better for your needs. Aim to drink celery juice consistently on an empty stomach when possible to maximize potential benefits.

While more research is still needed, evidence does suggest beneficial antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-lowering effects from compounds in celery juice. As with any health trend, utilize celery juice as one part of an overall healthy lifestyle for best results.