Is it okay to blend celery juice?

Celery juice has become a popular health trend in recent years, with claims that drinking it on an empty stomach can provide various health benefits. Some proponents suggest that celery juice should only be consumed by juicing the celery, not blending it. But is there really a difference between juicing and blending celery? Let’s take a closer look.

What is celery juice?

Celery juice is made by juicing or blending celery stalks and leaves. It provides a concentrated source of nutrients from the celery plant, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.

To make celery juice, you run celery stalks and leaves through either a juicer or blender. Juicers extract the liquid from the produce, leaving behind the insoluble fiber. Blenders process the entire vegetable, including the fiber.

Potential benefits of celery juice

Drinking celery juice has become popular due to claims it can provide various health benefits. However, most of these claims are not yet scientifically proven. Some potential benefits of celery juice may include:

• Hydration – Celery juice consists mostly of water, providing hydration.
• Nutrients – Celery juice contains vitamins and minerals like vitamins K, A, and C, folate, potassium, and manganese.
• Antioxidants – It provides antioxidant phytonutrients like flavonoids, phenolic acids, and ascorbic acid that may help reduce oxidative stress.
• Anti-inflammation – Compounds like polyacetylenes and flavonoids in celery may help reduce inflammation.
• Digestion – Celery juice contains insoluble fiber that may aid digestion. However, this fiber is removed during juicing.

Juicing vs. blending celery

The key difference between juicing and blending celery is that juicing extracts the liquid, leaving the insoluble fiber behind. Blending processes the whole vegetable, including the fiber.

Here is a comparison of juicing versus blending celery:

Juicing	Blending
Removes insoluble fiber from celery	Retains insoluble fiber from celery
Extracts juice containing vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients	Processes juice along with insoluble fiber into smoothie-like drink
May be easier to digest due to lack of fiber	May aid digestion more since insoluble fiber is present
Provides concentrated source of nutrients	Nutrients may not be as concentrated

Potential downsides of juicing vs. blending

There are some potential downsides to both juicing and blending celery:

Downsides of juicing

• Removes fiber, which provides digestive and gut health benefits
• Nutrients may oxidize and degrade faster without fiber protection
• May cause blood sugar spikes since fiber is removed
• Not as filling due to lack of fiber

Downsides of blending

• May be difficult to digest for some people sensitive to insoluble fiber
• Nutrients may not be as concentrated
• Can’t juice leafy greens like spinach or kale when blending

Is it okay to blend celery juice?

Overall, both juicing and blending celery provide nutritional benefits. However, there are some advantages to juicing:

• Juicing provides a more concentrated source of nutrients.
• It’s easier for many people to consume larger amounts of celery juice without fiber.
• Juicing is required to extract juice from leafy greens like spinach.

On the other hand, blending retains the fiber, which may provide gut health and digestion benefits. People with sensitivities to insoluble fiber may not tolerate blended celery well.

For most people, it’s fine to blend celery occasionally instead of juicing. But juicing may provide more nutritional benefits if celery juice is consumed regularly. Those with gut issues may find juicing celery is better tolerated.

Tips for juicing vs. blending celery

Here are some tips when making and consuming celery juice:

When juicing

• Drink immediately after juicing to prevent nutrient degradation.
• Consider pairing with fiber-rich foods like nuts or chia seeds for balanced nutrition.
• Rotate juicing with blending to obtain fiber benefits.

When blending

• Add ingredients like ginger or lemon to mask the flavor if needed.
• Strain blended juice if fiber causes digestive issues.
• Add water or coconut water to reach desired texture.

Bottom line

Both juicing and blending celery can provide nutritional benefits. Juicing may be preferable for concentrated nutrition, easier digestion, and incorporating leafy greens. Blending retains fiber, which improves digestion for some people but can be hard to tolerate for others.

For most people, occasionally blending instead of juicing celery is fine. But juicing may be better for regular celery juice consumption. Those with gut issues should see if juicing is better tolerated.