Should you drink celery juice in the morning or night?

Celery juice has become a popular health drink in recent years, with claims that drinking it can help with digestion, weight loss, inflammation, and more. Some people swear by drinking celery juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, while others prefer drinking it in the evening. So when is the best time to drink celery juice – morning or night? Here’s a comprehensive look at the potential benefits and drawbacks of drinking celery juice at different times of day.

The Potential Benefits of Drinking Celery Juice

First, let’s examine some of the purported benefits of drinking celery juice in general:

• May aid digestion – Celery contains insoluble fiber that can help move food through the digestive tract. Celery juice contains digestive enzymes that may also support healthy digestion.
• Could reduce inflammation – Celery contains antioxidants like flavonoids and polyphenols that have anti-inflammatory effects in the body.
• May boost hydration – Celery juice is mostly water, so it can help hydrate the body.
• Contains essential minerals – Celery provides minerals like potassium, sodium, and magnesium that play important roles in nerve signaling, blood pressure, and more.
• Could support liver health – The antioxidants in celery may help protect the liver from oxidative stress and damage.
• May help manage cholesterol – Animal studies found celery juice may reduce LDL “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides.
• Could help with weight loss – Celery juice is low in calories and could be a part of a healthy weight loss diet.

However, more research in humans is still needed to support many of these benefits.

The Case for Drinking Celery Juice in the Morning

Here are some reasons why you may want to consider drinking celery juice first thing in the morning:

1. May support detoxification

Some alternative medicine practitioners recommend drinking 16 oz celery juice on an empty stomach in the morning to help “detox” the body. The logic is that certain compounds in celery juice like antioxidants bind to toxins in the gut and help flush them out. Drinking celery juice before eating anything else may allow it to work most effectively to help remove toxins without interference.

2. Could aid digestion throughout the day

Getting those digestive enzymes from celery first thing in the morning may promote better digestion of meals throughout the day. This is because it primes and stimulates the digestive tract while it’s still empty to be ready for action.

3. Provides hydration first thing

Celery juice is mostly water, so drinking a big glass early in the morning can help provide hydration after going several hours without fluids during sleep. Proper hydration also supports detoxification.

4. Easy on an empty stomach

Some people find drinking straight celery juice on an empty stomach causes less digestive upset than eating solid celery or other produce first thing in the morning. With nothing else in the stomach, the celery juice passes through the system rapidly.

5. Energizing

The minerals in celery juice like magnesium, potassium, and sodium are very electrolyte rich. This makes celery juice hydrating and potentially energizing first thing in the morning to start the day off right.

Potential Downsides of Drinking Celery Juice in the Morning

Drinking celery juice on an empty stomach in the morning does come with some potential cons to consider as well:

1. May cause diarrhea or cramps

Because celery contains insoluble fiber that can stimulate the intestines, drinking celery juice early in the morning may provoke loose stools or intestinal cramps in some people as it starts moving through the GI tract.

2. Can trigger nausea

The high water content and stimulation from compounds in celery juice on an empty stomach can provoke nausea in some individuals.

3. Interacts with certain medications

Celery juice may interact with certain medications if ingested at the same time in the morning on an empty stomach. For example, it’s recommended to separate taking thyroid medications from celery juice by at least 60 minutes.

4. Not suited for all diets

Drinking celery juice early in the morning may not work well for low carb, ketogenic diets. The natural sugars in celery could take someone out of ketosis or trigger insulin responses.

5. Possible pesticide exposure

Celery is on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list for high pesticide residue. Drinking a full glass of celery juice every morning over time may increase exposure to pesticides.

The Case for Drinking Celery Juice at Night

On the other hand, here are some reasons why you may want to consider drinking celery juice later in the day instead:

1. Better tolerance on a full stomach

Some find that drinking celery juice on a completely empty stomach first thing causes digestive distress, while having it a few hours after a meal is easier to tolerate.

2. Less impact on sleep

For some people drinking celery juice early in the morning may energize them too much and make it harder to fall back asleep. Having it later in the day may avoid disrupting sleep.

3. Provides nutrients at night

The minerals in celery juice like magnesium and potassium are relaxing and can support sleep. Having celery juice in the evening provides these minerals right before bed.

4. Supports bowel regularity

The insoluble fiber in celery juice helps move things through the intestines. This may be helpful at night to support regular bowel movements in the morning.

5. Hydrates for sleep

Staying hydrated is important for getting good sleep. The high water content in celery juice makes it very hydrating if consumed before bed.

Potential Downsides of Drinking Celery Juice at Night

There are also some drawbacks to consider with drinking celery juice in the evening:

1. Diuretic effect

Celery acts as a mild diuretic, meaning it increases urine production. Drinking it close to bedtime can lead to disrupted sleep to urinate.

2. Blood sugar fluctuations

The natural sugars in celery may cause blood sugar spikes and crashes at night in some people, negatively impacting sleep.

3. May cause indigestion

Celery is pretty fibrous, so some find drinking celery juice close to bedtime causes indigestion, gas, and bloating during the night.

4. Stimulating effect

Even though celery juice contains relaxants like magnesium, some people may still find it overstimulating at night and making it hard to fall asleep.

5. Insufficient research

More research is still needed on the effects of drinking celery juice at night. So potential benefits and risks are not fully characterized yet.

How Much Celery Juice Should You Drink?

If you want to try incorporating celery juice into your routine, a good starting amount is 8-16 ounces (250-500mL) per day. You can always start on the lower end then increase to higher amounts if you find it beneficial.

Most proponents recommend drinking no more than 24-32 ounces (750-950mL) of celery juice per day. Excess intake may cause side effects like diarrhea, cramping, and mineral deficiencies if it starts to replace balanced meals.

Tips for Drinking Celery Juice

Here are some tips for reaping the potential benefits of celery juice:

• Drink celery juice immediately after juicing for maximum nutrient retention.
• Use organic celery when possible or thoroughly wash celery to minimize pesticide exposure.
• Start with a small amount like 4-8 oz to assess tolerance.
• Avoid high speed blending which oxidizes nutrients in celery juice.
• If drinking in the morning, wait at least an hour before consuming anything else.
• If drinking at night, have it 2-3 hours before laying down for best digestion.
• Try adding a pinch of pink Himalayan salt or lemon to help balance mineral content.
• Consume celery juice alongside a balanced, whole food diet for overall health.

The Bottom Line

There are potential benefits and drawbacks to drinking celery juice both in the morning and at night. Here is a summary:

Time of Day	Potential Benefits	Potential Drawbacks
Morning	May support detoxification Could aid digestion throughout the day Provides hydration Easy on an empty stomach for most Energizing	May cause diarrhea or cramps Can trigger nausea Interacts with some medications Not suited for low carb diets Possible pesticide exposure
Night	Better tolerance on a full stomach Less impact on sleep Provides nutrients before bed Supports bowel regularity Hydrates for sleep	Diuretic effect Blood sugar fluctuations May cause indigestion Stimulating for some Insufficient research on effects

As with most health trends, celery juice may work great for some people but not others. The best time of day to drink it may require some personal experimentation. Pay attention to how your body responds.

Aim to drink celery juice on an empty stomach whenever possible to get the most potential benefits. But moderate portion sizes and listen to your body, especially when starting out. If you experience any negative side effects like diarrhea, stop drinking it.

While celery juice has many proposed upsides, it should not replace eating whole, healthy foods throughout the day. Focus on getting nutrients from a balanced diet rich in whole fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, legumes, healthy fats, and fiber. Celery juice can simply be an adjunct, not the end all and be all of your diet.

At the end of the day, listen to your own body to determine if and when celery juice fits into your lifestyle and helps you feel your best.