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Is Celery Juice Good for Your Skin?
Celery juice has soared in popularity in recent years.
It’s lauded for its purported benefits for skin health, and some people even claim that it helps treat acne.
However, you may wonder whether these attributes are backed by science.
This article tells you whether celery juice is good for your skin.
Does it treat acne?
Though many people swear that celery juice can cure acne, no studies have proven it works for this purpose.
Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that leads to blocked pores. Its main causes include age, genetics, hormones, diet, and certain bacterial strains of Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) (1, 2, 3, 4).
False claims
Though acne has been studied extensively, some people assert that it’s caused by the excess production of sebum — an oil on your skin — due to an overload of Streptococcus bacteria. The salt in celery juice is said to kill off Streptococcus and thus decrease acne.
Yet, these claims oversimplify the complexity of acne and ignore the fact that these bacteria can both harm and aid human health. Furthermore, limited research supports the idea that celery kills Streptococcus (5).
While one study showed that celery leaves exerted anti-bacterial action against Streptococcus mutans, it was a toothpaste formulation (6).
Moreover, if your body has an excess of harmful Streptococcus bacteria, you may need to take antibiotics and should always consult a health professional (7).
Furthermore, though salt has antibacterial properties for food preservation and dental health, no research supports the idea that celery juice’s sodium content reduces bacterial infections or acne prevalence (8, 9).
Potential benefits of celery juice for acne
Although no studies back the notion that celery juice treats acne, it may relieve acne symptoms for other reasons.
Celery juice is low in sugar and a good replacement for sugary beverages like soda, specialty coffees, and energy drinks. Research links high sugar diets to increased acne and low glycemic diets to decreased acne (10, 11, 12).
A low glycemic diet emphasizes foods that don’t rapidly increase your blood sugar levels. These include fiber-rich foods like vegetables, whole grains, lentils, beans, and certain fruits like berries, apples, and pears.
If you replace sugary beverages with celery juice, you may thus see a decrease in acne due to less sugar and more fiber in your diet.
Moreover, celery juice is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that may help lower inflammation (3).
Given that acne is an inflammatory condition, eating anti-inflammatory foods may reduce oxidative stress and levels of hormones like insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) that contribute to acne (3).
All the same, more research is needed.
There’s no evidence that drinking celery juice gets rid of acne. However, its low sugar and high antioxidant content may help improve acne symptoms.
Increased hydration
Celery juice comprises mostly water and may help hydrate your skin.
Drinking enough fluids throughout the day helps maintain hydration levels to keep your skin cells well maintained. When you’re dehydrated, your skin may start to look dull, which enhances fine lines and wrinkles (13).
However, drinking fluids isn’t associated with improving dry skin. Dry skin results from decreased levels of protective oil in your skin and is usually treated with moisturizers to seal water in your skin’s epidermis (13, 14, 15).
Other preventative measures, such as changing soaps, using warm (not hot) water, and applying cream within a few minutes of bathing, are also recommended.
Nonetheless, staying continually hydrated is important for overall health and helps your skin appear fresh (13).
Increases nutrient availability in your skin
Celery juice may increase the amount of nutrients sent to your skin.
Its hydrating effects may help deliver nutrients and remove waste products throughout your body — including your skin (16).
Moreover, celery juice packs multiple nutrients that support skin health, such as fiber, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins A, B, C, and K (17, 18, 19).
For example, vitamin C plays a key role in collagen synthesis while zinc is important for wound healing (18, 19).
Finally, its antioxidants may help protect your skin and allow it to rejuvenate faster and more effectively (17, 20).
Low in sugar
Opting for celery juice instead of sugary beverages can benefit your skin.
A high sugar diet is linked to increased skin aging through a process known as glycation.
Glycation occurs when sugars interact with collagen and elastin fibers to form compounds known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Collagen and elastin are key proteins responsible for the structure and suppleness of skin (21, 22, 23, 24).
Over time, AGEs can lead to saggy skin and increase the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (21, 22, 23, 24).
Therefore, choosing low sugar beverages like celery juice may slash your overall sugar intake and boost skin health.
Celery juice may improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles due to its high water and nutrient content. Moreover, it’s a great alternative to sugary drinks, which are linked to skin aging.
Celery juice nutrition
Celery juice is full of nutrients and makes an excellent addition to your diet. Just 1 cup (240 mL) provides (17):
- Calories: 42.5
- Protein: 2 grams
- Carbs: 9.5 grams
- Fiber: 4 grams
- Sugar: 5 grams
- Calcium: 8% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Magnesium: 7% of the DV
- Phosphorus: 5% of the DV
- Potassium: 14% of the DV
- Sodium: 9% of the DV
- Vitamin A: 7% of the DV
- Vitamin C: 16% of the DV
- Vitamin K: 74% of the DV
In addition, it offers small amounts of micronutrients like copper, zinc, folate, biotin, and numerous B vitamins. It’s also rich in flavonoid antioxidants, which may help lower inflammation and oxidative stress in your body (17, 25).
Finally, juicing celery concentrates its nutrients and allows you to consume more celery in a single glass (26, 27).
Celery juice is a good source of many nutrients, including fiber, potassium, zinc, and vitamins A, B, C, and K.
How to make celery juice
If you want to make celery juice at home, here’s a simple recipe that uses a blender instead of a juicer.
- Wash 3–4 celery stalks under running water, removing any leaves to decrease bitterness.
- Cut the stalks into small pieces.
- Add celery to the blender and blend until smooth.
- Place a strainer over a wide glass and pour the mixture into the strainer, pressing down to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. The juice will collect in the glass.
You can make celery juice on your own with a blender or juicer. To enhance the taste, try adding lemon juice, ginger, or green apple.
The bottom line
Celery juice has been touted as a cure-all and is widely believed to treat acne.
Despite these claims, no evidence indicates that it gets rid of acne.
However, celery juice is rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and water, all of which can boost skin health and rejuvenation. Moreover, it’s a great alternative to sugary beverages and may still aid some acne symptoms.
If you want to give celery juice a try, you can easily make it at home using a blender or juicer.
Read more on: acne