A health expert has revealed the potential benefits of consuming a particular beverage every morning for a week, dubbing it “the most powerful medicine of our time” due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Dr Eric Berg DC, who boasts 12.8 million followers on his YouTube channel, detailed the advantages of drinking celery juice daily for seven consecutive days.

Renowned for his knowledge in healthy keto and intermittent fasting, Dr Berg also serves as the director of Dr Berg Nutritionals. He outlined the virtues of this low-calorie, nutrient-rich juice.

With just 15 calories in two stalks, celery is not only nutritious but also kind to your waistline. It’s a source of dietary fibre, vitamin K, and contains modest amounts of vitamin A and C, calcium, and iron.

While it does contain some natural sodium, this is minimal. Dr Berg noted: “Celery is 95% water, so it doesn’t contain many nutrients.

“A 16-ounce glass of celery juice contains some folate (B9) and roughly 288 mg of sodium. But he added: “Celery juice does contain four phytonutrients that have significant health benefits,” reports Surrey Live.

These plant-derived chemical powerhouses, known as phytonutrients, function as antioxidants and offer a range of positive effects on wellbeing. Notably, celery features a foursome of 3-n-butylphthalide, apigenin, coumaric acid, and kaempferol.

Dr Berg explained the potential health benefits of two compounds found in celery. The first compound, 3-n-butylphthalide, is known to aid in repairing stroke damage, rebuilding microcirculation, and offering neuroregenerative effects.

Recent research suggests this compound could improve cognitive dysfunction related to ischemia and Alzheimer’s disease in animal studies. Ischemia refers to a condition where part of your body experiences reduced blood flow, leading to a lack of oxygen for tissues.

Dr Berg says there are other benefits. He explains: “It also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis, and anti-thrombosis properties.”

The second compound, apigenin, is a widely researched polyphenol found in various plants such as parsley, onions, oranges, thyme, and basil. According to Dr Berg, “Apigenin acts as a muscle relaxer, lowers blood pressure, and improves sleep. It has anti-diabetic properties and has been shown to be helpful for people with amnesia.”

He added that apigenin’s ability to reduce inflammation allows it to lower blood pressure by acting as a vasodilator and diuretic, and prevent blood vessels from constricting. He said celery juice can help prevent cancer by managing the body’s DNA damage response and oxidative stress, decreasing inflammation and helping block new blood vessel formation.

One study showed a significant drop in systolic blood pressure among people who drank celery juice. Other research showed its benefits in tackling high blood pressure.

One patient with a history of high blood pressure saw positive changes after drinking celery juice daily for half a year. A small-scale study also found that celery leaf extract lowered blood sugar levels in prediabetic adults both before and after meals.

Meanwhile, coumaric acid found in celery provides several health benefits. It is, known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, and anti-clotting properties.

The expert said: “It supports healthy blood sugar levels and can also help with inflammation associated with arthritis.” Notably, it slows carbohydrate absorption in the intestines and enhances the functionality of beta cells responsible for insulin secretion – crucial for controlling blood sugar.

Lastly, kaempferol, is a compound renowned for its antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammation benefits. It is thought to lower some cancer risks, particularly skin, liver, and colon cancers, by affecting cellular processes tied to cancer development.

It is found not only in celery but also in tea, kale, beans, and broccoli.

Time to get the best benefits

Dr Berg advises those keen to try the juice that early in the day is best. He said: “It is best consumed in the morning on an empty stomach. Choose organic celery to make celery juice, and add lemon juice for taste if you’d like.”

Key things to watch out for

Beware that celery has been known to trigger allergic reactions, manifesting as skin irritations, digestive upset, or respiratory issues. In very rare instances, an allergy to celery can escalate to anaphylaxis, which is a grave emergency with potentially fatal consequences.

Always consult your healthcare provider before embarking on any drastic dietary or lifestyle shift. It’s important to verify that consuming celery won’t interfere with your health, especially since its root may interact with certain medications meant to regulate blood clotting and consequently increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

If you want to try celery in other forms, try tossing it raw into salads, blending it into smoothies, stir-frying it for some crunch or simmering it in broths. Celery can enhance many dishes with its unique flavour profile.