The celery juice phenomenon is often attributed to Anthony William, who considers himself the originator of the Global Celery Juice Movement.first The movement has received both social media and major media attention in The New York Times2 and LA Times3 among others.
You can easily grow your own organic celery at home by keeping it in a cool place, providing enough water, and growing in good soil.4 It is important to choose organically grown celery because it is one of the more contaminated vegetables at the grocery store.
Choose organic celery for your table
Each year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG),5 a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting health and the environment that publishes guidance on pesticides in production. This document is called “The Dirty Worker;” Celery often appears on the list.
In 2012, it was 2nd on the list and was most likely to contain the most pesticides, with 96% of samples testing positive and nearly 90% retaining more than one pesticide.6 By 2019, celery had dropped to 11th place, surpassed by strawberries, spinach and kale.7
Before testing fruits and vegetables, produce has been washed and peeled as consumers can expect at home.8 The Shoppers Guide, which EWG has published since 2004, ranks contamination in 47 fruits and vegetables based on more than 40,900 samples.9 Carla Burns, EWG Research Analyst, comments:ten
“The main route of pesticide exposure for most Americans who do not live or work on or near farms is through their diet. Studies have shown that eating pesticide-free fruits and vegetables has health benefits, and this is especially important for pregnant women and children.”
American Academy of Pediatrics11 emphasis should be on limiting children’s contact. Pesticide exposure is associated with poor intellectual development, pervasive developmental disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Their data also showed an association with physical birth defects, fetal death, and effects on neurodevelopment.
EWG evaluated tests by the United States Department of Agriculture, which found 225 different pesticides on fruits and vegetables.twelfth Dr. Philip Landrigan is director of the Global Public Health Initiative at Boston College and one of the authors of the 1993 National Academy of Sciences study, “Pesticide in the Regime” feeding of infants and children”.13
He highlighted the effects of pesticide exposure and stressed that, where possible, steps should be taken to reduce children’s exposure while continuing to provide a diet full of whole foods. fresh products.14
The dangers of pesticide exposure continue into adulthood. The Pesticide Action Network reports long-term toxicity at low doses is associated with Parkinson’s disease, depression, anxiety, asthma, and some cancers.15
Celery Juice Trends: Rising Costs Are a Perfect Storm
Michael Karsch is the CEO of the New York juice chain, Juice Press,16,17 and he tracks juice trends. In 2018, he noticed an increased interest in celery juice and decided to offer a 12-ounce, one-ingredient drink for $7. Karsch spoke to The New York Times about the shortfall and his future, saying:18
“Within a few days, this is our third best-selling drink, which is amazing for a single ingredient product. So far I’ve been unimpressed with celery. It’s not vibrant. It contains a ton of water and a ton of fiber… Three months ago where we couldn’t get enough celery juice for about 4 days… Five years ago it was organic almonds, maybe 7 years ago there was Kale. Usually what happens is it fixes. ”
Vandana Sheth,19 A spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, finds these trends often driven by social media and can be appealing because she believes more people are looking for a quick fix to their health. surname.
She notes that moving back and forth between different trending eating plans can be dangerous, and says:20 “I’m seeing a lot of messy eating habits in my training. It is not sustainable in the long run.”
Sammy Duda,21 Senior vice president of Duda Farm Fresh Foods, one of the largest celery growing companies in the world, spoke to The New York Times about his family’s familiarity with the issue of supply and demand as people grow up. famously endorse a particular vegetable juice. Of the 10 items listed on their product page, three are packaged celery and one is fresh celery.22
Costs are not only affected by demand from juice trends, but also by weather. New York Times23 reported warm, dry fall in Palm Beach, Florida, where some crops are grown, and a cold, wet winter on the west coast, where other fields are located, which affected growth and harvest.
Crops on the Duda farm are also affected by a soil-borne disease that causes supplies to be shorter than usual in an environment with greater-than-normal demand.
Phytonutrients promote health benefits
While there has been push to promote celery as a cure for a variety of health conditions, scientific evidence supports a more limited amount. One cup of raw celery contains 40% of your daily value of vitamin K.24 Plus, it contains 11% of your daily value of molybdenum,25 a trace mineral that your body uses to detoxify heavy metals.
Some of the bigger threats from heavy metals are related to cadmium, mercury, arsenic and lead.26 Long-term exposure can lead to nerve damage, skin cancer, kidney damage, and bone fractures.
Toxicity will depend on several factors including route of exposure and duration.27 You can read more about molybdenum’s function in heavy metal detoxification in my previous article, “The Three Pillars of Heavy Metal Detoxification.”
Celery also contains measurable amounts of folate, potassium, and vitamin B2. Celery stalks are an excellent source of antioxidants, phytosterols, flavanols and flavones, many of which provide anti-inflammatory benefits.28 However, one of the more beneficial compounds found in celery may be apigenin, of interest for its anti-cancer potential.29
Apigenin is a flavonoid found in some fruits and vegetables and some Chinese medicinal herbs. It has potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral properties and is currently being reported to be effective in treating various forms of cancer. This has been found in vitro and in vivo by initiating apoptosis and autophagy, as well as stimulating an immune response.30
Apigenin is involved in stimulating the growth of nerve cells. An animal study demonstrated learning and memory improvements when apigenin was injected or taken by mouth.thirty first Studies have also linked apigenin to the activation of AMP-activating protein kinase (AMPK) in human skin cells.
The results suggest that “one of the mechanisms by which apigenin exerts its chemoprotective effect may be through the activation of AMPK and induction of autophagy in human keratinocytes”.32 In another published study, scientists looked at anti-cancer properties in regulating oxidative stress and DNA damage. They wrote:33
“One of the most well-recognized mechanisms of apigenin is its ability to promote cell cycle arrest and induce apoptosis through a p53-related pathway. Another role of apigenin in chemotaxis is to induce autophagy in certain human cancer cell lines. “
Large amounts can affect kidney function
Although not high in oxalates, celery has 11 to 20 mg per 3 1/2 ounces of vegetables. Oxalates are found in animal and plant foods with some more concentrated sources including spinach, almonds, and beet greens.34 Oxalates are involved in kidney stone formation and calcium absorption.
Your gut bacteria play a role in how well oxalate is absorbed. The combination of oxalate and nonoxalate foods will also affect how much soluble oxalate is absorbed from the digestive tract.35
Calcium oxalate kidney stones are one of the more common stones. However, it is not high calcium intake that causes stones but oxalates.36 Oxalates are compounds that protect plants from predators.37 Oxalic acid binds to calcium making it less bioavailable and insoluble, increasing the risk of kidney stones.
Oxalates are broken down by gut bacteria, but when your microbiome is damaged, these compounds enter the bloodstream and are stored in the kidneys. While 11 to 20 mg of oxalate in a 3 1/2-ounce serving of celery is small, drinking 16 ounces of celery juice per day may not.
A 16-ounce glass of celery juice requires a large bunch of celery,38 usually contains 10 stalks39 and weighs about 16 ounces or more.40 Drinking this much celery juice equates to 90 mg of oxalate per day. In addition to other foods, including chocolate, berries, nuts, legumes, and grains,41 This can increase your risk of kidney stones.
Gentle Chamomile Tea – An Option With Similar Benefits
Herbal teas are a rich source of polyphenols and flavonoids that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. One of the most soothing is chamomile tea, which belongs to the Asteraceae family42 contains a large number of herbs, shrubs and trees.43
In addition to being used as a tea, chamomile has been praised for many health benefits, including those in the volatile oil found in the flower. One of the main components in flowers is apigenin, which is mainly found as a glycoside.44
Adults can use the volatile oil from the flowers in the bath, as a topical peeling cream, as an inhaler, or as a tincture to relieve menstrual cramps and improve sleep. For more information on chamomile benefits and how to make flower tinctures at home, check out my previous post, “What Are the Benefits of Chamomile?”
