This crazy green juice is all the rage right now which means many women are wondering if drinking celery juice during pregnancy is safe. Stores are sold out of celery and home juicing machines are flying off the shelf, but is this a trend you want to indulge in for you and your baby? We are outlining all the details below!
What is it?
While there is nothing new or revolutionary about juicing, it has returned to the spotlight after a popular book and a few popular “medical public figures” have touted it as a miracle juice.
It has taken the world by storm on Instagram as the newest selfie sidekick paired perfectly with a metal straw.
The idea is to juice 3 or more stalks of celery and consume it first thing in the morning before you eat anything else.
Although there isn’t much research backing it, people report changes in their bowel movements, skin, as well as other internal benefits, after starting this daily habit.
Is celery juice safe during pregnancy?
There is no research suggesting celery juice causes harm during pregnancy, but there is also no research suggesting specific benefits during pregnancy.
Many pregnant women are told juicing while pregnant is not safe because most fresh juices are not pasteurized. Pasteurization is a heat-treating process that reduces the chance of bacteria growth (1).
If you juice celery at home, it will not be pasteurized. If you do decide to consume home-juiced celery during pregnancy, ensure the celery has been carefully washed prior to juicing it.
Eating whole celery during pregnancy is perfectly safe. Increasing your vegetable intake can help increase micronutrients, prevent constipation, and also plays a role in fetal and infant growth (2).
Eating whole celery versus drinking it is different nutritionally.
Juicing celery requires much more celery than you could eat raw in one sitting with your favorite veggie dip.
A 16-ounce glass of celery juice usually contains around 9 stalks of celery, although you can use less to sip a little green juice.
Due to using a much larger quantity of celery in juice creation, the nutrients you obtain are higher which is appealing to women trying to up their nutrient intake during pregnancy.
Nutrient breakdown; whole celery versus celery juice:
In one large stalk of celery:
- Calories: 9 calories
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Sugar: 0.9 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Protein: 0.4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Potassium: 166 mg
- Calcium: 25.6 mg
- Sodium: 51 mg
In an 8 oz. glass of celery juice:
About 3-4 large stalks
- Calories: 42 calories
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Sugar: 6 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Fiber: 4 g (with pulp, so if you blend it, not juice it)
- Potassium: 670 mg
- Calcium: 100 mg
- Sodium: 215 mg
All values provided by the USDA nutrient database.
Are there benefits to consuming celery juice during pregnancy?
Celery, raw or juiced, is mainly composed of water, hence it can help keep you hydrated.
It is important to increase fluid intake as your pregnancy progresses because body weight and blood volume are changing rapidly.
People who drink celery juice regularly report increased or better-regulated bowel movements, although not everyone will receive these benefits.
Again, you are likely to see this benefit also from eating whole celery due to the fiber content.
This can be beneficial to pregnant women because a common symptom of pregnancy and taking some prenatal vitamins is constipation.
One study in rats suggests celery seed helps lower blood pressure (3). A study in China showed celery juice specifically reduced blood pressure in 14 of 16 patients (4).
There are no studies showing celery juice affects blood pressure in pregnancy specifically.
Are there potential side effects?
As stated above, there is no research suggesting celery juice is harmful in pregnancy, however, there are no specific benefits to consuming celery juice during pregnancy.
Drinking the juice of any fruit or vegetable typically means you will be ingesting more sugar. While this is sugar naturally found in the produce, it still contributes to the rise in your blood sugar.
Secondly, the fiber content is lost when you juice celery.
The fiber in foods helps to keep us full and helps regulate our bowel movements. This is important during pregnancy due to the increased chance of constipation.
Dismissing the fiber in this vegetable would not be utilizing it in its best form. To keep some of the fiber, blend the celery as opposed to juicing it.
The Bottom Line
- Celery and celery juice are generally safe during pregnancy. Remember to wash all produce thoroughly before consuming it.
- While it is recommended that you do not start anything new during pregnancy, increasing your vegetable intake has many benefits and celery juice can contribute to your overall fluid intake.
- If you enjoyed celery juice prior to becoming pregnant, and still find it appealing when pregnant, it is fine to continue including it in your diet.
By Lauren Gannon, RDN, and Ryann Kipping, RDN, CLEC | Owner & Founder
