It took one blogger on the internet to popularize the concept that the humble celery when juiced, can boost the immune system, clear skin problems, tackle psoriasis, and heal chronic illness. The global celery juice movement was started by Anthony William aka Medical Medium and since then, it has taken the health world by storm. William is not a medical doctor but says that he has been given medical advice and information by spirits since he was 4. While there are several skeptics who debunk the celery juice goodness or talk about the celery juice side effects, millions of people swear by it claiming it has helped them rid of chronic illnesses and skin problems. [1]
The celery juice diet involves drinking a 16-ounce glass of pure celery juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Celebrities have added their nod to this green juice diet including Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim Kardashian, and Robert De Niro. If you are curious about the celery juice trend and want to join in, here is a list of possible celery juice side effects and detox symptoms that you may experience.
Celery Juice Side Effects
The top celery juice side effects include allergic reactions, cystic acne, and bloating.
Celery juice helps lower inflammation, but some people can experience side effects. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Cystic Acne
Anecdotal evidence of people who have followed the daily 16-ounce celery juice diet shows that they experience an outbreak of cystic acne. However, this acne generally clears up in a few weeks. This can be a very painful situation to be in, so care must be taken if you experience this side effect. There are no studies to verify this as limited clinical trials have been conducted on the uses and effects of celery and celery seed extracts. [2]
Sensitivity to Sunlight
Celery can make the skin sensitive to sunlight, technically called photosensitivity. If celery comes in contact with the skin, it can cause skin blisters when exposed to the sun. It can also cause sunburn in some people when they visit a tanning salon. According to a dermatologist, celery is prone to an infection with a plant fungus called Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which increases the amount of photo-sensitizing chemicals. [3]
Allergic Reactions
Skin irritations like allergic contact dermatitis (eczema), hives, swellings, and skin bumps are rashes that have been reported due to the ingestion of celery. Celery and celery products are also known causes of anaphylaxis. However, these cases are rare. [4]
Some people may have, what has been termed, the ‘celery-carrot-mugwort-spice’ syndrome or the ‘celery-mugwort-birch-spice’ syndrome. People with this syndrome are sensitive to plants and spices including wild carrot, mugwort, fennel or coriander seeds, birch, caraway, parsley, anise, plantain, and dandelion. [5]
Diarrhea & Bloating
According to the Medical Medium website, people may experience typical detox symptoms like loose stools as the body tries to throw out the toxins. It also notes that people who have experienced bloating before may feel bloated. However, there are no studies that confirm this side effect.
If you are starting on a celery juice daily cleanse, make sure to check in with yourself on possible health changes. It is advisable to consult a doctor immediately if you experience any adverse effects.
