The 16oz-every-morning trend promises detoxed skin and a healed gut, but dietitians say juicing strips out the one part of celery, the fiber, that could plausibly deliver either.
Not really. The 16oz-every-morning celery juice trend promises detoxed skin and a healed gut, but juicing strips out celery's fiber, the one component with a plausible link to either, leaving mostly water, potassium and sodium behind.
Where the trend actually came from
The modern celery juice craze traces back to Anthony William, who brands himself the "Medical Medium" and has no medical credentials. His version of the ritual is specific: 16oz of pure celery juice on an empty stomach every morning, credited with everything from clearer skin to healed digestion to resolved chronic illness. That specificity, a precise amount, a precise time, a long list of claimed outcomes, is a classic wellness-trend structure, and it's worth noticing that none of it has been tested in a clinical trial.
What's actually in a glass of celery juice
An 8oz glass has about 40 calories, roughly 600mg of potassium, and close to zero grams of fiber, because juicing removes nearly all of it. It also has about 215mg of sodium, more than almost any other raw vegetable, which is a detail worth knowing if you're also watching blood pressure. Compare that to two whole medium celery stalks: about 13 calories, 1.2g of fiber, 210mg potassium and 65mg sodium. Same vegetable, very different nutritional profile, because the fiber and some sodium stay behind in the pulp when you juice it.
“The current evidence behind celery juice is very minimal to none.”
The "cluster salts" claim, specifically
A central piece of the trend's marketing is the idea that celery contains undiscovered "cluster salts" that detox the body in ways science hasn't caught up to yet. That phrase does not appear anywhere in actual chemistry or nutrition literature. It was coined for the trend, not found in a lab. [[INLINE]] Registered dietitian Katrina DuBois reviewed the broader claims directly and didn't mince words: "The current evidence behind celery juice is very minimal to none," she said, adding that it is "definitely not the most powerful medicine of our time."
What juicing actually removes, and why that matters for gut claims
Fiber is the nutrient with the strongest, most consistently demonstrated link to digestive and gut health, feeding beneficial gut bacteria and supporting regular digestion. Juicing celery removes almost all of it. So the specific claim that celery juice heals your gut runs directly against what juicing does to the vegetable: it takes away the part most likely to help and leaves behind water, electrolytes and a smaller dose of vitamins. Celery juice also contains mannitol, a type of FODMAP that can cause gas or bloating in some people, especially those with irritable bowel syndrome, which cuts against the "gut healing" framing even further.
Is there anything real in there
Yes, modestly. Celery contains flavonoids like apigenin and luteolin that have shown anti-inflammatory activity in animal and cell-culture studies, and a phthalide compound studied for blood pressure effects in animal research. None of that has been confirmed as a meaningful human benefit from drinking celery juice specifically, but it means the vegetable itself isn't nutritionally empty, the juice form is just an incomplete version of it. For actual gut health, fermented foods and fiber-rich whole foods like kombucha have more direct evidence behind them than a morning glass of celery juice.
What the ritual is actually giving people
If celery juice isn't detoxing anyone or healing guts, why do so many people say they feel better on it? The most likely explanation isn't mystical: drinking 16oz of anything on an empty stomach first thing in the morning adds real hydration, and starting the day with a vegetable-forward ritual often nudges people toward other better choices later, a smaller breakfast pastry, a bit more water, a sense of having "started healthy." That's a genuine behavioral effect, just not the biochemical one the marketing describes. It's also worth being honest about the cost and time involved: a daily 16oz juicing habit means buying and prepping a lot of celery, cleaning a juicer, and spending money on a vegetable that delivers more value eaten whole.
Who should be more cautious
The sodium content, about 215mg per 8oz glass, adds up quickly for anyone managing high blood pressure, since the American Heart Association's general sodium ceiling sits around 1,500mg a day for many adults. People with irritable bowel syndrome or a known sensitivity to FODMAPs may find the mannitol in celery juice triggers bloating or gas rather than the soothing digestive effect the trend promises. And because celery juice is often promoted as a replacement for actual medical treatment of chronic conditions, anyone currently following a doctor's plan for a digestive or inflammatory condition should treat a juice ritual as a side habit, not a substitute for that care.
Our take
Celery juice isn't dangerous for most people, and it's a reasonably low-calorie way to get some potassium and hydration. But the detox and gut-healing claims that built the trend aren't supported by any published clinical evidence, and the specific mechanism promoters cite isn't a real scientific term. If gut health is the actual goal, eat the celery, skip the juicer, and keep the fiber.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a clinician before changing anything, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or managing a condition.
Frequently asked questions
Does celery juice actually detox your body?
No. The liver and kidneys already detoxify the body continuously, and no human clinical trial has shown celery juice speeds that process or flushes out toxins. The 'cluster salts' claim behind this idea isn't a recognized term in chemistry or nutrition science.
Is celery juice good for gut health?
Not especially. Juicing removes almost all of celery's fiber, which is the component most linked to digestive health; two whole stalks keep about 1.2g that an 8oz glass of juice loses. Celery juice's mannitol content can also cause gas or bloating in some people, particularly those with IBS.
How much sodium is in celery juice?
An 8oz glass has roughly 215mg of sodium, more than almost any other raw vegetable, alongside about 600mg of potassium and around 40 calories. That sodium level is worth factoring in for anyone monitoring blood pressure, since the American Heart Association's general daily ceiling sits near 1,500mg for many adults.
Should I eat celery instead of juicing it?
For fiber and overall nutrition, yes. Two whole medium stalks have about 13 calories and 1.2g of fiber, which juicing strips away entirely. Whole celery delivers the same vitamins and potassium as the juice plus the fiber the juice does not.
Where did the celery juice trend come from?
It was popularized by Anthony William, who calls himself the 'Medical Medium' and has no medical credentials, with claims that 16oz on an empty stomach heals chronic conditions through undiscovered 'cluster salts.' Registered dietitians say that specific framing isn't supported by any published clinical evidence.
Is celery juice bad for you?
For most healthy people, no, it's a reasonably low-calorie, hydrating drink with potassium and some flavonoids. It's not dangerous, but dietitians are clear it's not a cure or treatment for any condition, and whole celery offers more nutritional value because it keeps the fiber.
Sources
- 1
Celery juice benefits: the viral health claim vs the actual evidence, Acibadem International
- 2
The celery juice trend, reviewed by a registered dietitian, Revive Wellness