Celery
Celery Juice Side Effects: What to Know
Celery juice is well tolerated by most people, but no food is completely without its caveats and it's better to know them upfront. Here's an honest look at the possible side effects, the kidney and medication questions people ask and who should check with a GP before making it a daily habit.
Is Celery Juice Safe?
For most healthy adults, a daily glass of celery juice is perfectly fine. It's a food, not a supplement and the side effects people report are usually mild and settle quickly. The sensible approach is to start small, see how you get on and be aware of a few specifics if they apply to you. If you're new to celery juice altogether, there's background in what is celery juice.
Possible Side Effects
The things people most often notice are minor and tend to ease as your body gets used to a daily glass:
| What some people notice | Why and what helps |
|---|---|
| Bloating or wind at first | A sudden change in what you drink, usually settles, ease in slowly |
| Needing the loo more | It's mostly water, so a large glass is naturally hydrating |
| Not loving the taste | Celery is savoury and green, a little lemon or cucumber softens it |
| Its natural saltiness | Celery has some natural sodium, worth noting if you watch your salt |
None of these are cause for alarm and starting with a smaller glass usually heads them off. If something doesn't settle or feels off, stop and see how you are without it.
Is Celery Juice Bad for Your Kidneys?
This one comes up a lot, so here's the honest answer. For people with healthy kidneys, a normal glass of celery juice is not a problem, the body handles it comfortably as part of a varied diet. The picture is different for anyone with existing kidney disease or on a potassium-restricted or fluid-restricted diet, because celery contains potassium and the juice is largely water. If that's you, it's a genuine question for your GP or specialist rather than something to guess at. When in doubt, ask the people who know your history.
Celery Juice and Medication
Celery is a natural source of vitamin K, which is worth knowing if you take a blood-thinning medication such as warfarin, since those medicines are balanced against your usual vitamin K intake. It doesn't mean celery juice is off-limits, it means a sudden new daily source is worth mentioning to your GP or pharmacist so they can factor it in. More generally, if you take any medication that needs care around food or specific nutrients, a quick check before starting a daily habit is the sensible move.
A Note on Allergies
Celery allergy is uncommon but real and it's one of the recognised food allergens, which is why you'll see it declared on labels. If you know you react to celery, celeriac or related plants, celery juice isn't for you. If you've never had it in any quantity and you're prone to food allergies, a small first glass is the cautious way to try it.
How to Avoid Most of It
Most of the mild stuff comes down to going in too hard, too fast. Start with a smaller glass, build up as you find your taste for it, drink water alongside and keep it as part of a varied diet rather than a huge daily volume. Done that way, celery juice is an easy, low-drama habit for most people. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a health condition or on medication, have that quick word with your GP first.
Our Celery Juice
Cold-pressed from raw celery, single-ingredient, nothing added, frozen fresh and delivered across the UK:
Frequently Asked
What are the negative side effects of celery juice?
For most people, at most some mild bloating or needing the loo more at first, both of which usually settle. Its natural saltiness is worth noting if you watch your salt. Starting with a smaller glass heads off most of it.
Is celery juice bad for your kidneys?
For healthy kidneys, a normal glass is fine. If you have kidney disease or are on a potassium-restricted or fluid-restricted diet, it's a real question for your GP or specialist, because celery has potassium and the juice is mostly water.
Can celery juice interact with medication?
Celery is a source of vitamin K, so if you take a blood-thinner like warfarin it's worth mentioning a new daily habit to your GP or pharmacist. It doesn't rule it out, it just means they can factor it in.
Why does celery juice make me bloated?
Usually it's just a sudden change in what you're drinking and it settles as your body adjusts. Easing in with a smaller glass and building up slowly is the simplest fix.
Can I be allergic to celery juice?
Celery allergy is uncommon but real, which is why celery is a declared allergen on labels. If you react to celery or celeriac, avoid it. If you're prone to food allergies and new to it, try a small glass first.
How do I avoid side effects?
Start small, build up gradually, drink water alongside and keep it as part of a varied diet rather than a huge daily volume. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication or managing a condition, check with your GP first.
The Bottom Line
Celery juice is well tolerated by most people, with side effects that are usually mild and settle quickly. Start small, drink water alongside and keep it part of a varied diet. The specifics worth knowing are its natural sodium, the kidney question for anyone with kidney issues and the vitamin K point if you're on a blood-thinner, all of which come down to a quick word with your GP if they apply to you.
More on the upside in celery juice benefits, or browse everything in the celery hub.
Where to Start
Browse all of it in the celery juice shop, or go straight to Daily Celery Juice, Celery Twist or the 7-Day Celery Cleanse.
Related reading
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- Celery and carrot juice
- Celery juice for bloating
- The medical medium celery juice trend
- Beetroot and celery juice
- How long does celery juice last
- What is celery juice
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