• The nutrients you take in before surgery are extremely important and can have a huge impact on your recovery.
• Celery juice has been shown to offer numerous health benefits, which could help give you a boost through the surgery process.
• A few simple steps can ensure you’ll soak up all of the micronutrients to really boost your health.

Celery juicing is a huge trend right now—nutrition nuts and novices alike have hopped on the celery-juice wagon in the hopes of reaping all of the powerful plant’s benefits. But what actually are the benefits of celery juice, and how do they apply to pre-surgery nourishment? Today, we’re breaking down all you need to know about this new-age health elixir.

The importance of pre-surgery nourishment for proper recovery:

Before we dive into the benefits of celery juice, let’s talk a little bit about why nourishing your body before surgery matters. The concept of pre-surgery nourishment is closely linked to Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols. Used by hospitals across the U.S., Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (or ERAS®) programs are all about following certain protocols before surgery to ensure your recovery is faster, easier and healthier. (Psst…we break down everything you need to know about ERAS® programs here if you want to get caught up!)

As part of these protocols, medical professionals have started to place much more emphasis on pre-surgery nourishment than ever before. We now know that undergoing surgery is akin to undergoing an intense athletic event (like a marathon)—which means that patients should prepare for surgery by getting healthy in the months and weeks leading up to their looming date with the anesthesiologist (just like you’d train for a marathon, you also want to “train” or prepare for surgery). Basically, the healthier you enter surgery, the faster (and easier) your recovery will be.   

What are the benefits of celery juice for pre-surgery nourishment?

Celery juicing can be a great way to get healthy in the weeks leading up to your surgery, as it allows for better absorption of nutrients all around. It does this by balancing your body’s PH and strengthening the hydrochloric acid in your gut. Essentially, hydrochloric acid (one of the “good” acids) helps you get the most out of everything you eat. If your hydrochloric levels are out of balance, the food you eat can’t break down enough for your cells to absorb all of its nutrients. Drinking celery juice is a great way to set the stage for better nutrient absorption all around—which is critical in the weeks leading up to your scheduled surgery.

What are the benefits of celery juice in general?

Aside from helping your body absorb nutrients better, celery juice has countless other health benefits, helping us become better nourished all around—which is key for those looking to enter surgery in the strongest, healthiest state possible (and, as a result, recovery from surgery faster). Celery juice:

• Helps lower blood pressure
• Fights cancer
• Lowers cholesterol
• Has powerful anti-inflammatory properties
• Works as a diuretic
• Hydrates skin
• Aids in weight loss
• Reverses digestive issues

What’s in celery juice that makes it so powerful?

Ready for a list of the magic ingredients that play a key role in the endless benefits of celery juice? We’ve got you covered! Celery juice contains:

• 3-n-butylphthalide: a chemical compound that helps to reduce bad cholesterol and lower the secretion of stress hormones.
• Fiber: essential for healthy digestion.
• Polyacetylene: an organic compound that inhibits acute inflammation in bone diseases (osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.) and respiratory disorders (asthma, bronchitis, etc.).
• Sodium & Potassium: act as regulators of body fluid, making celery juice a powerful diuretic that helps our liver flush toxins. Potassium is also an electrolyte that helps your body regulate its acid-base balance. According to LiveStrong.com, “A single serving of raw celery juice contains 1,050 grams of potassium, which is over 22 percent of the recommended dietary intake for men and women.”
• Magnesium: aids in sleep support and relaxation.
• Vitamins A, C & K: vital for healthy skin and repairing skin damage.
• Folate: one of the B vitamins which aids your body in breaking down, producing and using proteins. According to LiveStrong.com, “A lack of folate in your system can lead to peptic and mouth ulcers, gray hair, diarrhea and possibly anemia. A single serving of raw celery juice contains 145 micrograms of folate. This is over 36 percent of the acceptable intake for men and women, and 29 percent of the acceptable intake for pregnant and breastfeeding women.”
• Calcium: essential for strong bones and teeth, and aids in the dilation and constriction of blood vessels.

How do I make sure I’m getting all of the benefits of celery juice?

There are a few key things to keep in mind if you’re trying to reap all of the benefits of celery juice. These include:

• Don’t add anything to your celery juice. While celery juice shares the spotlight with countless other ingredients in green drinks at smoothie shops and juice bars, it’s best not to mix anything (spinach, apples, lemon, etc) with your celery juice. It’s most powerful and potent when juiced all on its own.

• Drink it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. It’s recommended that you drink 16 ounces of celery juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Then, wait 15-30 minutes before eating breakfast. PRO TIP: You might have to ease yourself into the full 16 ounces. Start with 8 ounces and then work your way up as your stomach adjusts to your new morning ritual.

• Drink celery juice right away. Fresh juice doesn’t keep long—so you can’t store it overnight in the fridge. Instead, drink your celery juice immediately after you’ve made it to ensure you’re getting all of the benefits.

Ok—I’m on board! How do I juice celery at home?

Because it’s only one ingredient, juicing celery at home is super simple:

• Juicer Method: Place one whole bunch of celery (washed and preferably organic) into a juicer and voila!

• High-Speed Blender Method: Chop one bunch of celery (washed and preferably organic) into 2-3-inch chunks. Place chopped celery in a high-speed blender (with a little water if necessary to get the celery to blend). Then, strain the blended mixture through a cheesecloth to extract the juice.

Overall, celery juice is such a beneficial drink to add to your morning ritual in the weeks leading up to your surgery. An absolute powerhouse when it comes to nutrition—celery juice is chock-full of vital minerals, nutrients, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that ultimately help set the stage for entering into (and waking up from) surgery in the strongest state possible.