Can I drink celery juice while pregnant?

During pregnancy, the foods you eat and drink can directly affect the development of the fetus. Celery juice has many benefits for pregnant women. However, be careful as some parts of the celery plant are not safe to use during pregnancy.

Celery is a vegetable in the flowering family, native to North Africa and the Mediterranean region. Today, this vegetable is available everywhere in the world. Typically, celery is used in salads, soups and certain dishes. In addition, celery is a popular snack that many people like to eat because it does not contain fat. The nutritional content in celery also offers a number of health benefits for pregnant women.
Is it safe to eat and drink celery juice during pregnancy? The answer is: Yes. However, you need to wash celery carefully before eating or juicing. Unwashed celery can contain a number of harmful parasites and bacteria, which can lead to dangerous diseases like listeriosis (a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes) and toxoplasmosis (caused by a parasitic infection). Toxoplasma gondii). Therefore, you need to talk to your doctor before eating or drinking celery juice.
MORE: Celery: Health Benefits & Nutrition Facts

The high nutritional content of celery offers many benefits for pregnant women. Health benefits include:
Diuretic: Celery is an excellent source of the minerals potassium and sodium, which help balance fluids in the body during pregnancy. This vegetable acts as a natural diuretic, removing excess water in the body and preventing the body from retaining water; Regulates Blood Pressure: Celery contains common organic chemical compounds like phthalides that help reduce stress hormones, dilate blood vessels, improve blood circulation, and lower blood pressure. Therefore, this vegetable helps to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, stroke and heart problems; Lowers cholesterol levels: Phthalides present in celery activate bile secretion, which helps to reduce cholesterol levels during pregnancy. Low cholesterol levels reduce plaque deposition on artery walls. So, celery helps improve heart health. In addition, the fiber in celery also helps remove cholesterol in the blood, ensuring smooth bowel movements; Protects Joints: Celery's anti-inflammatory properties help reduce pain and swelling around the joints during pregnancy. Since celery acts as a natural diuretic, it helps to remove the accumulation of uric acid crystals around the joints, reducing discomfort and pain in the joints. The calcium content in this vegetable also helps you have a strong bone system. In addition, this vegetable also helps to enhance tissue regeneration in inflamed joints; Nerve relaxation: The high calcium content in celery helps to calm the nerves of pregnant women during pregnancy; Weight management: Drinking celery juice before meals helps you lose weight and maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy. The low calorie content and high fiber in celery also help you limit overeating, effectively regulate weight gain; Boosts immunity: The high vitamin C content in celery improves the body's immunity, reducing the risk of colds during pregnancy. In addition, the antioxidants in this vegetable also help strengthen immunity, protect mother and baby from a number of health problems; Prevents Cancer: Celery is rich in phthalides, polyacetylenes and flavonoids, which help prevent the risk of cancer and detoxify carcinogens. In addition, the coumarin present in this vegetable also helps to improve the activity of white blood cells, preventing the risk of developing cancer. The antioxidants in celery neutralize free radicals and protect organs in the body from damage.

Pregnant women should avoid using celery seeds (from the flowers of the celery plant). According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, celery seeds can lead to uterine bleeding and stimulate contractions in the uterus that lead to miscarriage. Besides, celery seed oil (produced from the distillation of seeds) is used as a sedative but has not been proven effective, so pregnant women should also avoid using it.
Pregnant women can use celery juice but need to remove celery seeds to ensure the supply of necessary nutrients to the body and reduce the risk of encountering unpredictable risks. In addition to drinking celery juice, you should also add a lot of green vegetables and fruits, at the same time maintain an appropriate pregnancy diet, have regular antenatal checkups to protect the best health for mother and baby.

References: healthline.com, hellomotherhood.com, momjunction.com