Our expert dietitian Sarah Noone takes on the latest diet fad – celery juice and explains why, despite what you may see on social media, this latest so called ‘miracle elixir’ is no magic cure.

Celery juice is everywhere at the moment. You only have to type in the hashtag #celeryjuice on Instagram or Twitter to see thousands of ‘before’ and ‘after’ posts from celebrities and others claiming that celery juice has cured a range of skin, digestive issues and mystery illnesses.

So, what does the science behind the celery juice craze look like?

Ultimately, there is no scientific basis behind any of these claims. When a celery juicer suddenly has clearer skin or improved digestion, it’s likely just a coincidence or a result of some other lifestyle changes they may have made at the same time as part of an overall ‘health kick’.

Although a glass of celery juice probably won’t do you any harm, it is definitely not a ‘miracle quick fix’ that will cure all your aliments. In fact, it probably won’t do very much at all. Celery juice can be a source of hydration just like water so, if you like the taste, go for it.

Otherwise, sticking with your basic glass of water and eating 5-7 portions of fruit and vegetables a day will be (for most of us) a much more enjoyable way to stay hydrated and get a range of micronutrients.

The bottom line is that increasing your intake of a variety of vegetables, fruit and salad will add a range of vitamins, minerals and fibre (the juicing process removes most of the fibre in fruit and veg) to your diet, which is what we all need for good health.