Another recipe for fasting days - celery with kefir for weight loss - has gained popularity in the wake of the widespread popularity of green smoothies. The product on which it is recommended to arrange periodic unloadings is nothing more than half-juice-half-soup, that is, in the terminology of modern cooking, a cocktail-smoothie. Reviews on resources dedicated to cooking, diets and weight loss are very, very positive. When used correctly, it is quite difficult to harm yourself with this recipe. But it is also not suitable for everyone.
What are the benefits of celery for weight loss?
In addition to the fact that this vegetable has a general strengthening effect on the body and serves as a preventive measure for various types of diseases, its regular consumption helps well in the difficult struggle for harmony. The fact that celery is very effective for weight loss is proven by its certain properties:
- Due to the content of a large amount of fiber, the product has a laxative effect, helps cleanse and remove toxins and waste from the gastrointestinal tract, and enhance metabolism.
- Promotes the rapid removal of excess fluid from the body, which has an anti-edematous effect.
- It has a low calorie content (100 grams of stems and leaves contain only 12–16 kcal, 100 g of root - 32 kcal) - the body spends more energy on assimilation of the vegetable than the product itself contains.
Stems, leaves and roots are a valuable source of nutrients the body needs. By consuming the vegetable daily, you can get most of your daily requirement of macro- and microelements. In addition, the product contains:
- Vitamins B1, B2, responsible for the functioning of the nervous system, the process of fat breakdown, skin and hair health.
- Ascorbic acid, a daily dose of which can be obtained from celery leaves.
- Vitamins C, E, PP (nicotinic acid), important for overall health: nicotinic acid supports the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system, vitamin C helps strengthen the immune system, E is necessary for skin, hair, nails.
- Minerals – magnesium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus and many others. The substances ensure the normal functioning of the human body, help muscles work, and help strengthen bone tissue.
Benefit
Celery contains only 13 kcal per 100 g. The same weight accounts for 2.1 g of carbohydrates, 0.9 g of protein, 0.1 g of fat and 1.6 g of fiber. The stems contain nicotinic acid, vitamins C, K, A, E and group B. The vegetable is rich in calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, organic acids and essential oils.
Including it in your diet on an ongoing basis will help get rid of excess fluid in the body and chronic fatigue. Helps prevent many dangerous diseases, strengthens memory, and helps activate intellectual abilities.
Fresh celery lowers blood sugar levels, lowers blood pressure, and has a positive effect on the health of the heart and blood vessels.
It is useful to drink a celery cocktail before bed, especially if you have insomnia (helps improve sleep quality). This vegetable is especially useful for men (consumption helps improve potency and increase libido).
Useful properties of kefir
Many proper nutrition systems and methods developed for weight loss recommend drinking kefir at night. This is due not only to the very low calorie content of the product, but also to its beneficial properties:
- Dulls the feeling of hunger, reduces appetite. A glass of kefir drunk at night saturates the stomach, but does not put an excessive burden on the digestive tract.
- A portion of the drink drunk before bedtime contributes to the feeling of hunger in the morning, so a person does not refuse a hearty breakfast, and during the day can limit himself to minimal portions of food.
- The calcium contained in fermented milk products is better absorbed by the body at night. Thanks to a glass of the drink, not only does the weight loss process accelerate, but the body is saturated with this microelement, which helps strengthen teeth, nails, and bones.
- The special substances and bacteria contained in the product have a mild relaxing and calming effect on the body, so after taking kefir before bed, you will sleep peacefully and will not be disturbed by nightmares.
Sour milk shake
The properties of kefir have been known for a long time. Nutritionists recommend using it regularly for anyone who wants to improve digestion and get rid of extra pounds. You can drink kefir on fasting days or replace one of your meals with the drink. Combined with a sensible diet, this will be enough to slowly reduce your weight.
But you can enhance its fat-burning effect. To do this, prepare a cocktail with celery and kefir. This is a unique combination that allows you to very quickly speed up your metabolism and achieve the desired changes. The proportions can be arbitrary. On average, you will need one stalk of celery per glass of kefir. The preparation process is simple: grind the green vegetable in a blender, add the fermented milk product, and beat again. If there is no kitchen helper on the farm, then simply cut the juicy stem into pieces. All you have to do is add kefir and the drink is ready.
How to lose weight with celery and kefir
A vegetable with a specific smell is a fibrous product that has a cleansing effect, a fermented milk drink has a diuretic effect, and the prebiotics it contains have a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract. It is recommended to use kefir-celery mixture for weight loss and to improve the functioning of many body systems, and you can eat this dish several times a week, arranging fasting days, or for 3-14 days, following a diet menu based on these ingredients. Find out more about how to use kefir with celery for weight loss.
Fasting day
Today, fasting is used to ensure a calorie deficit - the daily diet contains about 500 kcal. With a balanced diet on other days, it is recommended to follow a strict kefir-celery menu 2 times a week, because the calorie content of the diet is significantly less than the physiological minimum, which is 1200 kcal. You should not get carried away with unloading, because it can cause a slowdown in metabolism. It is worth remembering the threat of dehydration, so in addition to the cocktail, it is important to drink about 1.5 liters of clean water per day.
Consuming a mixture of 4 stalks, a glass of water and 1 liter of 2.5% fat kefir, whipped with a blender, during the day is recommended for a person who performs 3 strength training sessions per week and eats, fully satisfying his body’s needs for calories and macronutrients. This judgment is explained by the fact that exercise protects against the loss of muscle tissue, which is inevitable during an energy deficiency, and a balanced diet does not allow overeating.
Drinking diet for 3 days
Celery with kefir for weight loss gives lightning-fast results - by completing a mono-diet course you can lose 2 or more kilograms. This diet must be followed for 3 days; it is not recommended to exceed the duration. The diet menu is strict, but very effective: during the diet you need to drink 1 liter of kefir daily and eat 2-3 celery stalks. It is advisable to prepare a drink from the above products and divide the entire volume into 5-6 doses. To get maximum results, you should adhere to certain rules of the kefir-celery drinking diet:
- You cannot deviate from the recommended menu until you get the desired result.
- You should not mix the kefir-celery diet with any other methods for losing weight - this is dangerous for your health.
- When going through a diet, you should give up flour, fried, sweet, confectionery, bakery, pickled, smoked, and canned foods.
- You can add unsweetened tea/coffee to the menu.
Celery soup diet: reviews from people who have tried it
Svetlana, 27 years old:
“I don’t know how you can eat such soup for 2 weeks. It lasted me 2 days. Well, I don’t like boiled vegetable dishes. There is no broth, no frying, everything is fresh. I understand that there are few calories, but the taste is clearly not for gourmets. In two days minus 1.5 kg. I'm glad, but I couldn't continue. I love to enjoy food, but then depression set in.”
Angelina, 29 years old:
“I’ve heard many times about the celery soup diet; I’ve seen reviews and results about it on several websites. And as soon as it got colder, I decided to try it. It is very difficult to lose weight in the fall. And in most diets, kefir, vegetables, everything is cold, dry, it’s difficult for me to consume.
So, my starting weight is 69 kg with a height of 160 cm.
The goal is to lose 5 kg in 2 weeks.
The result is minus 5.5 kg.
I didn’t even expect that I would lose weight so easily and quickly. It was necessary to raise the bar higher. I cooked soup according to different recipes and mixed vegetables. I added regular cabbage, then broccoli, once with pumpkin, several times with zucchini. I even added potatoes once, but first chopped them finely and soaked them all night to remove the starch in cold water. I also excluded or added tomatoes. I had new soup every day. This probably helped me not to break down. The diet works, I recommend everyone to try it!”
Yana, 31 years old:
“I can’t stand the smell and taste of raw celery. And it goes very well in soup. The first time a friend fed me a diet dish. I was surprised by this method of losing weight. I came home, started reading reviews about celery for weight loss, and looked for information. And the very next day I cooked myself a whole 4-liter saucepan. And she ate for 3 days. But I won't do that again. I decided to cook it in small portions; I like fresh soup better.
In general, I lost weight for a week, then there was a break for about 10 days due to family reasons, then I started the diet again as soon as I took a break from the soup.”
Harm and contraindications
For a healthy person, the optimal daily intake is 150 grams of celery. Exceeding the recommended dose often leads to digestive upset. Vegetables should be introduced into the diet with caution, especially if certain factors are present:
- Pregnancy. The substances contained in the product tone the uterus, which can cause premature birth.
- Lactation. Eating celery can change the taste of mother's milk, cause colic and increased gas production in the baby.
- Allergy. The cause of attacks is the essential oils of the vegetable.
- Presence of kidney stones. The product provokes their involuntary movement, which can lead to serious health consequences, including emergency surgery.
- Epilepsy. Eating dishes with roots, leaves or petioles provokes an epileptic seizure.
- Ulcers and inflammatory processes in the organs of the digestive system. Vegetable juice only intensifies the unpleasant symptoms that appear in the presence of these diseases.
- Varicose veins, because the product has a vasodilating effect.
As for kefir, its excessive consumption can also cause harm to health, especially if you consume the drink if you have diseases of the pancreas or stomach. You should not use fermented milk product for weight loss and other problems, for example:
- pancreatitis;
- individual intolerance;
- tendency to flatulence, bloating;
- chronic or aggravated gastritis;
- allergies to milk protein;
- ulcers in any of their manifestations;
- increased gastric acidity.
Nutritionist's opinion
This is a great option for a healthy snack. Moreover, such a drink fills the body with vitamins and minerals. Therefore, if you want to be healthy and have a beautiful figure, master cocktail recipes with celery. Juice is in no way bad for you—unlike soda or other sweetened drinks, it is considered safe.
However, we should not fool ourselves that just consuming a shake can replace a healthy diet, reduce belly fat, or cure a chronic disease. But the drink can be an excellent addition to a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains and protein. All you have to do is choose the celery cocktail recipe that you like best.
