Ever since I can remember I have lived with something called Fibromyalgia. A chronic pain syndrome that is caused by overactive nerves in the body – an oversimplified definition of an extremely complex and a largely misunderstood illness. My whole life I had gotten so used to a certain level of “un-normal” that it soon became my new norm. I could go on for an entire blog post about what this illness is and how it affects my day-to-day life, however, that is for another time entirely. For now, I will tell you just how adding one simple thing to my daily life has helped me heal both my mind and body.

I thought I had tried it all; prescription pills, changing my diet, taking vitamins, going to a chiropractor, eliminating caffeine, lowering my stress levels, countless doctors visits, exercise, and even receiving monthly IV treatments. Nothing had given me the kind of results that Celery Juice had. It started out as an experiment. We were launching a “10-day Celery Juice Challenge” at my work, and I wanted to start before the challenge to see if it was all talk or if it would actually make a difference in my body. I knew if it made a difference in my chronically ill body, the effects it would have on an able-bodied healthy person were endless.

It’s recommended to drink celery juice in the morning, on an empty stomach in order to get the most benefits from the juice. It is also very important that the celery is organic. This ensures you are getting the best quality and cleanest juice possible.

For more information about celery juice visit: Medical Medium

“I would argue it is what showed me that it was possible for me to gain back control of my body and my health.”

Day one was arguably one of the hardest days. That's not to scare you off from trying celery juice, but just to be completely honest and open with you. Celery juice is not meant to taste amazing. It is purely meant for medicinal, healing, and detoxing purposes. Getting used to the flavor of celery juice can be one of the biggest hurdles I had to face. However, I can tell you, it gets better.

After gaging (literally) through the first few days of my celery juice, drinking celery juice slowly started to get better and better. Some of the biggest tips of advice I can give to anyone wanting to embark on this journey is:

1. Get real good at chugging.

2. Try drinking it through a straw. I didn't start doing this until a week into drinking the juice, and it made the whole process so much easier. I recommend using a reusable straw, cause save the sea turtles and everything. (:

3. Don't give up. I promise you; it is beyond worth every drop of that green gold in the end.

Before I had reached my ten-day mark, I didn't know it was possible for me to feel this "normal". Although this celery juice challenge wasn't the cure-all-be-all, I would argue it is what showed me that it was possible for me to gain back control of my body and my health.

It wasn't automatic, or suddenly on day ten, I felt 100% better. It was more of a gradual awareness of the things I wasn't feeling anymore.

“Now, I was able to fall asleep faster and wake up the next morning feeling much more rested than I ever previously had.”

I started noticing it in my stomach first, I didn't feel pain or nausea after I ate or at random times throughout the day. I was able to eat what I wanted with little to no discomfort or repercussions.

I also noticed that my acne started clearing up. Of course, my skin had to go through the detox faze first and bring all the toxins to the surface, resulting in a few breakouts. But once they subsided, my face looked so much better. Even acne scars that I thought I would always have to cover up started to fade.

I also noticed I was able to sleep much better throughout the night. This was a struggle I've always had. I was always jealous of my husband who could lay his head anywhere and pass out in a matter of seconds. Just when I would be feeling tired, his snoring would wake me up for another hour. Now, I was able to fall asleep faster and wake up the next morning feeling much more rested than I ever previously had.

“It's no cure by any means, but anything that enables me to be able to be a little more 'normal' and allows me to do the things I love without meaningless consequences, is not something I'm about to give up.”

Around day 20 I started noticing a difference when it came to my illness. It was a small difference, but more of a difference I had ever noticed before.

Not only did all of what I mentioned above become more noticeable and my body felt so much better; but, when I pushed myself a little too far and I got a flare up, It wasn't nearly as bad or last nearly as long. As someone who is chronically ill, nothing that I have ever done, no pill, no exercise, no mindset, or pep talk had ever given me those kinds of results. It's no cure by any means, but anything that enables me to be able to be a little more "normal" and allows me to do the things I love without meaningless consequences, is not something I'm about to give up.

You can make celery juice at home, however, I recommend getting it from your local juice company. Their industrial juicers are able to get the highest yield and produce the highest quality juice. Just make sure the juice is organic like I mentioned earlier. Boise Juice Company presses celery juice often and you can order ahead by either calling into any of their stores or online at www.boisejuice.com. I would recommend drinking celery juice to anyone and everyone, chronically ill or not. I believe everyone could benefit from the amazing healing properties of celery juice!