3 Potential Causes of Digestive Issues After Eating Celery

Crunchy, crisp, and refreshing, celery is a low-fat, low-calorie vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked. While celery has a number of health benefits, it is also high in fiber, which means that if you eat it in high quantities, you could develop digestion problems like gas, stomach pain, and bloating.

Other possible culprits of digestive troubles from celery include food poisoning and allergies. Knowing the cause of your gastrointestinal issues can help you take steps to feel better.

1. Increased Fiber Intake

One of the benefits of celery is that this vegetable is naturally high in fiber. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a serving of celery (2 medium stalks) contains 2 grams of fiber. Because celery is 95 percent water, it is also low in calories, providing only 15 calories in the same serving size.

While a serving of celery provides just 8 percent of the recommended intake of fiber, it may contribute to digestive issues if you eat more than one serving and typically consume a low-fiber diet.

A diet high in fiber has numerous health benefits, but a sudden increase in fiber can cause gas, bloating, or abdominal pain, according to Mayo Clinic. If you’ve recently added a number of high-fiber foods to your diet — such as beans, whole grains, and vegetables like celery, Brussels sprouts, and turnips — and have been experiencing digestive issues, consider reducing your fiber intake, then gradually increasing it over a few weeks. Doing so will allow your body to adjust, and you should no longer have stomach pain.

2. Food Poisoning

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, raw fruits and vegetables are a frequent cause of foodborne illness. This can occur when produce comes in contact with harmful bacteria or other pathogens through contaminated water, poor hygiene during harvesting or handling, or cross contamination with other foods.

Symptoms of food poisoning include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. These symptoms should clear on their own in a couple of days, but see your doctor if you experience signs of severe food poisoning, including bloody diarrhea, diarrhea lasting for more than three days, a fever of 102 degrees F or higher, and vomiting so much that you cannot down keep liquids.

Washing celery and other raw produce correctly can significantly reduce the risk of foodborne illness. First, make sure that you wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before handling fresh fruits and vegetables. Rinse produce under plain running water while gently rubbing it. There’s no need to wash your vegetables with soap, according to the FDA. Be sure to dry your celery thoroughly with a clean cloth or paper towel.

3. Celery Allergy

Allergies to certain fruits and vegetables, including celery, are common among people who are allergic to pollen, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. The condition is called oral allergy syndrome (OAS) and can lead to symptoms like itchiness or swelling of the mouth, lips, tongue, and throat, as well as hives, stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, when an individual comes in contact with a trigger food, per Mayo Clinic. In severe cases, OAS can trigger a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which requires immediate treatment with epinephrine.

If you’re allergic to celery, the best way to prevent a reaction is to avoid it. Fortunately, a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables can help you make sure you’re getting a balanced nutritional intake.

Include a daily mix of beans and peas, leafy greens, starchy vegetables, and red and orange vegetables to meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ recommendation of 2 to 3 cups of vegetables per day.

When to See a Doctor

Most people can enjoy celery without any issues, but it’s important to pay attention to how your body responds. If you notice persistent digestive discomfort, signs of food poisoning that don’t resolve within a few days, or symptoms of an allergic reaction, it’s best to seek medical advice from your doctor.

Severe reactions such as difficulty breathing, high fever, or an inability to keep fluids down require immediate medical attention.