Is Eating Too Much Celery Bad for You?
If you eat only celery, you risk having nutrient deficiencies.
Updated on July 31, 2025
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Celery provides a range of benefits, but eating it in excess can work against you. If celery is your only vegetable source, you increase your risk of developing nutrient deficiencies, since celery’s nutritional value is relatively low. It’s mostly water.
The fibrous vegetable also consistently makes the list of “vegetables highest in pesticides,” so, if you’re not opting for organic celery, excessive amounts can also increase your risk of chronic health problems.
Celery Is High in Pesticide Residues
Most commercially available celery contains a lot of pesticides, which may have harmful effects if you eat a lot of it.
Reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have found up to 57 different types of pesticides on celery. Those in frequent use for celery include imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, and difenoconazole. The leaves and roots of celery readily absorb these nutrients and transport them to various parts of the plant.
Studies differ in the levels of pesticides they find. For example, one review found levels of four pesticides that exceeded acceptable limits. However, a different study found that only levels of abamectin were above acceptable limits for consumption. However, many factors affect the levels and types of pesticides in celery, including the location of the farms and the doses the farmers use.
The health effects depend on the specific type of pesticide. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, pesticides may negatively affect the nervous system or hormones, irritate the eyes and skin, or cause cancer. The dose of pesticides may also matter, depending on the pesticide: some pesticides are more harmful at greater concentrations.
If you’re eating excessive amounts of contaminated celery, your risk of developing health problems may increase. At moderate amounts, however, celery is unlikely to have a significant effect on your health.
Too Few Calories
Aside from the pesticide concern, celery is a very low-calorie food. One 40-gram (g) stalk contains only 6.8 calories (kcal) and hardly any protein or fat. If you’re trying to fill up on a vast quantity of celery without including other healthy, energy-dense, or nutrient-dense foods, your calorie intake could be way too low.
Eating an excessively restricted-calorie diet may seem like it supports weight management, but it can actually set you up for health problems.
Your body requires a certain amount of energy (or calories) just to sustain normal biological functions, like breathing, digestion, and pumping blood. If you don’t get enough calories, you don’t give your body enough energy to carry out these vital functions, and you can put yourself at an increased risk of problems like:
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Low energy/sluggishness
- Decreased brain function
- Gastrointestinal problems (like constipation)
- Gallstones
So, how do you know how many calories you should be eating? Everyone is different, so consider consulting with a qualified nutrition professional to find out your exact numbers.
In general, your intake shouldn’t fall below 1,200 calories per day if you’re a woman and 1,500 daily calories if you’re a man. If you’re eating a lot of celery and not much else, meeting these needs can be challenging.
Celery Nutrition Facts
One 40-g stalk of celery provides:
- Calories 6.8
- Fat 0.064g
- Carbohydrates 1.33g
- Protein 0.196g
- Fiber 0.64g
- Cholesterol 0g
- Sodium 38.8mg
- Sugar 0.536g
Celery is mostly water, with the 40-g stalk above consisting of about 38.1 g water. While eating a lot of celery can help keep you hydrated, it doesn’t provide a well-rounded macronutrient, vitamin, and mineral profile.
If you’re eating a lot of celery and that pushes other nutrient-dense foods and vegetables off your plate, you may increase your risk of developing nutrient deficiencies. As nutrients help the body operate at full capacity, deficiencies may lead to a range of harmful effects.
What About Benefits?
Celery does offer benefits, and you shouldn’t eliminate it from your diet completely. Celery is a good source of potassium, with a single stalk containing 106 milligrams (mg).
Kenneth Shafer, MD, a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic Foundation’s Family Health Center, recommends about four stalks, or one cup of chopped celery, daily. Four celery stalks can provide approximately 424 mg potassium, which is over 11 percent of the recommended daily value of 4,700 mg for potassium, according to the FDA.
Celery is also high in phenolic and antioxidant compounds. These compounds can exhibit anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties, and some, such as 3-n-butylphthalide and apigenin, may help reduce blood pressure by removing fluid from the body and widening blood vessels.
How to Eat Celery and Minimize Health Risks
In moderation, celery is a crunchy, healthful snack, but it’s a good idea to pay attention to both the quantity and the quality of the celery you choose. Opting for organic celery reduces exposure to pesticides. Alternatively, try asking your local providers at the farmer’s market what pesticides they use.
Even though the plant absorbs some, you can wash pesticide residue from celery by holding it under running water in a strainer. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water first. This won’t remove all of the pesticide residue, but it can reduce it.
If you’re eating celery as a daily snack or drinking a daily glass of celery juice, side effects are unlikely. However, if you’re consuming excessive amounts of the vegetable, it’s a good idea to scale back. Sticking to the four stalks or cup of chopped celery that Dr. Shafer recommends may be safest.
Be sure to include a variety of other vegetables in your diet, as a wide variety of vegetables can ensure you’re getting a sufficient amount of nutrients.
The Takeaway
- Consuming celery in moderation is generally safe. However, eating too much can lead to nutrient deficiencies due to its low nutritional profile.
- Nonorganic celery may contain high levels of pesticides, posing potential health risks with excessive consumption. Choosing organic varieties and thoroughly washing the stalks may help reduce pesticide exposure.
- Celery is low in calories, which can affect energy levels and overall nutrient intake if you eat too much celery at the expense of a balanced diet.
- To reduce health risks, incorporate a variety of other fruits and vegetables into your diet, and consult a healthcare professional if you’re experiencing symptoms of nutrient deficiencies or have concerns about pesticide exposure.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
- Celery, Raw. Agricultural Research Service. October 31, 2024.
- Zhang L et al. Insights Into the Occurrence, Distribution and Dissipation of Widespread Agrochemicals in Celery Agrosystems for Joint Risk Assessment. Environmental Research. December 15, 2024.
- Kang L et al. Pesticide Residue Behavior and Risk Assessment in Celery After Se Nanoparticles Application. Foods. August 25, 2021.
- Zhang C et al. Residue and Risk Assessment of Imidacloprid and Chlorantraniliprole in Open Field and Greenhouse Celery. Journal of Food Protection. May 2022.
- Assessing Human Health Risks From Pesticides. United States Environmental Protection Agency. January 30, 2025.
- Kaufman C. 4 Ways Low-Calorie Diets Can Sabotage Your Health. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. January 7, 2021.
- Calorie Counting Made Easy. Harvard Health Publishing. April 3, 2024.
- Zhang L et al. Insights Into the Occurrence, Distribution and Dissipation of Widespread Agrochemicals in Celery Agrosystems for Joint Risk Assessment. Environmental Research. December 15, 2024.
- Kiani AK et al. Main Nutritional Deficiencies. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene. October 17, 2022.
- Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. March 5, 2024.
- Alobaidi S et al. Antihypertensive Property of Celery: A Narrative Review on Current Knowledge. International Journal of Food Science. March 12, 2024.
- Eating With a Conscience. Beyond Pesticides.
- How Can I Wash Pesticides From Fruit and Veggies? National Pesticide Information Center.
- Vegetables and Fruits. Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.
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