Is Eating Too Much Celery Bad for You?

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.
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
Eating an excessively restricted-calorie diet may seem like it supports weight management, but it can actually set you up for health problems.
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Low energy/sluggishness
- Decreased brain function
- Gastrointestinal problems (like constipation)
- Gallstones
Celery Nutrition Facts
- 6.8 kcal
- 0.064 g fat
- 1.33 g carbs
- 0.196 g protein
- 0.64 g fiber
- 0 g cholesterol
- 38.8 mg sodium
- 0.536 g sugar
What About Benefits?
How to Eat Celery and Minimize Health Risks
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.
The Takeaway
- Consuming celery in moderation is generally safe. However, eating too much can lead to nutrient deficiencies due to its low nutritional profile.
- Non-organic 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.
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- Zhang C et al. Residue and Risk Assessment of Imidacloprid and Chlorantraniliprole in Open Field and Greenhouse Celery. Journal of Food Production. May 2022.
- Assessing Human Health Risk from Pesticides. United States Environmental Protection Agency. January 30, 2025.
- 4 Ways Low-Calorie Diets Can Sabotage Your Health. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. January 24, 2022.
- Calorie counting made easy. Harvard Medical School. April 3, 2024.
- Kiani AK et al. Main nutritional deficiencies. Journal of Preventive Medicine & Hygiene. October 17, 2022.
- Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. March 5, 2024.
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- 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.

Roxana Ehsani, RD
Medical Reviewer
Roxana Ehsani, RD, is a Miami-based licensed dietitian-nutritionist, board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, and media spokesperson, consultant, and content creator for food and nutrition brands. She is an adjunct instructor for sports nutrition at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
Ehsani appears as a food and nutrition expert for television stations across the nation and in national publications, including Runner's World, Women's Health, Glamour, and more, and is a contributing writer for EatingWell. She has a strong background in sports nutrition and has worked with professional, Olympic, collegiate, and high school teams and individual athletes, whom she sees through her private practice.

Lindsay Boyers
Author
Lindsay Boyers is a holistic nutritionist with a Bachelor's degree in food and nutrition and a certificate in holistic nutrition consulting. She has a background in functional nutrition and is currently studying for her RD exam.
In addition to contributing to everydayhealth.com, she has 12 published books, including The Everything Guide to Gut Health, The Everything Guide to the Ketogenic Diet, and The Everything Guide to Intermittent Fasting.