Celery might not have been a favorite vegetable. But its clean flavor has recently made celery a fan-favorite vegetable. Apium graveolens, known by the name Celery, belong to the family Apiaceae. The leaves, stalk, and hypocotyl are often eaten or used in cooking in different cuisines. As a result of its mild flavor, it is added as a foundational component in a wide variety of foods, including salads and soups. Celery seed powder acts as a spice in various dishes.
Celery is a popular vegetable because of its numerous health advantages at night. Celery’s low carbs and calorie content has made it a popular food among those watching their weight.
As a low-calorie food option (around six calories per stalk), celery is an excellent pick for dieters. It also has a lot of fiber, aiding digestion and weight control. Due in part to its high water content, celery is often included in diet programs. The high water content (95%) of celery makes it an excellent food choice for hydrating the body and relieving bloating and water retention. It contains various vitamins and minerals to improve health.
However, overeating celery can also be harmful to your body. You might experience unusual signs and symptoms. Keep reading to learn about the side effects of eating too much celery.
Celery’s Recommended Daily Allowance
Since celery has recently become popular as a weight loss aid, discussing the necessity for moderation is essential. It is crucial to eat celery in moderation as part of a healthy diet. Healthcare experts recommend eating around four stalks of celery every day, which equals about one cup when diced.
In general, celery is a healthy and low-calorie addition to any diet. Dieters and health-conscious public eaters can benefit from celery’s taste and filling properties. Excessive celery intake has a link with several adverse health outcomes leading to diseases and disorders. Below are some of the side effects of overeating celery.
Side Effects of Eating Too much Celery
Intake of fruits and vegetables in adequate amounts is essential for normal body anatomy and physiology. They provide all the critical nutrients to keep bodily functions running smoothly. Celery’s high antioxidant content and possible health advantages are numerous. However, excessive celery consumption can cause symptoms including bloating, gas, and drug interactions. Let’s tell you more about them:
Bloating
The high fiber content is one of the most prominent nutritional benefits of celery. But, it can also lead to gastrointestinal problems in individuals with fiber intolerance. It is better to avoid taking celery in high amounts if you have fiber intolerance or stomach issues.
Potentially Triggers Allergic Reactions
Some people are susceptible to celery and may experience life-threatening allergic responses if they eat it. If you’re sensitive to birch pollen or mugwort, you can also have an allergic reaction to celery. Celery may induce life-threatening anaphylactic shock, according to a Polish study.
Celery contains chemicals called psoralens that make skin temporarily sensitive to UV light. Face swelling, itching, rashes, nausea, and dizziness are all possible side effects. In severe circumstances, patients may have a drop in blood pressure and respiratory distress. The allergic reaction may go away on its own. But visit your healthcare professional if the symptoms do not go away soon. Stop consuming celery if your doctor mentions celery allergy.
Malnutrition
Though celery is rich in vitamins A, K, and C, and potassium and folate, it can lead to malnutrition when consuming large quantities of celery. Celery is an excellent addition to a healthy diet. But dieters must avoid overeating celery because of its low-calorie content. While eating lots of celery will help you get more fiber, doing so may cause you to neglect other healthy foods. Keep a balance of celery and other healthy foods like fish, yogurt, dragon fruit, etc., to get all nutrients in the required amounts.
Goiter
Consuming excessive amounts of raw celery may result in an enlarged thyroid gland or goiter. Eating large quantities of raw celery can prevent iodine from doing its job in the thyroid. In addition to making it difficult to breathe, goiters on the neck can cause the thyroid gland to expand and potentially induce hypothyroidism. Thus, you must consult your doctor, especially if you already take thyroid medication.
Issues for Expectant and New Moms
Eating celery or celery seeds may cause menstrual flow and uterine contractions. Thus, it is a suggestion that pregnant women limit their celery consumption. Miscarriage is another possible outcome. Collecting more data about the effects of celery eating during nursing is also necessary. As a result, play it safe and don’t utilize it.
Possibly Drug Interacting
Often people do not know about food-drug interactions that may worsen their condition. Blood-thinning drugs like warfarin and celery may interact. Because of their presence, there is a possibility of adverse chemical interactions with anticoagulants (blood-thinning medications).
Precautions
- Take celery in moderation, as it is a natural diuretic and its liquid form, like celery juice might cause constipation.
- It is best not to eat celery if you have been dealing with hyper or hypothyroidism or are taking medication to treat either condition.
- Medicinal doses of celery root may increase bleeding risk. Using celery root is not recommended if you suffer from a bleeding disorder.
- Pregnant women should avoid taking celery in large quantities as it may lead to issues and miscarriage in severe cases.
- According to the Environmental Working Group, consumers should thoroughly wash their celery and, if possible, switch to organic. It is because many pesticides are used on the vegetable to keep them safe from pests.
The Bottom Line
Celery has become quite popular in the past few years because of its numerous benefits. You can take celery raw, cooked, or enjoy celery juice. Celery contains vitamins, antioxidants, and micro and macro minerals, which reduce the causes of cancer, inflammation, and blood pressure. Dieters have started taking celery in large quantities to feel full without eating a lot. However, besides all these health benefits, eating celery in excess has some side effects. It may lead to drug interactions, allergies, and problems during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It may also cause bloating and other GI issues if you are intolerant to celery. Celery can lead to goiter; thus, people with hypothyroidism are suggested to avoid taking this vegetable a lot. It is best to consult your doctor before adding celery in large quantities to your diet.
FAQs
What are the negative effects of celery?
Celery can lead to gastric issues in people with a sensitive stomach or fiber intolerance. It may also cause allergic reactions, including skin rashes and sensitivity to sunlight. It is not considered safe in pregnancy and lactation, so avoiding it is better.
How much is too much celery a day?
Eating one cup of diced celery or four stalks is safe. Or you may take 24 to 32 ounces of celery juice to obtain the nutritional benefits. But, ensure you do not eat a lot of celery above the recommended daily limit.
When should you not eat celery?
Healthcare experts emphasize taking care of the condition of celery before eating it. You must not eat celery if it has gone bad. You can find that by checking the color and texture of the stalks. If the stalk becomes bendable and pale in color, the celery is not suitable for consumption anymore.
Is celery good for kidneys?
Taking celery in adequate amounts can benefit body tissues and organs, such as kidneys functions. Celery juice is a healthy drink that can be an excellent substitute for coffee or tea in the morning and give an instant energy boost.
Meet me; I am Paulina Zaniewska, who’s more hooked on providing the best health blog. I’ve always been so determined to compete as a nutritionist, and here I am, done with a Master’s in food technology. My brilliant performance throughout encouraged me to help people.