Celery also adds flavor to a range of recipes, from soups to stir-fries, and, of course, it’s usually the star of the childhood favorite snack “ants on a log.” If you’re a ketogenic dieter and you like the taste of celery, you might be wondering if celery is keto. Let’s discuss the nutritional profile of celery and whether it’s suitable for a ketogenic diet.
Celery is a plant in the parsley family, and it’s widely considered to be a health food. Most people view celery as a low-calorie diet food, but it’s a lot more than that; it’s also a source of anti-inflammatory antioxidants. As well as vitamin C, flavonoids, and beta carotene, celery contains 12 other types of antioxidants in a single stalk, which is one of the reasons why health experts have been raving about celery juice lately. Celery has around 25 anti-inflammatory compounds and a neutralizing effect on acidic foods. [1]
This humble crispy plant is mostly water with plenty of insoluble and soluble fiber that supports healthy digestion. It also has plenty of micronutrients. Just 100 grams of raw celery contains 265 mg of potassium, 22 mg of phosphorus, and almost 11 mg of magnesium. [2]
The quick answer is yes; celery is definitely a low-calorie, nutritious, and keto-friendly food you can enjoy. Just like broccoli and zucchini, both celery stalk and celery root are low enough in carbs for a keto diet. Celery has a low glycemic index, so it certainly won’t spike your blood sugar and raise your risk of prediabetes. One medium stalk only has around 0.6 grams of net carbs.
Even juiced celery is fine on keto, as long as you don’t add sugary fruits or veggies to the mix. The total carb count in one cup of celery juice is 7.01 grams, but there are only 3.23 grams of net carbs because celery is mostly fiber. [3]
Fresh celery has strong and sturdy stalks and crisp leaves. You can consume celery
raw or cooked, and it works well in stir-fries, soups, smoothies, and juices. The celery leaves are also packed with nutrients.
And don’t forget, when it comes to delicious dips like spinach and artichoke or buffalo chicken, celery makes a healthier, crunchy, and keto-friendly replacement for bread sticks or traditional carb-loaded chips.
Try a keto recipe featuring celery from Ketogenic.com:
Do you eat celery on keto? Share your favorite tips and recipes with your fellow keto dieters at Ketogenic.com!
Duke, J. A. (n.d.). The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook. St. Martins Paperbacks. https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/AdwG0jCJYcUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA91&dq=The+Green+Pharmacy+celery
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Database. Celery, Raw. FoodData Central (usda.gov)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Database. Celery Juice. FoodData Central (usda.gov)