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Celery Nutrition Guide

If you think celery is just for crunch, think again. Although celery adds a crunchy, colorful element to potato, egg and pasta salads, it's also packed with nutrients, some of which might surprise you.

  1. Calories

    • One cup (101 g) of chopped celery provides approximately 16 calories, comprising mostly carbohydrates, with fat and protein chipping in with 1.5 and 2.8 calories, respectively.

    Dietary Fiber

    • Containing 2 g of dietary fiber, 1 cup of chopped celery is an excellent source of roughage.

    Fat, Fatty Acids and Cholesterol

    • Although celery contains no omega-3 fatty acids and is very low in saturated fat and cholesterol, 1 cup contains 79.8 mg of omega-6 fatty acids.

    Vitamins and Minerals

    • One cup of celery contains very little vitamin E, but is an excellent source of folate (36.4 mcg) and vitamins A (453 IU), C (3.1 mg) and K (29.6 mcg). Minerals provided include substantial amounts of calcium (40.1 mg), magnesium (11.1 mg), phosphorus (24.2 mg), potassium (263 mg) and sodium (80.8 mg), as well as trace amounts of a half dozen other minerals.

    Research Note

    • According to a May 23, 2008, article in "ScienceDaily," University of Illinois researchers discovered that a substance known as "luteolin" found in celery and green peppers appears to reduce brain inflammation, which is thought to play a part in the development of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

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