How Many Calories Does Celery Have?

Celery is a biennial vegetable with a lifespan of about two years. It is from the Umbellifera family, which also contains carrots, fennel, parsley and dill. An average serving of celery is 110 g, according to the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act standards.

History

In ancient Greece, celery was used more for medicine than for food. It was used for ceremonial purposes as well -- celery leaves were used as laurels that were draped around the shoulders of champion athletes. Celery was also mentioned by Homer in the "Odyssey."

As a food, celery was not popular until the 18th century, when it made a splash in Europe before its importation to America in 19th century.

Nutritional Profile

An average serving of celery contains no fat or cholesterol. It has a sodium count of 88 mg, a carbohydrate count of 4 g, a dietary fiber count of 2 g, a sugar count of 2 g and a protein count of 1 g.

Celery is an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin K and contains a number of other vitamins and minerals.

Health Benefits

Celery contains phthalides, which may help lower cholesterol and coumarins, which may be a cancer fighter. According to The World's Healthiest Foods website, animal studies have indicated that celery may help lower blood pressure. Celery contains potassium, calcium and magnesium, all of which are thought to be helpful in regulating blood pressure.

Sodium

In terms of health, the only drawback of celery consumption is its relatively high level of sodium. So if you are on a low sodium diet and you love to eat celery, factor in the sodium count of celery into your daily allowance.

Negative Calories

There has been a debate about whether some foods have "negative" calories. In other words, do you expend more energy chewing and digesting foods such as celery, cabbage, cucumbers and lettuce than you absorb. The "New York Times" determined that there could be a slight calorie deficit with celery, since a stalk contains 8 to 10 calories, chewing uses up 5 calories an hour and digesting slightly more than 5 calories. But any possible "negative" calories would be too minuscule to have any real effect for health or weight loss purposes.