Celery is a healthy vegetable that is often recommended for dieting due to its low calorie content. Celery may also be beneficial for weight management because it is rich in dietary fiber, which promotes satiety. However, celery isn't ideal for boosting testosterone, as it doesn't provide the nutrients your body uses to increase production of this hormone. Testosterone can help you build muscle, lose fat and improve your athletic performance.
Fiber
Celery is rich in fiber; about half of the total carbohydrates in celery come from dietary fiber. While dietary fiber can be beneficial because it promotes satiety and aids in digestion, it's not ideal for testosterone production. A study published in the December 1996 edition of "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that increased fiber intake suppressed testosterone levels.
Lack of Fat
Celery does not contain any dietary fat. While this keeps celery low in calories, it can be detrimental from a hormonal standpoint. According to a study published in the November 2004 edition of "International Journal of Sports Medicine," consuming too little fat can cause reductions in your testosterone levels.
Zinc
Celery is very low in zinc, a nutrient that is involved in a wide array of physiological functions, ranging from wound healing and cell division to immune system and enzyme function. Additionally, research from the February 2006 edition of "Neuro Endocrinology Letters" suggests that zinc can help maintain and increase testosterone levels.
Magnesium
Celery is not a good source of magnesium, a mineral involved in proper function of your nervous and musculoskeletal systems. April 2011 research published in the journal "Biological Trace Element Research" also suggests that magnesium plays a role in testosterone production, so low-magnesium foods such as celery aren't ideal for testosterone levels.
Vitamin D
Celery contains no vitamin D, a nutrient involved in immune system function and cell growth. In addition, research from the March 2011 issue of "Hormone and Metabolic Research" indicates that vitamin D promotes increased testosterone levels. Because celery does not contain this nutrient, it's unlikely to aid in testosterone management.
References
- USDA National Nutrient Database: Celery, Raw
- Mayo Clinic; Dietary Fiber: Essential for a Healthy Diet; November 2009
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Effects of Dietary Fat and Fiber on Plasma and Urine Androgens and Estrogens in Men: A Controlled Feeding Study; J.F. Dorgan et al.; December 1996
- "International Journal of Sports Nutrition"; Relationship Between Diet and Serum Anabolic Hormone Responses to Heavy-Resistance Exercise in Men; J. Sallinen et al.; November 2004
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements; Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Zinc; June 2011
- "Neuro Endocrinology Letters"; Zinc Supplementation in Rats Subjected to Acute Swimming Exercise: Its Effect on Testosterone Levels and Relation with Lactate; K. Oktay et al.; February 2006
