Is celery high in salicylates?

Celery Stalk + Leaves

Celery is not just a crispy addition to your favourite salads and snacks; for some people who are sensitive to salicylates, celery is a bit of a hero food.

What Are Salicylates?

Salicylates are natural chemicals found in many foods, especially plants. They help protect these plants from pests and harsh environmental conditions.

For most people, salicylates are harmless, but individuals with sensitivities may experience a range of symptoms after consuming them. Common reactions can include headaches, itchy skin and skin rashes, upset stomach, nausea, and even bladder irritability.

Celery’s Role in Salicylate Sensitivity

Celery is one of the vegetables that are often very well tolerated when you have a salicylate sensitivity as they are classified as being very low in salicylates. Celery are also low in amines (histamines) and glutamates so are useful for the low chemical or FAILSAFE or low SAG (salicylate, amine, glutamate) elimination diets. This means you can have as much celery as you desire but there are a few things you may need to know otherwise you may end up boosting your salicylate intake by accident.

Nutritional Benefits of Celery

Celery has notable health benefits. It is rich in Vitamin K, which is essential for bone health, and a single stalk offers about 30 milligrams of Vitamin C—important for immune function.

Moreover, celery contains potassium and antioxidants that help in reducing inflammation.

A moderate intake of celery can enhance overall health and wellness.

The Celery and Salicylate Trap

It is common for people to assume the whole of the celery is low in salicylates which is not the case. The stalks of celery are low in salicylates while the celery leaves are best discarded as they are very high in salicylates. This often leads to a big unintended boost in salicylates that can be easily avoided.

Celery & FODMAPS

Celery used to be very high in FODMAPS but that has changed. As of May 2025, celery, while still a food high in the FODMAP mannitol, is only moderate (not high) for a normal seve which is 75g (a standard 75g serve of celery equates to 2 medium stalks). The good news is that 1 and 1/3 stalks (or 51g) of celery stalk is considered low FODMAP. All this means, if you are salicylate sensitive AND FODMAP sensitive, then you can have a decent 51g of celery stalks (1 1/3 stalks) in a sitting and it will be low FODMAP. Repeat after 3 hours. Whole celery leaves are low FODMAP- remember, they are very high in salicylates, so put them aside. In summary, yes, celery stalks are low in salicylates so have as much as you want but the leaves are very high in salicylates.

DATA SOURCED FROM

• Royal Prince Alfred salicylate charts, 2019 (Friendly Foods)

• Monash University Low FODMAP app, accessed 13/5/25