Is celery low FODMAP and can celery juice help IBS?

Are you unsure about whether celery is low FODMAP? Have you been told that celery juice can heal your gut?

Look no further because today we are going to answer all your questions about celery and FODMAPs (including in juice form)! Read on to find out more.

Is celery high FODMAP or low FODMAP?

First things first, is celery even low FODMAP? The short answer is no, but like with all things low FODMAP, it all depends on portion size. When it comes to celery, a low FODMAP serve is 10g which is less than 1/3 of a medium stalk of celery. In fact, 2 medium stalks of celery are considered a high FODMAP serve.

Celery is high in mannitol, therefore if you have already determined your triggers, you may tolerate more than this amount without experiencing IBS symptoms.

Want more info on the FODMAP content of your favourite foods? Sign up for our FREE Simple FODMAP Challenge.

What’s the go with celery juice?

You may have heard of the celery juice trend that’s become popular recently with claims of miraculous healing properties including clearer skin, improved digestion and the curing of conditions such as IBS. Unfortunately, one vegetable is not going to solve all of your health worries. Plus, the recommendations are to juice a whole bunch of celery, which is definitely not low FODMAP!

The claims that celery juice can heal conditions such as IBS may stem from the fact that celery, as with all other fruit and vegetables, contains antioxidants. These antioxidants can protect against or slow cell damage. However, as we already mentioned all fruit and vegetables are high in antioxidants, they are not specific to celery juice. Plus, at this stage, there is no evidence that antioxidants play a direct role in healing conditions such as IBS!

When it comes to celery juice, as with other fruit and vegetable juices, the fibre has been removed. One of the important nutrients we actually get from fruit and vegetables is fibre. In fact, it’s the fibre that plays an important role in our gut health! Fibre acts as the fuel for the bacteria in our gut and can help to keep our gut microbiome healthy. So wherever possible, opt for the whole fruit or vegetable (in low FODMAP serves) to feed your gut bugs.

If you’re looking for a way to improve your overall health and wellbeing what we should be aiming for is a balanced diet. This includes a variety of fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, legumes, lean meat, nuts and seeds.

Need help with the low FODMAP diet? Our FREE dietitian developed program will guide you through it, step-by-step. Includes a low FODMAP food guide. Sign up now.

If you are experiencing gut symptoms and have not been recommended a low FODMAP diet by a health professional, get started with the manage your gut symptoms program.

Reviewed by the healthylife Advisory Board March 2022