Can Celery Affect Blood Pressure? Exploring the Science and Dietary Impact

November 7, 2025 •

5 min read

In traditional medicine, celery has been used for centuries to treat various ailments, including high blood pressure. This raises a pertinent modern question: can celery affect blood pressure, and what does current scientific research suggest about its effectiveness?

Quick Summary

Celery contains bioactive compounds like phthalides and apigenin that may help lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessel muscles and acting as a diuretic. Clinical and animal studies have shown a positive, dose-dependent effect on reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Key Points

Bioactive Compounds: Celery contains phthalides (like NBP) and flavonoids (like apigenin) that may contribute to its blood pressure-lowering effects.
Mechanisms of Action: These compounds relax smooth muscles in artery walls (vasodilation) and act as diuretics, improving blood flow and reducing pressure.
Research Findings: Multiple studies in both humans and animals have demonstrated that celery, particularly its extracts, can significantly reduce blood pressure.
Effective Forms: While all parts of celery are beneficial, studies suggest that extracts from seeds or stems may offer more potent antihypertensive effects, especially in higher doses.
Dietary Integration: Celery can be easily added to a diet through various forms like raw sticks, juices, smoothies, and cooked dishes.
Safety Precautions: High or medicinal doses of celery may interact with certain medications (e.g., blood thinners, lithium, thyroid drugs) and can pose risks for individuals with low blood pressure or celery allergies.
Not a Cure: Celery should be viewed as a supplement to a healthy lifestyle and medical treatment, not a replacement for professional care for hypertension.

The Traditional Wisdom Behind Celery for Hypertension

For centuries, celery, or Apium graveolens, has been a staple in traditional Chinese and Indonesian medicine for managing and controlling high blood pressure. This practice, which relies on the herb's perceived safety and affordability, provided a foundation for modern scientific inquiry. As interest in dietary and natural interventions for cardiovascular health has grown, researchers have focused on isolating and understanding the specific compounds within celery that may contribute to its hypotensive properties. This research is revealing the biological actions that can influence blood pressure and demonstrating that, for some individuals, celery may be a beneficial dietary supplement for cardiovascular health.

Bioactive Compounds and Their Mechanisms

Several key bioactive compounds in celery have been identified as potentially contributing to its blood pressure-lowering effects.

Phthalides

One of the most researched compounds is 3-n-butylphthalide (NBP), found abundantly in celery seeds and stalks. NBP works by relaxing the smooth muscles within artery walls, a process known as vasodilation. By widening the arteries, blood can flow more freely, which in turn reduces blood pressure. In animal studies, hexanic celery extract containing high levels of NBP has shown significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Apigenin

Apigenin is a flavonoid found in celery that exhibits antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory properties. It may help reduce inflammation within blood vessels, which is a contributing factor to high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. Apigenin also acts as a calcium channel blocker, inhibiting calcium influx into smooth muscle cells and contributing to vascular relaxation.

Other Compounds and Actions

Diuretic effects: Celery's natural diuretic properties aid in the excretion of excess water and sodium from the body, which can help regulate blood pressure. Unlike some diuretic drugs, celery compounds like NBP do not appear to disrupt the balance of potassium and sodium.
Calcium channel blocking: Besides apigenin, other compounds in celery act as calcium channel antagonists, preventing calcium from entering heart and blood vessel cells. This relaxes blood vessel walls and reduces blood pressure.
Potassium: Celery is a good source of potassium, an electrolyte that helps the kidneys balance fluid levels and excrete excess sodium.

Scientific Findings on Celery and Blood Pressure

Numerous studies, including human and animal trials, have investigated the effects of celery and its extracts on blood pressure. A 2024 narrative review published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine confirmed that celery and its extracts are effective hypotensive agents in hypertensive models. Key findings from the research include:

Celery stem extract: In a 60-day controlled trial involving adults, 250 mg of ethanolic celery stem extract per day resulted in a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Celery seed extract: Trials have shown that dosages of 1.34 g of celery seed extract per day over several weeks led to notable reductions in blood pressure. A meta-analysis concluded that doses exceeding 1,000 mg per day were more effective.
Celery juice: A 2019 quasi-experiment found that administering celery juice to patients with hypertension resulted in statistically significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Anecdotal case reports also suggest benefits from regular consumption.

Celery Preparations Comparison

Different forms of celery can offer varying nutritional profiles and concentrations of bioactive compounds. Here's a comparison:


Feature	Raw Celery Stalks	Celery Juice	Celery Seed Extract
Nutrients	Contains fiber, vitamins K, A, C, potassium, folate, and antioxidants.	High in vitamins, minerals, and water; concentrated bioactive compounds but low in fiber.	Highly concentrated in bioactive compounds like NBP and apigenin.
Preparation	Eaten raw, added to salads, soups, or as a snack with dips.	Juiced to create a concentrated beverage. Fiber is removed.	Available in capsules or powder form; dosage-controlled.
Potential Effects	Mild, supports overall health and hydration.	Stronger effect due to concentration, but requires caution due to higher sodium in large amounts.	Most potent for blood pressure reduction due to high concentration of active compounds, based on studies.
Considerations	Easy to incorporate; provides fiber for digestion.	Lacks fiber, can cause digestive upset in some.	Should be used under medical supervision, especially for high doses.

How to Safely Incorporate Celery into Your Diet

For individuals with high blood pressure, incorporating celery into a balanced diet can be a valuable complementary strategy, but it is not a cure and should not replace prescribed medication. Here are some ways to add celery to your meals:

Raw Sticks: Enjoy celery stalks with hummus, nut butter, or other healthy dips.
Smoothies: Add celery to green smoothies alongside fruits like apples and spinach for a nutrient boost.
Soups and Stews: Celery is a classic aromatic base for soups and stews, adding a mild, savory flavor.
Stir-fries: Add chopped celery to stir-fries for extra crunch and nutrients.
Juice: If you choose to drink celery juice, be mindful of intake, especially if sensitive to its natural sodium content.

Important Precautions and Drug Interactions

While generally safe in food amounts, celery can cause side effects or interact with medications when consumed in high or medicinal doses.

Interactions with Blood Thinners: Celery root may slow blood clotting. Those on anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs like warfarin should monitor their intake and consult a doctor, as it could increase the risk of bruising or bleeding.

Low Blood Pressure: Individuals with already low blood pressure should exercise caution, as medicinal amounts of celery may cause blood pressure to drop too low.

Lithium: Celery might decrease how efficiently the body gets rid of lithium, potentially leading to a buildup of the medication and serious side effects.

Thyroid Medications: Celery might interfere with thyroid function. Individuals on thyroid medication should consult their doctor before using medicinal amounts of celery.

Allergies: Some people may have an allergy to celery, which can cause symptoms ranging from mild skin rashes to severe anaphylaxis.

For more detailed information on research findings and mechanisms, refer to the narrative review on the antihypertensive property of celery published by the National Institutes of Health.

Conclusion

In summary, scientific evidence, including both animal and human studies, suggests that celery, particularly its seed and stem extracts, possesses antihypertensive properties. The bioactive compounds, such as phthalides and apigenin, work through mechanisms that include vasodilation, diuretic effects, and calcium channel blocking, supporting cardiovascular health. However, it is crucial to remember that celery is a complementary dietary tool, not a replacement for conventional medical treatment. For individuals considering using celery for blood pressure management, especially in concentrated forms, consulting a healthcare provider is essential, particularly if taking other medications, to ensure safety and effectiveness. Further long-term, large-scale clinical trials are needed to confirm optimal dosing and understand the full scope of celery's effects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Celery contains phytochemicals called phthalides and flavonoids like apigenin. Phthalides help relax the smooth muscles of arteries, while apigenin and other compounds act as calcium channel blockers and diuretics, widening blood vessels and helping the body excrete excess sodium.

There is limited research on the optimal amount of raw celery. Some health practitioners suggest around four stalks daily. Studies on celery seed extract have used doses exceeding 1,000 mg per day for noticeable effects. It's best to start with moderate amounts and consult a healthcare provider.

Celery juice provides a more concentrated form of the bioactive compounds, but it also removes the beneficial fiber found in whole celery. High consumption of celery juice also concentrates its natural sodium, which can be problematic for some salt-sensitive individuals. Consuming whole celery is a balanced and safer approach.

Yes, high or medicinal amounts of celery can cause side effects. It might interact with blood-thinning medications, lithium, and thyroid drugs. People with low blood pressure or celery allergies should be cautious, and excessive celery juice intake may increase sun sensitivity in rare cases.

No, celery is a complementary dietary tool and should never be used as a replacement for prescribed medication. Consult a healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment plan.

Eating celery raw preserves the most nutrients. Steaming for a short period (around 5-10 minutes) is also an excellent method that retains flavor and most nutrients. Boiling, however, can lead to a significant loss of beneficial compounds.

Yes, research indicates that the therapeutic effects differ based on the part of the plant used. Extracts from celery seeds, which are rich in phthalide derivatives, have shown significant improvements in blood pressure, while preparations from other parts like stalks and leaves may have varying effects.