When Vegetables Attack: Why Celery Can Be Bad For Your Health

We all know that eating healthily means eating more fruits and vegetables.  Vegetables such as celery, however, sometimes have chemicals in them that aren’t good for us or are even poisonous. 

Psoralens are among those chemicals.  When the celery is growing, the psoralens in it help ensure that it has a healthy life.  Psoralens are deterrents to insects and help the plant to fight off infections.  Psoralens are also used in some medications, and to treat skin conditions and other ailments – but this is done with controlled doses and materials of a known potency. 

Normally, psoralens won’t harm you when you eat fresh celery.  You’d have to eat a great deal of fresh celery to get a dangerous dose of them to make you sick. 

However, freshness is an issue where psoralens are concerned.  When celery gets old and withered, the psoralens in the celery break free and become real threats.  Exposure to light also alters them and makes them more dangerous, which is actually a good thing if you’re a plant growing in the sun!

If you’re worried about psoralens, make sure your celery is always fresh.  At the supermarket, avoid any bunches that look dark green (unripe) or withered (too old).  Psoralens should not deter you from getting the health benefits of celery, which are considerable.  The fiber, moisture and nutrients in this green plant have health benefits that far outweigh any risks presented by the chemical.