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Celery Sexual Benefits for Men: Fact or Fiction?

Kelly Brown MD, MBA

Reviewed by Kelly Brown MD, MBA

Written by Rachel Sacks

Published 05/04/2023

Updated 04/14/2024

Are there any celery benefits, sexually speaking? We have answers to this somewhat odd yet frequently asked question.

It’s no secret that a healthy diet full of leafy green vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats can have some amazing health benefits. These benefits extend to the bedroom and can improve your sex life.

There are certain foods to eat for erectile dysfunction (ED), as well as natural aphrodisiac foods that, in addition to an active lifestyle, can help improve your sexual health.

You might wonder if celery is one of these foods with sexual benefits. Due to the supposed health benefits, celery (along with fresh celery juice) has become increasingly popular in recent years.

So it’s understandable to wonder if there are celery benefits sexually. This guide will explore if there are any effects of eating celery on men’s sexual health.

We’ll get straight to whether there are celery benefits sexually. While this leafy vegetable does have plenty of health benefits, the research on whether celery benefits men sexually is lacking.

No miracle food can prevent sexual dysfunction. However, consuming nutritious foods could improve sexual intercourse — and that includes celery.

There aren’t many studies on the sexual benefits of celery for men. But there are other ways the nutritional benefits of celery could improve your sexual health.

We’ll break down the myths around celery benefits sexually and whether they’re fact or fiction.

Is Celery an Aphrodisiac?

Aphrodisiacs are foods that increase sexual arousal or desire.

The chemical hormones that function outside the body and play a role in sexual attraction are known as pheromones.

Androsterone is a weak steroid metabolite of the sex hormone testosterone that naturally occurs in both sexes — although more so in men than women. Androsterone is also considered a pheromone by some, as it’s found in small amounts in human sweat.

While some claim celery is an aphrodisiac when eaten, little to no research has been conducted on the subject — and more research is definitely needed to know if this is true.

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Can Celery Increase Androsterone Levels?

When combined with other hormones, androsterone contributes to male characteristics like body hair. You may have heard several claims that celery is packed with androsterone and can increase testosterone levels and sex drive in men.

Some studies show that celery contains androsterone. However, there’s little to no evidence that eating celery or drinking fresh celery juice increases androsterone levels or improves sex drive in men.

Could Celery Promote Fertility?

Celery is a rich source of vitamin C and phytonutrients, two antioxidant plant compounds. Antioxidants from fruits and vegetables have been found to have anti-inflammatory effects, among other benefits.

Not only can antioxidants help reduce disease risk, but they may also improve male sexual health. Select studies suggest that a high antioxidant intake can help improve sperm count and motility, both of which are important factors in male fertility.

An animal study observed an increase in sperm production using celery leaf extract as a supplement.

However, celery extract is much more concentrated than eating a stalk of celery or drinking celery juice. Also, more research is needed to fully understand the impact of celery on male fertility.

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Does Celery Reduce Erectile Dysfunction?

Not only is celery known as a low-calorie vegetable, but celery and its juice may also be able to manage symptoms of erectile dysfunction by lowering blood pressure.

In addition to helping reduce blood pressure, the naturally occurring nitrates in celery improve heart health.

Reducing blood pressure is not only important for overall well-being. It’s also been linked to helping with erectile dysfunction.

Consuming a wide variety of fruits and vegetables — including celery — could improve symptoms of erectile dysfunction, though more studies are needed to know the full effects on male sexual health.

Celery also has other essential nutrients that are beneficial for men’s health.

Celery is an excellent source of vitamin K. About 100 grams of the vegetable (a little less than one cup) provides around 25 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin K for men.

Vitamin K is important for blood clotting and bone health. Celery also supports digestion due to its high water content and amounts of fiber.

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Consuming celery has often been associated with good health, especially thanks to the rise in popularity of celery juice. While there are undeniable nutritional benefits of celery, whether or not there are celery benefits sexually for men is unclear.

So far, studies on the effects of celery on men’s health show that this leafy vegetable may promote fertility, act as an aphrodisiac and help reduce erectile dysfunction symptoms, among other benefits.

Including celery or celery juice in your diet is a good way to reap the essential vitamins and antioxidants it provides. But if you’re struggling in the bedroom, it might be worth exploring scientifically proven treatments for sexual dysfunction.

Consulting with your healthcare provider can help you narrow down the cause of your ED.

From there, you can work together on a treatment plan that’s best for you and your symptoms, whether it’s common medications like sildenafil or tadalafil, sex therapy for ED or a combination of approaches.

16 Sources

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  2. Androstenedione. (n.d.). You and Your Hormones. Retrieved from https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/androstenedione/
  3. Araneda, R. C., & Firestein, S. (2004). The scents of androstenone in humans. The Journal of Physiology, 554(Pt 1), 1. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1664751/
  4. Doty, R. L. (n.d.). Human Pheromones - Neurobiology of Chemical Communication. NCBI. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK200980/
  5. Kooti, W., & Daraei, N. (2017). A Review of the Antioxidant Activity of Celery (Apium graveolens L). Journal of Evidence-based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 22(4), 1029-1034. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871295/
  6. Rodríguez-Yoldi, M. J. (2021). Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties of Plant Extracts. Antioxidants, 10(6). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8227619/
  7. Martin-Hidalgo, D., Bragado, M. J., Batista, A. R., Oliveira, P. F., & Alves, M. G. (2019). Antioxidants and Male Fertility: From Molecular Studies to Clinical Evidence. Antioxidants, 8(4). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6523199/
  8. de Ligny, W., Smits, R.M., Mackenzie-Proctor, R., Jordan, V., Fleischer, K., de Bruin, J.P., Showell, M.G. (2022, May 04). Antioxidants for male subfertility. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (5). Retrieved from https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007411.pub5/full
  9. Hardani, A., Afzalzadeh, M. R., Amirzargar, A., Mansouri, E., & Meamar, Z. (2015). Effects of aqueous extract of celery (Apium graveolens L.) leaves on spermatogenesis in healthy male rats. Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, 5(2), 113-119. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4418060/
  10. Zheng, J., Zhou, Y., Li, S., Zhang, P., Zhou, T., Xu, P., & Li, B. (2017). Effects and Mechanisms of Fruit and Vegetable Juices on Cardiovascular Diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 18(3). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5372571/
  11. Ma, L., Hu, L., Feng, X., & Wang, S. (2018). Nitrate and Nitrite in Health and Disease. Aging and Disease, 9(5), 938-945. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6147587/
  12. Javaroni, V., & Neves, M. F. (2011). Erectile Dysfunction and Hypertension: Impact on Cardiovascular Risk and Treatment. International Journal of Hypertension, 2012. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3357516/
  13. Cassidy, A., Franz, M., & Rimm, E. B. (2016, February). Dietary flavonoid intake and incidence of erectile dysfunction. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 103(2), 534–541. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/103/2/534/4564750
  14. FoodData Central Search Results. (n.d.). FoodData Central. Retrieved from https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/1103346/nutrients
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Editorial Standards

Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references. See a mistake? Let us know at [email protected]!

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.

Kelly Brown MD, MBA
Kelly Brown MD, MBA

Dr. Kelly Brown is a board certified Urologist and fellowship trained in Andrology. She is an accomplished men’s health expert with a robust background in healthcare innovation, clinical medicine, and academic research. Dr. Brown was previously Medical Director of a male fertility startup where she lead strategy and design of their digital health platform, an innovative education and telehealth model for delivering expert male fertility care.

She completed her undergraduate studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (go Heels!) with a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science and a Minor in Chemistry. She took a position at University of California Los Angeles as a radiologic technologist in the department of Interventional Cardiology, further solidifying her passion for medicine. She also pursued the unique opportunity to lead departmental design and operational development at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, sparking her passion for the business of healthcare.

Dr. Brown then went on to obtain her doctorate in medicine from the prestigious Northwestern University - Feinberg School of Medicine and Masters in Business Administration from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management, with a concentration in Healthcare Management. During her surgical residency in Urology at University of California San Francisco, she utilized her research year to focus on innovations in telemedicine and then served as chief resident with significant contributions to clinical quality improvement. Dr. Brown then completed her Andrology Fellowship at Medical College of Wisconsin, furthering her expertise in male fertility, microsurgery, and sexual function.

Her dedication to caring for patients with compassion, understanding, as well as a unique ability to make guys instantly comfortable discussing anything from sex to sperm makes her a renowned clinician. In addition, her passion for innovation in healthcare combined with her business acumen makes her a formidable leader in the field of men’s health.

Dr. Brown is an avid adventurer; summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (twice!) and hiking the incredible Torres del Paine Trek in Patagonia, Chile. She deeply appreciates new challenges and diverse cultures on her travels. She lives in Denver with her husband, two children, and beloved Bernese Mountain Dog. You can find Dr. Brown on LinkedIn for more information.

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