Straw berries are nutrient dense superfoods which can boost cardiovascular and brain health. They are enriched with wide variety of antioxidants and micronutrients that help skin health also.
Strawberry is a fruit that is widely loved and consumed by people across the globe for its aroma, bright red colour, juicy texture, and sweetness. It can be consumed either fresh or in the processed form of foods such as jam, ice cream, and chocolates. However, strawberries are good for health in its raw form without adding sugar.
History of strawberries
Strawberries are low-growing herbaceous plants that belong to genus fragaria and family rosaceae. These fruits originated in Europe in the 18th century. The garden strawberry was first cultivated in Brittany, France, in the 1750s. Strawberries have been mentioned in literature and art from Romans . It has been depicted in many western paintings also such as Italian, Flemish, and German paintings, including Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights.
However, strawberries reached all over the globe and several countries developed their own varieties commercially only during the 19th century. Strawberries are produced commercially both for instant consumption as raw fruits and for processing as frozen, canned, or preserved berries or as juice.
Nutritional value of strawberries
The strawberries are ranked as one of the best functional foods because of their vitamins and antioxidant content. These play crucial role in preventing and managing lifestyle diseases.
Raw strawberries contain 91% water, 8% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and very low amounts of fats. They are rich source of Fibers, vitamin A, C, B1, B2, B6, K, folates and many important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium.
Along with potassium the antioxidants in strawberries help to protect heart health and reduce hypertension.
The major antioxidants in strawberries include ellagic acid, and certain flavonoids such as anthocyanin, catechin, quercetin and kaempferol.
It contains about 99%of the daily requirement of vitamin C and it is much more than that in oranges and help to boost immunity.
Health benefits of strawberries
- Protects cardiovascular health
Antioxidants in strawberries help to lower risk of cardiovascular diseases through inhibition of LDL-cholesterol oxidation, promotion of plaque stability, improved vascular endothelial function, and decreased tendency for thrombosis or clot formation. It protects heart and blood vessels from forming plaques and blood clots.
- Helps skin collagen formation &glow
Vitamin C in strawberries helps to boost collagen production and thus skin health and beauty.
- Helps to prevent Alzheimer’s disease & boost brain health
The antioxidants in strawberries also help to prevent cognitive decline and protects your brain from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
- Helps to maintain blood glucose level
The glycaemic index of the fruit is less than 40 and hence it can be consumed by diabetic patients also. It will not cause blood sugar spike.
- Boost immunity
The vitamin C in strawberries help to boost immunity due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-infective potential. Vitamin C is also a great antioxidant.
Conclusion:
Strawberries contain several vital nutrients which can enhance immunity, heart health, bone health, brain health and skin health. Therefore, enjoy the strawberries for better health and quality of life in the most natural way.
Safety & caution
Strawberries may cause severe allergy in some people who are hypersensitive to it. Sometimes it may reach the level of anaphylaxis or fatal life-threatening allergy. People who are allergic to strawberries, are advised not to eat them.
Written by dr Sanjana p
References for further reading
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15077879/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24345049/