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While the strawberry growing season is short, this superfruit comes packed with a bunch of health benefits. But you may not have to rely on frozen strawberries for most of the year, a new variety developed in the UK could really be called “Strawberry Fields Forever”. According to The Guardian ,this new variety tastes as good as the early summer ones and could make fresh red strawberries available all year long.
While strawberries have only been cultivated since the 14th century, even the ancient Romans ate the fruit of wild plants for their medicinal benefits. The wild strawberry plants in the forest were planted in gardens in France in the 1300s but this edible medicine chest wasn’t really farmed for another 200 years.
Today, you can share in this heart-shaped red fruit’s medicinal properties by eating them fresh, frozen, adding them to baked goods, jams, milkshakes, and just about everything. Here are seven berry good health benefits of strawberries.
Packed Full of Nutrition
Strawberries contain 91 percent water so they are a great source of hydration in the summer, and 7.7 percent carbohydrates according to Healthline. While most of the berry’s carbs come from simple sugars they also contain a good deal of fiber. Just one 3.5 ounce serving of strawberries contains 2 grams of fiber.
Strawberries are also a great source of Vitamin C (an antioxidant), folate, manganese, and potassium (helps regulate blood pressure)and they also have smaller amounts of magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus and Vitamins B6, E, and K. All of this makes strawberries a superfruit that you should add to your diet.
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Helps Heart Health
Since strawberries are rich in Vitamin C and fiber, they are very helpful in reducing oxidative stress which can reduce the risk of heart disease according to Prevention Magazine. The potassium in the berries can help lower blood pressure and aid in the prevention of heart attacks and strokes. These helpful red berries can also help improve HDL (good cholesterol) and lower the risk factors of heart disease.
A study from Harvard with almost 100,000 young and middle-aged women participants found that eating three or more servings of strawberries a week reduced their risk of heart attacks by 32 percent. That’s due to the antioxidants – called anthocyanins – in strawberries.
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Good for Diabetics
Strawberries are a good food for diabetics. They have a low glycemic index so they do not produce large spikes in blood sugar levels after eating and they also do not cause spikes in insulin according to Healthline. Add strawberries to oatmeal for a perfect combination breakfast.
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May Reduce the Risk of Cancer
Regularly eating berries (especially blueberries and strawberries) may lower the risk of some cancers including esophageal, lung, liver, and mouth cancers, according to Prevention. Since cancer cell development is linked to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, the antioxidants in strawberries could be the reason for this according to a 2003 study.
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Could Boost Your Immunity
Foods that are high in Vitamin C are known to boost your immunity and help fight off colds and viruses. Most people think of oranges for vitamin C but strawberries also fit the bill. Just one cup of strawberries a day gives you 100 percent of your daily Vitamin C requirement.
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Good for Gut Health
Eating foods that are hydrating, like strawberries, can help keep you regular and ward off constipation according to Medical News Today. And eating food that is rich in fiber also helps to minimize constipation and keeps your gut healthy because fiber adds good bacteria. Most Americans do not get enough fiber in their diet, adding strawberries to your food regimen is good for your gut.
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Helps Reduce Inflammation
The antioxidants and phytochemicals that strawberries contain could also reduce inflammation in your joints. In fact, the best treatment to reduce inflammation doesn’t come from a pharmacy, it comes from your grocery store. Foods that are high in fiber and antioxidants, like strawberries, naturally reduce inflammation.
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