Do you love strawberries and crave for its fresh flavor in every dessert of choice?? Then this is good news for you!! Strawberries are one of nature’s healthiest berries, heart friendly and protective, with anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory properties all rolled into one ripe treat.
Strawberries have vitamins, phyto-chemicals & antioxidants:
According to a US Department of Agriculture study, strawberries rank third when compared to the top fresh fruits and vegetables. They have antioxidant and phyto-nutrient content, which give strawberries heart-protecting, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties.
With high vitamin C, B-vitamins, potassium, and folic acid contents, these red little berries pack a potent punch of health.
Strawberries can help cancer:
Strawberries are one of the few sources, of ellagic acid, along with raspberries and grapes, a compound which has been shown to prevent carcinogens from turning healthy cells into cancerous ones.
The anticarcinogenic effect of ellagic acid was shown in several types of cancers including skin, esophageal, breast, colon, and pancreatic cancers.
Besides ellagic acids strawberries contain a number of anti carcinogenic compounds, including vitamin C, folate, anthocyanins, quercetin and kaempferol.
Strawberries protect the heart:
A research from Harvard Medical School found that those who reported eating the most strawberries experienced lower blood levels of C-reactive protein.
C-reactive protein or CRP is a blood biomarker that signals the presence of inflammation in the body. High levels of CRP have been shown in multiple studies to be a potential prelude to risk of both heart disease and stroke, as it is generally a sign of atherosclerosis.
Strawberries have anti-clotting effect:
Strawberry consumption may protect against blood clot formation. Strawberries had a powerful anti-clotting effect on blood in the body. Strawberry extracts were shown to produce anti-clotting properties in mice. This is good news especially for patients with heart and cardiovascular problems.
Strawberries help prevent neuronal and behavioral aging:
Research suggests that the polyphenolic compounds found in berry fruits, such as blueberries and strawberries, lower increased oxidation and inflammation of cells in neurons and cells. Chemical reaction triggered by natural compounds in strawberries thus provides a fair amount of protection against age-related deficits in cognitive and motor function.
Strawberries help lower cholesterol levels:
Researchers at the University of Toronto found that antioxidants in strawberries help lower "bad" cholesterol. The study showed that the antioxidant power in strawberries can improve and maintain the effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering diets.
Strawberries reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis:
Strawberries contain a lot of vitamin C. In fact, about eight medium berries provide 160 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C.
Vitamin C seems to protect against inflammatory poly arthritis, a form of rheumatoid arthritis involving two or more joints, according to the experience of many people in various studies and researches.
Strawberries prevent ultraviolet skin damage:
Ellagic acid, that we talked about before in this blog an also holds promise of helping to prevent wrinkles and repair skin damage caused by the sun. In the human cells, ellagic acid reduced the destruction of collagen and inflammatory response, both major causes of wrinkles.
Strawberries help prevent ulcers (Helicobacter pylori infection):
Strawberry extracts help kill the bacteria that cause most ulcers and improve the efficacy of prescribed drugs for ulcer therapy. There is proof that berry extracts not only inhibit the growth of H. pylori, but also render it more susceptible to clarithromycin, one of the antibiotics used to eradicate the bacteria.
Strawberries enhance one’s vision:
Eating three or more servings of this fruit per day allegedly lowers a person’s risk of age-related macular degeneration (eye problem) by 36%. It is thought that the antioxidants in fruit may help protect macular cells in the retina by neutralizing free radicals.
So the next time you think of a fresh fruity dessert or some seasonal summer berries, you know where to head and what to grab!! Indulge in fresh strawberries or just grow them yourselves, they are so eay to grow too!
image credit:
www.wikipedia.org
www.dvo.com