Strawberries, the healthy and delicious red fruits, have been used since Antiquity for dealing with various diseases and ailments.
Ancient Egyptian manuscripts indicate that they were once prescribed by healers as a remedy against inflammation, high temperature, kidney stones, bad breath, gout.
In the different parts of the world there are over 600 species of strawberries. Most of them possess a strong antioxidant effect. The content of sugar in the different species varies but the rich abundance of healthy minerals in the fruits makes them a must for every dining table.
Besides the above-mentioned benefits, strawberries contain a lot of healthy substances such as vitamin C, potassium, folic acid and fiber.
Eating just 1 cup of strawberries is enough to provide us our daily amount of vitamin C. The best part is that despite their sweetness, strawberries are not caloric. 1 cup of the fruits contains barely 40 calories.
1 cup of strawberries provides us 1 g proteins, 11.65 g carbohydrates, 3.81 g dietary fiber, 24.24 mg calcium, 0.63 mg iron, 16.5 mg magnesium, 31.54 mg phosphorus, 44.82 mg potassium, 1.16 mg selenium, 94.12 mg vitamin C, 29.38 mcg folic acid, 44.82 IU vitamin A, and all this for just 40 cal.
Last but not least, strawberries contain the powerful antioxidants anthocyanins, ellagic acid, quercetin and kaempferol, which have been proven to have properties protecting against certain types of cancer.
The flavonoid quercetin, found in strawberries, is a natural anti-inflammatory substance that lowers the risk of developing atherosclerosis and protects against diseases caused by bad cholesterol.
The delicious red fruit is also heart healthy. Studies have shown that by eating strawberries regularly the risk of heart attack is decreased by 32%. These data are from an extensive study done by researchers from Norwich Medical School in Great Britain.
Comments