Author: Karen Lennox
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
One serving of strawberries contains over 100% of the minimum daily intake needed for immune-boosting vitamin C.
Strawberries are still in season and are still juicy, sweet and tempting. These favorite red fruits are powerful protectors for our health, and their benefits for the body are impressive. In addition, a cup of whole strawberries provides only 46 calories. The same portion cut contains 53 calories, and a cup of mashed fruit calculates only 74 calories.
Eating strawberries for dessert has been shown to help regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. This means more stable mental and physical energy. They can also help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
The flavonoids in strawberries are associated with a reduced risk of weight gain associated with age. The effect may be due to the ability of flavonoids to increase glucose uptake into muscle and / or decrease glucose uptake into adipose tissue.
One serving of strawberries (one cup) contains over 100% of the minimum daily intake needed for the body's immune-boosting vitamin C. In addition to acting as an antioxidant, disease-fighting, vitamin C also helps produce collagen and maintain health. on the skin.
Strawberries are also rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. This is one of the reasons they are important for brain health. In one study, older women who consumed at least one or two servings of strawberries (one serving is eight whole fruits) experienced less loss of cognitive function than other study participants who did not consume strawberries.
One cup of strawberries provides almost a quarter of the daily dose of manganese - a mineral that helps produce collagen and promotes skin and bone health.
The fiber in strawberries (about 3 grams per cup) helps maintain good digestive health by supporting the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut, which are linked to immunity, inflammation control and good mood.
In people with osteoarthritis, strawberries have been shown to help reduce pain and inflammation, as well as oxidative stress.
Fruits, including strawberries, are known to prevent cancer. This is thought to happen by fighting tumor formation and stopping the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Strawberries protect the heart by reducing inflammation, raising good HDL cholesterol, preventing the oxidation of bad LDL cholesterol (a precursor to hardening of the arteries) and improving circulation.