How Strawberries are Good For Your Health

Nutrient Content

Vitamins

Excellent Source of (Daily Recommended): 

  • Vitamin C – 149%

Also a Source of:

  • Folate – 9%
  • Vitamin K – 4%

Minerals

Excellent Source of (Daily Recommended): 

  • Manganese – 29%

A Source of:

  • Potassium – 7%
  • Magnesium – 5%
  • Phosphorus – 4%

Other

A Source of:

  • Polyphenols – Ellagic Acid and Ellagitannins
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids
  • Omega-6 Fatty Acids
  • Fiber

*All nutritional information found at (1)

How Strawberries Prevent Chronic Disease

Strawberries, like many fruits, prevent several chronic diseases that plague America today. Most notably, strawberries help to prevent cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

How Strawberries Prevent Cancer

Strawberries are a great resource to incorporate into your diet to prevent various cancers.

Cancer formation is typically caused by oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, which are two processes caused by a lack of antioxidants. Without antioxidants, tissues and essential systems in the body can be attacked by free radicals.

  •  Strawberries, rich in antioxidants, help prevent damage caused by oxidative stress. (2)
  • It has been shown in studies that strawberries have cancer-preventive effects, driven by ellagic acid and ellagitannins. These polyphenols can inhibit different cancer development stages. (3)

  • Anthocyanins, found in strawberries, significantly reduce oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, making them beneficial for cancer prevention. Anthocyanins are part of the flavonoids and are excellent antioxidants. (4)

How Strawberries Prevent Diabetes

  • Strawberries are great for blood sugar regulation and type 2 diabetes prevention. As you have sugary and carb-loaded foods, your body breaks them down and uses the hormone insulin to recruit cells to uptake simple sugars for fuel. If there is an imbalance between the number of blood cells and simple sugars in the bloodstream, you have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

  • Strawberries slow glucose digestion and reduce insulin spikes following meals. By such a mechanism, strawberries help reduce risk of type 2 diabetes. (5)

How Strawberries Prevent Cardiovascular Disease

  • Strawberries are loaded with anthocyanins–a class of antioxidants found in many berries. They are especially crucial for regulating glucose metabolism and LDL oxidation. They help inhibit the bad LDL cholesterol from oxidizing, and improve HDL cholesterol levels. (6) This is especially important because oxidized LDL cholesterol collects as plaques in your blood vessels, resulting in blockages. Anthocyanins and other antioxidants prevent blockages; ultimately, this leads to lower blood pressure and a healthier heart.

  • Also, strawberries help alleviate inflammation, taking strain off of the blood vessels and reducing overall blood pressure. In turn, this lowers your risk of heart disease and stroke. (7)

Strawberries Promote a Number of Health Benefits

Strawberries not only help to prevent diseases, but support and promote the function of several important systems in our bodies.

How Strawberries Promote Skin Health

Strawberries are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C is, itself, an antioxidant that is essential for skin health. (8)

How Strawberries Promote Immune Health

Vitamin C also helps maintain good immune health. (9)

How Strawberries Promote Weight Loss

The fiber found in strawberries feeds the good bacteria found in the digestive tract and maintains healthy bowel movements. Fiber helps keep you fuller for a longer period of time and prevent overeating, thereby encouraging weight loss. (10)

Concerns With Strawberries

Many individuals are sensitive to some proteins found in strawberries. Be cautious of allergic reaction.

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