Strawberry: The Little Fruit With Big Benefits
The ubiquitous strawberry is beloved around the world. This fruit has inspired imaginative and adventurous chefs to create new and exciting flavors and foods ranging from cakes, to jam, ice creams and even some healthier fare.
Strawberries are known for being sweet and juicy on the inside, while red and lurid on the outside. No wonder they’re a symbol for love and passion that is hardwired into our very being!
In traditional Bavarian folklore, elves have an insatiable appetite and passion for strawberries. Farmers would appease these mythical beings by tying small baskets of wild strawberries onto the horns of their cattle as an offering, in exchange for healthy calves and abundant milk. It’s a belief that continues to this day.
Health Benefits of Strawberries
Despite their diminutive size, strawberries are chock full of vitamins and nutrients essential for optimal health. They possess 129 percent of the daily recommended value of the immune boosting superstar vitamin C. Strawberries also contain phytonutrients that can help fight inflammation throughout your body.
Strawberries contain fructose, so consume them in moderation. Excessive fructose may be harmful to your health in the long run.
Additionally, strawberries help fight free radicals in your body. A study reported that fisetin, a flavonoid found in strawberries, can kill breast cancer cells without harming healthy, normal cells. Fisetin is also powerful against colon and prostate cancer cells.
If you don’t have access to strawberries in your community but would like to take advantage of fisetin, you can find it in other foods such as onions, apples, persimmons, grapes and cucumbers.
The Best Way to Enjoy Strawberries
The great thing about strawberries is that they are delicious by themselves and you can obtain all of their benefits with very little effort. They’re best eaten raw at room temperature.
You can also mix strawberries with other fruits. Pineapples, kiwis, grapes, apples, blueberries, papayas and bananas all go well with strawberries.
To preserve their freshness, it’s best that you store them in the coldest area of your refrigerator. Before eating, first wash them with water and pat them dry with paper towels.
There is a reason why strawberries are easily located and widely loved — they are one of the most versatile and nutritious foods you can consume. They can be prepared in any number of ways but no version tops in flavor or promotes optimal health more effectively than the raw strawberry.
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