One
of my favorite children’s stories is called, “A Present For the Princess.” It’s
old, probably out of print by now, but it is a darling tale about a little boy
who is blind, but hears about an upcoming visit by the Princess. He wants to
give her a token of his adoration, so he goes about growing the most
mouth-watering, rouge red, juicy, fragrant, delicious strawberry for her. The
Princess is so taken with this heartfelt gift, that she kisses him on the
cheek, leaving behind a trace of strawberry juice that forever stains his cheeks
a rosy pink.
If
the little boy were eating strawberries of his own, it was probably not only
juice giving him a glow. Strawberries offer many health benefits that would
perk up anybody who partakes regularly in this sweet and succulent locally
grown berry!
Like
most other berries, strawberries contain phenols. These lend to their bright
color and are a powerful antioxidant, which we now know can help fight all
kinds of disease, including cancer. Oxidative stress is a risk factor for
disease, including that of the heart. Oxidative stress is caused by damage
produced by free radicals, which are a natural byproduct of cellular
metabolism. Free radicals attach to and damage or destroy healthy cells, which,
over time leads to damage of the heart. Strawberries may help protect against
this type of damage.
Phenols
also fight against inflammatory disorders, such as osteoarthritis. If you
suffer from joint or muscle pain, make it a priority to incorporate
strawberries into your daily meal regime. For a wholesome breakfast smoothie I
like to blend a cup of strawberries with some yogurt, flax seed, protein
powder, half of a frozen banana, and a little coconut water, almond milk, or
juice. It’s filling, nutritious, and it helps my body recover after my morning
workout. Plus it’s tasty too!
Our
vitality depends on having a healthy skeleton and heart. There are various ways
to build and maintain a healthy skeletal and cardiovascular system; diet and
exercise are paramount! But a small amount of the essential nutrient
manganese each day is important for good health. Manganese can also help build
strong bones and benefit your heart, blood, and blood vessels. One cup of
strawberries contains 21% of manganese, which in addition to offering life
support to your bones and preventing cardiovascular diseases such as
atherosclerosis and hypertension, can help fight the battle against free
radicals. It doesn’t hurt that you’re also adding more than 100% of the
recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C!
Did
you know that strawberries are extremely low in calories? A huge cup of these
delectable berries can fill you up and satisfy your sweet tooth after dinner,
but bring under 50 calories to the table.
Try
mixing in a half serving of nonfat yogurt, and drizzle with a teaspoon of pure
vanilla extract. You won’t miss those high calorie desserts that leave your
favorite pants hanging in the closet unworn because they are too tight. Strawberry
hosts a lot of benefits that will help maintain your health and keeps you rosy glowing.
References
- "Elsevier"; The Effect of Strawberries in a Cholesterol-Lowering Dietary Portfolio; David J.A. Jenkins, et al.; December 2008
- "Elsevier"; Strawberries Decrease Atherosclerotic Markers in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome; Arpita Basu, et al.: July 2010
- "Nutrition Journal"; Freeze-Dried Strawberry Powder Improves Lipid Profile and Lipid Peroxidation in Women with Metabolic Syndrome: Baseline and Post Intervention Effects: Arpita Basu, et al.: 2009
- "ACS Publications"; Isolation and Identification of Strawberry Phenolics with Antioxidant and Human Cancer Cell Antiproliferative Properties; Yanjun Zhang, et al.: 2009
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