Food

In Asian countries, people call strawberries “Queens of Fruits” because they are packed with so many health goodness – nutrients essential to our good health. Bright red, juicy and sweet, they can be eaten as healthy snacks all day long.

Strawberries are also chosen as perfect ingredients for salads, smoothies, bread, cakes and desserts, especially fondues. Due to their bright, appealing appearance, chefs also like to use them as decorations to enhance the presentation of dishes, making them more appetizing to the guests.

How did strawberry get its name?

It was believed that the word “strawberry” did not exist until 1538. During the harvest time, children would pick the fruits and string them on straws of grass to be sold, thus the fruit was named “strawberry”.

In the olden days, strawberries originated from the wilderness of Europe and America. Wild strawberries are small and tend to bear fruits only during month of June. But now the berries we buy today are much bigger in size because they had been cross-pollinated by scientists over the years. The scientists crossbred the wild species with the Chilean strawberries which were so much bigger in size than the wild berries.

What are the nutritional properties in strawberries?

Strawberries are the only known fruit to have their seeds outside, with an average of 200 seeds per fruit. Strawberries leaves and roots can be used for medicinal purposes such as treating diarrhea, indigestion and gout. You’ll find strawberries leaves in blended herbal teas. The fruit juice is also used to treat sunburn, skin blemishes and discoloured teeth.

Nutrients found in strawberries include vitamin A, C and B6, fiber, potassium, folate and various antioxidants and flavonoids. These nutrients are important in boosting your immune system against diseases like cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

Strawberries surpass the super fruits like apples, oranges and bananas, in terms of providing the most nutrients. For example, comparing the Vitamin C level in 100g of strawberries and 100g of oranges, strawberries exceed oranges by 10mg. Best of all, they are low in calories and absolutely fat-free!

The Fighter against Heart Disease

Potassium, fiber and folate present in strawberries help combat heart disease. Studies have proved that potassium can significantly lower blood pressure, which may then reduce the risk of heart disease. Fiber, both soluble and insoluble, also lowers the risk of both cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. Homocysteine, an independent risk factor for heart disease, can be reduced by folate.

The antioxidants also play an important role in reducing oxidation of bad cholesterol. Oxidation speeds up the build-up of arteries-hardening plague, also known as arteriosclerosis, which endangers the heart. Besides as an antioxidant, the flavonoids have anti-inflammatory effect on arteries, meaning they prevent blood clotting, thereby reduces risk of stroke.

The Fighter against Cancer

Because strawberries are highly effective in fighting oxidation activity, they are ranked the top among 12 fruits that were analyzed. The credits go to the high levels of polyphenols and Vitamin C in strawberries.

Antioxidants protect your body cells from damage by carcinogens, the cancer-causing agents. They prohibit the development of carcinogens and delay the tumors from growing and expanding. When strawberry extracts were added to cancer cells, it was found that it slows down the cancer’s growth.

The Booster for Immune System

To have a long and healthy life, your immune system is the key. It is responsible for fighting infections and removing damaged or malfunctioning cells. But bad news is, your immune system ages with your age. So to maintain your immune system in tip-top condition, you need to load your body with plenty of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

As mentioned earlier, strawberries provide most of the nutrients beneficial to your immune system, and the body easily absorbs these nutrients.