40. Health benefits of strawberry By Allah Dad Khan

1. Health Benefits of Strawberry
by Allah Dad Khan

2. Strawberry
 The Garden Strawberry or the strawberry is the
most widely cultivated berry throughout the world.
The strawberry plant belongs to the family of the
Rosaceae, and is often referred to as the
accessory fruit. The fleshy part of the fruit is
derived not from the ovaries, but from the peg at
the bottom of the bowl shaped hypanthium that
holds the ovaries. The garden strawberry was first
grown in Europe in the 18th century and
represents the accidental cross of Fragaria
virginiana from eastern North America, which is
rich in flavour, and the Fragaria chiloensis from
Chile, which is large in size. Today, these
strawberries have been replaced by the
Woodland Strawberries, which have been

3. Nutritional Value
Strawberries are a treat to the taste buds, eyes and senses. Apart
from being so delicious, these berries are a rich source of nutrition
too. They are rich sources of vitamins A, B, and C, and also contain
ample amounts of calcium, phosphorous, potassium, carbohydrates,
etc. They are also rich in Folic acid, which helps in preventing birth
related defects.
Nutritive Value : Per 100 gms.
 Vitamin A : 60 I.U.
 Vitamin B : Thiamine .03 mg.;
 Vitamin C : 60 mg.
 Calcium : 28 mg.
 Phosphorus : 27 mg.
 Potassium : 220 mg.
 Carbohydrates : 8.3 gm

4. Origin and History
Strawberries were cultivated by the Romans as far
back in history as 200BC. In the medieval times,
a soup made from strawberries, borage and
soured cream was traditionally served to newly-
weds at their wedding breakfast. When the
colonists arrived in America in 1780, the native
Americans were already eating the strawberries.
The first strawberry hybrid was developed in
USA. Though strawberries are mostly used as
desserts or as additions in milk products, there
are also a number of recepies, which can be
made from them like pies, soups, etc

6. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Antioxidant
 Nutrient-rich and
packed
with antioxidants (like
vitamin C), strawberries
offer a wide range of
health benefits, some of
which may surprise you.
(Wrinkle-prevention?
Yes please!). Here are
10 reasons you should
add more strawberries
to your diet.

7. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Strawberries boost
immunity
 One serving of strawberries
contains 51.5 mg of vitamin
C—about half of your daily
requirement," Edwards says.
"Double a serving to one cup
and get 100 percent."
Vitamin C is a well-
known immunity booster, as
well as a powerful, fast-
working antioxidant. A 2010
UCLA study discovered that
the antioxidant power in
strawberries becomes
“bioavailable” or “ready to
work in the blood” after
eating the fruit

8. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Strawberries promote
eye health
 The antioxidant properties
in strawberries may also
help to prevent
cataracts—the clouding
over of the eye lens—
which can lead to
blindness in older age.
Our eyes require vitamin
C to protect them from
exposure to free-radicals
from the sun’s harsh UV
rays, which can damage
the protein in the lens.
Vitamin C also plays an
important role in
strengthening the eye's
cornea and retina.

9. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Allergies and
Asthma: Because of the
anti-inflammatory effects
of quercetin, consuming
strawberries may help to
alleviate symptoms of
allergies including runny
nose, watery eyes
and hives, although there
have been no human
studies done to prove this
theory.6 Several studies
have shown that the
incidence of asthma is
lower with a high intake of
certain nutrients, vitamin
C being at the top of the
list.

10. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Arthritis and
Gout: The degeneration
of muscles and tissues,
the drying up of the fluid
which helps increase
mobility of the joints,
and the accumulation of
toxic substances and
acids (such as uric acid)
in the body are some of
the ill effects of free
radicals. These are the
primary causes of
arthritis and gout, two
extremely irritating and
debilitating conditions

11. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Pregnancy: Adequat
e folic acid intake is
essential for pregnant
women to protect
against neural tube
defects in infants.

12. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Depression: Folate
may also help
with depressionby
preventing an excess of
homocysteine from
forming in the body,
which can prevent blood
and other nutrients from
reaching the brain.
Excess homocysteine
interferes with the
production of the feel-
good
hormones serotonin
dopamine, and
norepinephrine, which
regulate not only mood,
but sleep and appetite

13. Health Benefits of
Strawberry

14. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Strawberries help
fight cancer
 Vitamin C is one of the
antioxidants that can
help
with cancer prevention,
since a healthy immune
system is the body’s
best defense. A
phytochemical called
ellagic acid—also found
in strawberries—is
another. “Ellagic acid
has been shown to yield
anti-cancer properties
like suppressing cancer
cell growth,” says
Edwards.

15. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Strawberries keep
wrinkles at bay
 The power of vitamin C
in strawberries
continues, as it is vital
to the production of
collagen, which helps to
improve skin’s elasticity
and resilience. Since we
lose collagen as we
age, eating foods rich in
vitamin C may result in
healthier, younger-
looking skin.

16. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Diabetes: Strawberrie
s are a low glycemic
index food and high in
fiber, which helps to
regulate blood sugar
and keep it stable by
avoiding extreme
highs and lows.
Strawberries are a
smart fruit choice for
diabetics, as they
have a lower glycemic
index (40) than many
other fruits do.3

17. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Strawberries fight bad
cholesterol
 Luckily, strawberries also
contain powerful heart-health
boosters. “Ellagic acid and
flavonoids— or
phytochemicals—can
provide an antioxidant effect
that can benefit heart health
in various ways,” explains
Edwards. “One way includes
counteracting the effect of
low-density lipoprotein, or
LDL—bad cholesterol in the
blood—which causes plaque
to build up in arteries.


18. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Constipation: Eating
foods that are high in
water content and
fiber like strawberries,
grapes, watermelon
and cantaloupe can
help to keep you
hydrated and your
bowel movements
regular. Fiber is
essential for
minimizing constipati
on and adding bulk to
the stool.

19. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Stroke: The
antioxidants
quercetin, kaempferol,
and anthocyanins
have all been shown
to reduce the
formation of harmful
blood clots associated
with strokes High
potassium intakes
have also been linked
with a reduced risk of
stroke

20. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Strawberries reduce
inflammation
 The antioxidants and
phytochemicals found in
strawberries may also help
to reduce inflammation of the
joints, which may
cause arthritis and can also
lead to heart disease.
 A study conducted by
the Harvard School of Public
Health shows that women
who eat 16 or more
strawberries per week are 14
percent less likely to have
elevated levels of C-reactive
protein (CRP)—an indication
of inflammation in the body.


21. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Strawberries regulate
blood pressure
 Potassium is yet
another heart healthy
nutrient, and with 134
mg per serving,
strawberries are
considered a "medium
source," according
to Alberta Health
Services. Potassium
can help regulate blood
pressure and may even
help to lower high blood
pressure by acting as a
buffer against the
negative effects of
sodium

22. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Strawberries boost fibre
 Fibre is a necessity for
healthy digestion, and
strawberries naturally
contain about 2 g per
serving. Problems that can
arise from lack of fibre
include constipation and
diverticulitis—an
inflammation of the
intestines—which affects
approximately 50 percent of
people over 60. Fibre can
also aid in fighting type 2
diabetes. “Fibre helps slow
the absorption of sugars (i.e.
glucose) in the blood,” says
Edwards. "As a result, adults
who are managing diabetes
can enjoy strawberries—in
moderation—in their diet.”

23. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Strawberries aid in weight
management
 “Strawberries are naturally low
calorie (around 28 kCal per
serving), fat-free and low in both
sodium and sugar,” says
Edwards. “Strawberries do
contain natural sugars—though
total sugars are fairly low with 4
grams per serving—and the
total carbohydrate content is
equivalent to less than a half
slice of bread. Triple your
serving to 1.5 cups and you'll
have a snack that's less than
100 calories—and much
healthier than those pre-
packaged 100-calorie snacks!”


24. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Strawberries promote pre-
natal health
 Folate is a B-vitamin
recommended for women
who are pregnant or trying to
conceive, and strawberries
are a good source with 21
mcg per serving. Folate is
necessary in the early stages
of pregnancy to help in the
development of the baby’s
brain, skull and spinal cord,
and the folic acid in
strawberries may help to
prevent certain birth defects,
such as spina bifida


25. Health Benefits of
Strawberry

26. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Helps burn stored fat
The red coloring
contains anthocyanins,
which stimulate the
burning of stored
fat. When a group of
animals was fed a high-
fat diet along with
anthocyanins, they
gained 24 percent less
weight than the animals
eating the high-fat diet
without added
anthocyanins. (The
Journal of Agriculture
and Food Chemistry)

27. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Anti-aging
properties
Strawberries are filled
with biotin, which
helps build strong hair
and nails. They also
contain the
antioxidant ellagic
acid, which protects
the elastic fibers in
our skin to prevent
sagging.

28. Health Benefits of
Strawberry
 Promote eye health
Eating three or more
servings of fruit like
strawberries may
lower the risk of
macular degeneration,
a condition resulting in
vision loss. (Archives
of Ophthalmology)