Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

David Crocker

Diet and Exercise

 

Well, Spring is here, and time for one of my favorites…Strawberries. The scientific name for the strawberry is “Fragaria x Ananassa.”, and the very first garden strawberries were grown in Brittany, France in the late 18^th century. Flavor of strawberries can be described as fruity, sweet, and mildly acidic, to refreshingly sour, depending on their ripeness, and individual variety. Most folks know strawberries are delicious, but they’re also nutritious. They’re packed with vitamins, fiber and antioxidants known as polyphenols.

Strawberries offer many healthful benefits, and might have a preventative affect against chronic diseases like…

Cardiovascular disease

Strawberries include the polyphenols anthocyanin and quercetin. Polyphenols are antioxidant plant compounds known as flavonoids that are valuable to the body. A 2019 report advised that anthocyanin has links lower risks of a type of heart attack known as myocardial infarction. The flavonoid quercetin found in strawberries is a natural anti-inflammatory that helps reduce risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the walls of arteries as a result of fat deposits on their inner lining).

Stroke

One study in 2016 determined the antioxidants quercetin, kaempferol, and anthocyanin reduced the risk of stroke, after the study authors took into account cardiovascular risks.

Cancer

The powerful antioxidants in strawberries fight free radicals (unstable molecules that can damage the cells in your body) according to a 2016 review. The study suggests this factor could inhibit tumor growth and decrease inflammation in the body.

Diabetes

Strawberries are a healthful choice for folks with diabetes. The considerable fiber content in strawberries helps to regulate, and keep blood sugar levels stable, avoiding extreme highs and lows. Strawberries are a low glycemic index (GI) food too, which means the sugars in strawberries are more slowly digested, absorbed, and metabolized. This also promotes a lower and slower rise in blood glucose levels. One cup has just 7 grams of sugar. According to the American Diabetes Association, strawberries, and actually all berries are considered superfoods for diabetics, because they’re packed with antioxidants, vitamins, water, and fiber.

Blood pressure

Due to their abundant potassium content, strawberries offer benefits to folks who have an increased risk for high blood pressure. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), fewer than 2% of American adults acquire the daily 4,700 mg recommendation for potassium.

Constipation

Strawberries are a rich source of water and soluble fiber. Fiber minimizes constipation, while adding bulk to the stool. Other fruits rich in fiber include raspberries, mangoes, guavas, persimmons, apples, bananas and oranges. Weight loss

Strawberries are great for those trying to lose body fat too, because they’re loaded with fiber, which makes you feel fuller, longer, so you eat less. Strawberries are low in sugar and calories too. One full cup presents just seven grams of sugar and yields only 49 calories, so make strawberries part of your weight loss regimen.

Here are a few facts about strawberries you might not know…

• Americans eat an average of three-and-a-half-pounds of fresh strawberries each year (folks around here eat much more).
• Strawberries are the only fruit that wears their seeds on the outside, with the average berry decorated with 200.
• Technically, strawberries aren’t really true berries in the botanical sense. Believe it or not, bananas, avocados, pumpkins, tomatoes, kiwis and watermelons are actually berries.
• Strawberries are members of the rose family, as are pears, apples, apricots, plums, raspberries and almonds.
• Strawberries don’t continue to ripen once picked. Other fruits that also don’t ripen off the plant include pineapple, watermelon, cherries, grapes, citrus fruits and apples.
• Think all strawberries are red? Not so! Some are yellow, blue, white, black and even purple.

Strawberries at room temperature are sweeter than cold strawberries.

• According to legend, if you share a double strawberry with someone, you will soon fall in love.

During these challenging times, folks are trying to keep their bodies strong, their diets clean, and their immune systems secure. In light of this I will be offering free phone consultations. The consultations are indeed free, but you must sign up. Contact me at dwcrocker77@gmail.com to get on the list.