7 interesting health benefits of strawberries

Who doesn’t like strawberries? Interestingly whether taken fresh or even frozen strawberries pack a strong healthy punch. They come in all shapes and differ in flavour and texture. Technically strawberries are not fruits, since their seeds are on the outside and belongs to the rose family.

Here are 7 interesting health benefits of strawberries:

1. Unlike carnivorous mammals we humans cannot synthesise our own Vitamin C and depend on plant consumption to fill up on our daily need of Vitamin C. Fortunately we are surrounded with vegetables and fruit that are rich in Vitamin C. Amongst these Vitamin C rich fruits is are strawberries. In fact a cup of strawberries can provide you with your daily minimum requirement of Vitamin C. 1
2. They are low-calorie food and you can eat a serving of strawberries without worrying about any unhealthy weight gain. 2
3. They also contain decent amounts of folate (vitamin B9) and potassium. To a lesser extent, strawberries also provide iron, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins B6, K, and E.
4. Strawberries are rich in fibre helping you build the necessary daily fibre. Thanks to their high fibre content, they can help boost digestion and prevent constipation.
5. They are abundant in both antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact strawberries are an excellent source of manganese—a mineral which plays a key antioxidant role.
6. Strawberries have a low glycemic index. 3
7. Interestingly strawberry leaves can be eaten and can be used to make antioxidant rich tea.

Choosing strawberries

Strawberries are very perishable so ideally you should purchase them a few days before you consume them. try to choose those berries that are free from mould, firm and have a shiny deep red colour with their green caps attached. Strawberries do not ripen further once they are picked. If you cannot consumer immediately, it is recommended to refrigerate strawberries.

Freezing strawberries

You may choose to buy strawberries when they are abundant (and well priced) and freeze them. If you wish to freeze strawberries you should first gently wash them and then pat them dry. It is your choice whether you wish to remove the cap and stem or leave them intact. Place the strawberries in a single layer on a flat pan and put them in the freezer. Once they are frozen, you can place the berries in a heavy plastic bag and put them back in the freezer. They should keep for up to one year. Interestingly some say that you can preserve their colour by adding a bit of lemon juice to the berries. While strawberries can be frozen whole, cut or crushed, they will retain a higher level of their vitamin C content if left whole.