Strawberries are soft heart-shape fruit that grow two to five centimetres in length. They are red with many green seeds that grow on the outside of the fruit. While strawberries are considered berry fruit, strawberries are actually part of the rose family, which is why the seeds are embedded in the skin of the fruit.
Strawberries can be bought fresh in punnets at grocers, farmers markets and supermarkets or they can be found canned in supermarkets. Choose fresh strawberries that are firm and bright red in colour. Avoid bruised, soft strawberries and white or green coloured strawberries. Strawberries are delicate fruits that can bruise easily.
Strawberries keep best if they are taken out of the punnet and placed unwashed on a layer of paper towel then covered and refrigerated. They keep for around three days in this way. Strawberries can be eaten on their own as a snack or added to fruit salad, desserts and cereal. They are often used to top desserts such as cake and pavlova to add colour and flavour. Strawberries can also be stewed and cooked in desserts such as pies.
A beautiful sweet fruit low in calories, no fat and delicious to eat, they are a fabulous addition to any healthy eating plan.
Why are strawberries so good to eat?
Strawberries are very high in antioxidants, ranking just below blackberries, cranberries and raspberries. Antioxidants, which give ripe strawberries their lush red color, have a range of beneficial properties including anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties.
Strawberries are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and regular intake of strawberries as part of a healthy eating plan will reduce inflammation in the body. Due to the outstanding antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients within strawberries, consumption of these fruit can have great benefits for the cardiovascular system, providing the heart and blood vessels with protection from oxidative and inflammatory damage.
Strawberries are known to prevent heart disease. Strawberries provide a large amount of vitamin C and are a good source of folate. The seeds of the strawberries contain dietary fibre. Furthermore, studies have shown that strawberries may help to keep our brains young and active.
Strawberries are also known to stimulate the metabolism and suppress the appetite, making them a great addition to a low calorie diet. Strawberries are thought to aid blood sugar regulation in the body and have recently been found to reduce the spike in one’s blood sugar when eaten simultaneously with sugar. Strawberries may play a major role in regulating blood sugar response, which is beneficial for people with type-2 diabetes and people on a healthy eating plan for weight management and blood sugar regulation.
Food Group: Fruit
Nutritional Values: Per 100g
- 32 Calories
- 0g Fat of which 0% is saturated
- 8g Carbohydrates
Nutrients:
- Vitamin C
- Manganese