9 Health Properties of Strawberries
Strawberries are packed with health properties and have been widely used for hundreds of years in all kinds of recipes. The plant, known in scientific terms as Fragaria ananassa, belongs to the Rosaceae family. Furthermore, this fruit is native to the American continent and introduced to Europe in the 18th century. Furthermore, the benefits of strawberries are many and cover many bases.
From a nutritional standpoint, strawberries are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Thus, remarkably good for your body. In fact, since they are very low in calories, help control your hunger, and support your metabolism, experts recommend them for healthy weight loss.
Its active contents also help regulate blood sugar levels and keep free radicals from causing damage. Below we’d like to tell you about 9 health properties of strawberries. After this, we think you’ll start enjoying them a lot more!
1. Health benefits of strawberries for cardiovascular disease
One of the benefits of strawberries is that they contain a type of antioxidant known as anthocyanin, which gets absorbed into your body and helps improve your cardiovascular health. This substance reduces inflammation while also lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
It also helps reduce your risk of hypertension, since it makes your arteries more elastic and prevents obstructions. This is clear in a study published in The British Journal of Nutrition.
Eating strawberries two or three times a week can cut your risk of heart attack and strokes.
2. These berries contain electrolytes and are great for hydration
Due to their high water content – about 92% – strawberries are one of the most hydrating foods you can eat. They’re great for hot days, not just because they’re refreshing but also because they counteract the effect of fluid loss.
They’re one of the best choices for athletes. On top of that, the essential minerals in this fruit encourage a proper balance of electrolytes in your body.
3. Strawberries help improve your mood
Strawberries contain nutrients like Vitamin B1, sometimes known as the mood nutrient, which will help you fight irritability and sadness. This nutrient is assimilated by your nervous system, which it stimulates to increase production of well-being hormones.
Similarly, experimental trials found that the consumption of strawberries (fruit rich in kaempferol), as well as blueberries, blackberries, blackberries, citrus fruits, chocolates and nuts, decreases the risk of developing depression and thus, acts as a mood stabilizer.
Similarly, experimental trials have corroborated that the consumption of strawberries (fruit rich in kaempferol), as well as blueberries, blackberries, blackberries, citrus fruits, chocolates and nuts, brings a lower risk of developing depression and helps to maintain a stable mood.
Thus, strawberry, grape and blackberry juices can improve the mood of healthy young people and calm them down.
4. Skin improvement is one of the health benefits of strawberries
Because of their nutritional makeup and high water content, these little fruits are a big help for keeping your skin healthy and beautiful.
Their regular consumption promotes the elimination of toxins that speed aging up while balancing the skin pH. They’re important for preventing the damage caused by UV rays.
You can also use strawberries topically, in mask or cream form, to exfoliate and soften your skin.
5. These berries help relieve constipation
Strawberries contain significant amounts of fiber. Blend them with water to improve intestinal movement for proper waste elimination.
At the same time, strawberries help control abdominal inflammation and other symptoms of slow digestion.
6. Strawberries are a natural anti-inflammatory
Strawberries and other varieties of red fruits can help reduce the level of inflammation thanks to their contribution of vitamin C, essential minerals and antioxidants. These nutrients confer anti-inflammatory, depurative and diuretic properties that, in the organism, promote the elimination of wastes for an optimal work of the cells.
This is good for relieving muscle and joint ailments and is also a good complement for the treatment of arthritis. In fact, there’s evidence that vitamin C stimulates collagen synthesis, so strawberries are also good for improving muscle health.
7. This fruit supports eye health
Strawberries contain high levels of pigments like lutein, a carotene that contributes to good eye health. In addition, these antioxidants work together with Vitamin C to create a filter that protects your eyes from UV rays and environmental toxins. Thus they lower your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.
In addition, their vitamin C content supports the health of the cornea and the retina.
We recommend reading Four Superfoods for Eye Health
8. Keeping your brain young is one of the health properties of strawberries
The flavonoids in these little fruits are excellent at optimizing brain function because they inhibit oxidative stress.
Moreover, they lower the risk of cognitive decline in older adults and might even be key in preventing neurodegenerative disorders.
9. Controls the excess of uric acid
The consumption of strawberries has an alkalizing effect that facilitates the elimination of waste substances such as uric acid. Moreover, this acid is responsible for inflammation in the joints and kidney. Similarly, eating strawberries is a good supplement to any treatment for gout and arthritis.
Eat more strawberries and benefit from their properties
As you can see, strawberries are packed with nutrition and can significantly impact your health. Furthermore, the best way to enjoy them is raw, fresh, and ripe to obtain all their nutritional benefits. Nevertheless, the flavor and versatility of this fruit makes it ideal for both sweet and savory dishes, in sauces, vinaigrettes or dressings.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Fernández Solís, T. N., & Fariño Rosero, M. V. (2011). Elaboración de una barra alimenticia rica en macronutrientes para reemplazar la comida chatarra (Bachelor’s thesis, Universidad de Guayaquil. Facultad Ingeniería Química). http://repositorio.ug.edu.ec/bitstream/redug/2062/1/1063.pdf
- Gao Q, Qin LQ, Arafa A, Eshak ES, Dong JY. Effects of strawberry intervention on cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Br J Nutr. 2020 Aug 14;124(3):241-246.
- Gasparrini M, Forbes-Hernandez TY, Afrin S, Reboredo-Rodriguez P, Cianciosi D, Mezzetti B, Quiles JL, Bompadre S, Battino M, Giampieri F. Strawberry-Based Cosmetic Formulations Protect Human Dermal Fibroblasts against UVA-Induced Damage. Nutrients. 2017 Jun 14;9(6):605.
- Interián-Gómez, L., Aguila-Gutiérrez, S. E., Esquivias-López, K. M., Pulido-De la Cruz, V. A., Silva-Arzola, N. J., & Gonzalez-Becerra, K. (2021). Componentes alimenticios, estado de ánimo y su relación con el sistema inmune en COVID-19. RESPYN Revista Salud Pública y Nutrición, 20(4), 73-86. https://respyn.uanl.mx/index.php/respyn/article/view/620/412
- DePhillipo NN, Aman ZS, Kennedy MI, Begley JP, Moatshe G, LaPrade RF. Efficacy of Vitamin C Supplementation on Collagen Synthesis and Oxidative Stress After Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Systematic Review. Orthop J Sports Med. 2018.
