Did you know these ruby red fruits
were capable of such a thing?
Strawberries are a fruit, which means they have a variety of
health benefits but have you ever considered what happens to your body when you
drink a strawberry smoothie or add fresh strawberries to your morning yogurt?
Not surprisingly, these vibrant red berries can help with
everything from blood pressure to eye health, but they can also cause stomach
trouble in certain people. Read on to learn more about the benefits and
drawbacks of eating strawberries.
1. Your skin may glow.
"Five large strawberries contain nearly 100% of your daily
vitamin C requirement. Vitamin C is required to produce collagen, which keeps
skin soft and supple "Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, CDN, CFT, and Lyssie
Lakatos, RDN, CDN, CFT, explain. "The vitamin C and polyphenols (antioxidants)
in strawberries assist to battle free radical damage and inflammation, making
skin look more radiant and youthful and reducing acne flare-ups for a more
radiant complexion."
2. Your blood pressure may go down.
"Strawberries are high in potassium, which can assist in
decreasing blood pressure by counteracting sodium's harmful effects.
Strawberries also contain anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid that has been shown
to help lower blood pressure. "Tammy and Lyssie remark.
"According to research published in the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition, if you eat just a cup of strawberries every week, you can
reduce your risk of high blood pressure. Additional benefit: Lowering blood
pressure lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke."
3. You may reduce your risk of cancer.
"Strawberries are high in antioxidants, which can protect the
cell from free radical damage, which can lead to cancer. Ellagic acid, one of
the powerful antioxidants in strawberries, has been shown to suppress cancer
cell growth," The Nutrition Twins share.
"Strawberries also contain more fisetin than any other fruit
or vegetable, a flavonoid with significant anti-inflammatory and
anti-carcinogenic properties that may slow cancer growth."
4. You'll support your eye health.
Strawberries, believe it or not, can help keep your eyes healthy
as you get older. "Strawberries are high in vitamin C, which helps to
guard against age-related eye illness and keeps the blood vessels and tissues
around your eyes healthy," says one expert. "Strawberries include
phytonutrients and folate, which assist in preventing cataracts." The
Nutrition Twins explain.
5. You may lose weight.
According to Lyssie and Tammy, Strawberries can help you lose
weight if you eat them instead of candy or cookies. "A cup of strawberries
contains three grams of fiber and only 50 calories, making it a fiber-rich,
low-calorie, naturally sweet treat. Not only will the fiber assist in
controlling cravings and maintaining blood sugar, but it will also likely crowd
out other snacks and sweets that are high in calories, fat, and sugar but
lacking in fiber and lead to weight gain, "the couple claims.
6. Your stomach may get upset.
"If you're not used to eating fibrous foods and eat a lot of strawberries," The Nutrition Twins say, "you may have heartburn, diarrhea, reflux, or bloating, just as some people do after overeating of any fruit."