Strawberry Fruit, Antioxidants and Cardiovascular Benefits

No wonder if strawberries are the most popular type of berry fruit in the world. There are more than 600 varieties of strawberry fruits that differ in size, texture, and flavor. This healthy edible fruit contains antioxidants that provide protection by neutralizing free radicals. Did you know that a cup of strawberries have more vitamin C than an orange? Many sources also note that after raspberries and grapes, strawberries also rank as the best fruit source of manganese among the World's Healthiest Foods. The benefits of this berry do not end there, so let's learn more about the nutritional benefits of Strawberry Fruit, Strawberry Facts, as well as the Cons of Strawberries!

About Strawberry
Strawberry fruit (commonly known as strawberries) is an aggregate accessory fruit of the Fragaria genus of plants in the family Rosaceae. An accessory fruit (or often called spurious fruit / false fruit / pseudocarp) is a fruit in which the fleshy part is derived not from the plant's ovaries (achenes) but from the receptacle that holds the ovaries. Because of that, strawberries are not called true berries. The strawberry is also termed an aggregate fruit because it is formed from many separate carpels of a single flower. Other aggregate fruits are raspberry and blackberry. More than 20 different Fragaria species are found worldwide. The most common strawberries grown commercially are cultivars of the garden strawberry, a hybrid known as Fragaria ananassa. Strawberry fruit has a bright red color, juicy texture, sweetness, and characteristic aroma. Artificial strawberry aroma is also widely used in all sorts of industrialized food products worldwide e.g. drinks, milk, etc.

What does strawberry fruit taste like?
Strawberries taste? Strawberry has unique taste that varies by cultivar, and ranges from quite sweet to a little tart.

Strawberry Seeds
Why do strawberries have their seeds on the outside?
The aggregate of seed-like achenes is actually the "fruit", derived from an aggregate of ovaries, and the fleshy part develops from the receptacle. Each 'seed' on the outside of the strawberry fruit is actually one of the ovaries of the flower, with a strawberry seed inside it.

Strawberry Cultivation
Growing Strawberries (Strawberry plant). Strawberry cultivars vary widely in size, shape, color, foliage, flavor, degree of fertility, and more. There are several cultivation models of strawberry cultivation such as a garden using the plasticulture method, a perennial system of matted rows or mounds, and grown in compost socks. The bulk of modern commercial production uses the plasticulture system. Strawberries can be grown indoors in strawberry pots, and also be propagated by seed which is not widely practiced commercially. Strawberries can be grown almost anywhere including as a potted plant. Planting strawberries needs somewhat sandy soil and preferably in full sun. During the time that the plant is forming fruit, enough water is needed.

Strawberry Nutrition
Strawberry nutrition facts. Strawberry is an excellent source of vitamin C, manganese, and flavonoids. Strawberry is also very good source of dietary fiber, a good source of folate and potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, copper, vitamin B2, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin K, and small amounts of other healthy minerals. Strawberries have many phytonutrients that work as powerful antioxidants in the body. Most of the phytonutrients in strawberry are antioxidants and also anti-inflammatory nutrients, e.g. anthocyanins (especially cyanindins and pelargonidins), hydroxy-benzoic acids, hydroxy-cinnamic acids, tannins, stilbenes, and flavonols (kaempferol, quercetin, etc). Strawberry also contains relatively small amounts of salicylic acid which is an anti-inflammatory compound very similar to the acetylsalicylic acid of aspirin.

Vitamin C - Strawberry vs Orange , Apple?
> Strawberries have more vitamin C than oranges, bananas, or apples. How much vitamin c is in strawberries? 1 cup of whole strawberries (144 grams) contains 82 mg of vitamin C, which is 136.1% of vitamin C daily vitamin value.
> One serving (8 strawberries) contains more vitamin C (96 mg) than one medium orange fruit (60 mg). One serving of strawberries has 160% of our daily vitamin C requirement.
> Interestingly, although the amount of vitamin C in 100 g of apples is only about 5.7 mg, the total antioxidant activity of 100gr of whole apple fruit (with the apple peel) was found to be equivalent to the antioxidant effect of about 1500 mg of vitamin C. Read more : Apple Fruit with its Peels/Skins to Keep Chronic Diseases Away.

Strawberry Calories - How Many Calories in Strawberry
Strawberry calories 1 cup?
> There are approximately 45 calories in 1 cup (about 144 grams) of strawberries.
> There are approximately 8.75 calories in 1 ounce (28g) of strawberries.

How to ripen Strawberries?
Unlike other fruits, once the fruits are picked (off plant), strawberries will not ripen anymore in terms of overall flavour. The fruits may get a little redder or softer, but the ripeness is final. When is a strawberry ripe? It's generally ripe when the pinkish-red color is most vibrant and rich in luster. You had better choose strawberries that have a deep red color with attached green caps at the store. On average, studies show 2 days as the maximal time for strawberries storage without significant loss of vitamin C and polyphenol antioxidants. Ethylene may also be used when you want to accelerate ripening. You can place strawberries with an apple fruit in bag. The ethylene from the apple fruit will cause the strawberries to ripen faster, so you'll get the early ripe strawberries.

Health Benefits of Strawberry
Strawberry benefits
+ Antioxidants can help boost immune system and fight free radicals
+ polyphenols in strawberries helps regulate blood sugar response with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes (at least 2-3 strawberry servings per week)
+ decrease high blood pressure
+ reduce the risk of heart disease
+ decrease the effects of Alzheimer’s disease
+ anti-inflammatory if consumed at least 3-4 times per week
+ relieve rheumatoid arthritis
+ prevent breast cancer
+ strawberries help prevent macular degeneration
+ prevent cervical cancer
+ very low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium
+ prevent colon cancer
+ enhance memory function
+ prevent esophageal cancer
+ the acids might help remove stains from teeth

Cons of Strawberry
- Strawberry allergy symptoms. For a relatively small percentage of the human population, especially those who are allergic to "alder pollen", often have allergy to strawberries. Just like in apple allergy (birch pollen), the most common symptoms of seasonal pollen allergies, which are often called hay fever, include a runny and itchy nose, itchy and watering eyes, and sneezing. Symptoms may also include dermatitis or hives, and, in severe cases, may cause breathing problems. Some study suggests that the allergen may be tied to a protein involved in the ripening of strawberry fruits, which was named Fra a1 (Fragaria allergen1). Allergies to a certain pollen are associated with Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) reactions to certain foods (usually fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables). If someone is allergic to strawberry fruits, this individual may also experience an allergic reaction with other fruits in the Rosaceae family, such as apples, peaches, apricots, cherries, pears, plums.
- Strawberries Oxalates. Strawberries contain measurable amounts of oxalates. Some health professionals believe that oxalates contribute the formation of kidney stones. Oxalates should not be eaten in high concentration as they can crystallize and cause kidney or gallbladder problems. For this reason, individuals with already existing and untreated kidney or gallbladder problems may want to avoid eating strawberries. Oxalates are naturally-occurring chemicals in nature which are found in plants, animals, human beings, most common in fruits and vegetables. High oxalate fruits include many berries, including blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.
- Strawberries Pesticide Residues. According to the Environmental Working Group's 2010 report "Shopper's Guide to Pesticides," strawberries are among the 12 foods on which pesticide residues have been most frequently found.

Strawberry Recipes
How to enjoy a strawberry? If you want to get the greatest benefits from the many array of nutrients and digestion-aiding enzymes, it's recommended to consume fresh strawberries raw (not in cooked desserts).
+ Strawberries can also be frozen, or dried and used in such things as cereal bars
+ you'll also enjoy eating strawberry pie, strawberry shortcake
+ strawberry can also be made into preserves
+ Strawberries are a popular addition to dairy products, as in strawberry ice cream, strawberry milkshakes, strawberry smoothies, and strawberry yogurts.
+ Recipes using strawberries also include healthy strawberry smoothie, strawberry desserts, strawberry jam recipe with pectin or without using a pectin, and more.

Most people agree that berries are delicious and healthy! In addition to Strawberries, there are also other berries such as blueberries with its super antioxidants, raspberries, blackberries and cranberries.