We all know strawberries are delicious, but they are also nutritious, and ideally should be a part of everyone’s daily diet. You’ll enjoy some health advantages by eating strawberries regularly, and the best part is strawberries are one of the most delicious fruits. Adding fresh strawberries to your diet, whether they are in salads, smoothies, or on their own, is a great way to get the servings of fruit you need for a well-rounded body and a healthy immune system.
Strawberries contain a range of nutrients, with vitamin C heading the group. The anthocyanins in a strawberry not only provide its flush red color, they also serve as potent antioxidants that have repeatedly been shown to help protect cell structures in the body and to prevent oxygen damage in all of the body’s organ systems. Strawberries’ unique phenol content makes them a heart-protective fruit, an anti-cancer fruit, and an anti-inflammatory fruit, all rolled into one.
Strawberries have grown wild for millennia in temperature regions throughout the world. They began being cultivated sometime before the Christian era and were highly prized by many ancient Romans. Yet, after the fall of Rome, they seemed to have lost their favor until they reemerged in Europe in the Middle Ages. During this time, they began to be prized again, more so for their medicinal qualities than for their culinary value. Cultivation techniques of the European varieties, which were much smaller than the American varieties, were advanced at this time, although the resulting fruits were not as sweet and fragrant as the strawberries of today, and therefore, they did not readily gain widespread popularity. It was not until the 18th century that strawberries developed into the luscious fruit we know them to be and began to be more widely appreciated.
Strawberries are among the most versatile of fresh fruits. Unfortunately, they are quite perishable as well. So purchase fresh strawberries only a few days before they are to be eaten. When strawberries are in season locally this is rarely a problem. Although strawberries have become increasingly available year-round, they are at the peak of their season from April through July when they are the most delicious and most abundant. At the produce section choose strawberries that are plump firm, free of mold and have a deep red color. Unlike other fruits, strawberries do not continue to ripen after they are picked, so be sure to choose the ripest, reddest strawberries, as they will provide the best taste and the highest nutrient density.
Here are a few ways to enjoy your strawberries:
• Add sliced strawberries to a mixed green salad.
• Layer sliced strawberries, whole blueberries and plain yogurt in a wine glass to make a parfait dessert.
• Mix chopped strawberries with cinnamon, lemon juice and maple syrup and serve as a topping for waffles and pancakes.
• Blend strawberries with a little bit of orange juice and use as a refreshing coulis sauce that goes well with poached pears.
• Add strawberries to breakfast shakes to give them a more vibrant taste and texture.
Whatsoever way you choose to consume your strawberry make sure to give this delicious fruit the credit it deserves, for making you and your family healthy individuals.
-Suanny Garcia
