Strawberry, a fruit by just its mere appearance can tickle your taste buds. The rich red color of strawberries is bound to catch anyone’s attention. None can refuse the yummy strawberry flavored ice cream or how incomplete a toast would be without a spread of strawberry jam.
Over 600 varieties of strawberries are known, which differ in size, texture and flavor. A popular berry fruit and known for its aphrodisiac properties, the strawberry is considered to be packed with many compounds that are beneficial to our health. These include- anthocyanins, ellagitannins, quercetin, riboflavin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, iodine, manganese, potassium, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Strawberries contain polyphenols particularly anthocyanins and ellagitannins. Anthocyanin is said to be antioxidant thus preventing the body from oxidative damage, anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory. The anti-inflammatory role of these compounds involves reduction of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) activity. Ellagitannins are potent anti-cancer compounds. Strawberries are packed with another polyphenolic compound called quercetin and this compound has been found to be effective in tackling various allergies thereby lowering the dependency of people suffering from asthma, hay fever or even eczema on antihistamines and steroid creams.
That is not all, strawberries being high on zinc can be beneficial for sperms and their high folic acid content can deal with the problem of neural-tube defects in the growing fetuses. In addition, owing to their high Vitamin C, regular consumption of strawberries can keep away macular degeneration and even rheumatoid arthritis. Strawberries are good for skin and even promote a general sense of well-being.
The next time you visit the market and happen to see strawberries, do not even waste a moment in buying them because you may be spending less on them as compared to the money you would have to spend on purchasing medicines for problems tackled by strawberries.
Image: Kreidersmarket
Via: TheGuardian
