A strawberry a day keeps the doctor away

Two recent US studies show that eating strawberries advances heart health, reduces the risk of certain types of cancer, and gives a boost to total body well-being. The two separate studies by the Nutrition and Health Research Center and Nutrition Impact LLC give compelling evidence of both long-term and short-term benefits of regular consumption of strawberries. Research using large surveys created by the US government showed that compared to non-eaters, strawberry eaters have higher blood folate levels and lower levels of homocysteine and tend to have lower blood pressure. In addition, data revealed that strawberry eaters tend to have higher dietary fiber, folate, potassium and vitamin C intake. Other data showed that when people eat a daily serving of strawberries (about 8 berries; 50 calories) there are significant increases in blood folate levels and decreases in systolic blood pressure, findings that amplify the importance of including strawberries as part of a heart-healthy diet. Strawberries' propensity to decrease systolic blood pressure may reduce the risk of heart disease associated with high blood pressure. Folate reduces levels of homocysteine, an amino acid which may at high levels block arteries. A nutrient dense fruit, strawberries also have the added benefit of great taste while being high in fibre.