Healthy Living

Strawberries

Strawberries are low in calories and a good source of many vitamins and nutrients that a healthy body needs. Strawberries are high in iron and Vitamin C; they also have less than 60 calories per cup. Eight strawberries will provide 14 percent of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C for kids. Strawberries are also a good source of folic acid, fiber, potassium, and cancer-fighting antioxidants.

Strawberries are thought to protect against the decline of the central nervous system in age-related neurodegenerative diseases and to provide benefits to the aging brain. As with other varieties of berries, strawberries have also been shown to protect against cancer. For example, a study out of Cornell University showed strawberries inhibited the proliferation of HepG(2) liver cancer cells, while another study showed isothiocyanates in strawberries inhibited esophageal cancer.

Besides being healthy, strawberries are a very versatile fruit. They can be used in baked goods, salads, beverages, dipped, or eaten plain. The following conversion chart provides useful information when cooking with fresh strawberries.