Not only delicious, strawberries are also beneficial for your body. It packs a variety of vitamins and minerals, including folate acid, potassium, Vitamin C, and fibres, essential in keeping the digestive system healthy. Those are the reasons why people eat strawberries for snacks or use them in various dishes, for example strawberry ice cream, jam, cake, yoghurt, and cocktail.
Manganese
Manganese is one of the most important minerals for our body. One cup of strawberries contain 0.56 mg of manganese, 1/3 of the recommended daily intake for adults. Manganese plays a role in enzyme regulation, blood clotting process, and sex hormones. It is also essential in bone formation, as well as nerve and brain function. Not to mention its part in fighting free radicals.
Vitamin C
One cup of strawberries contain 85 mg of Vitamin C, which means it fulfills 113% of the recommended daily intake for women, or 94% for men. Strawberries contains a higher level of Vitamin C and is lower in calories when compared to oranges. Vitamin C is vital for the immune system and collagen formation, essential in wound healing process. It also helps in iron absorption, and subsequently anemia prevention.
Phytochemical
Phytochemical is a chemical compound produced by plants, which functions to help them win against predators or pathogens. When consumed by humans, phytochemical may help to prevent diabetes type 2, cancer, heart diseases, and degenerative diseases. Strawberries contain phytochemical substances such as phenolic acid, tannin, anthocyanin, and flavan.
Here are some tips to get the most nutritional values of strawberries:
- Eat them during strawberry season
- Consume it regularly (a couple times per week)
- Pick organic strawberries to lower exposure towards pesticide
- Wash strawberries with clean, flowing water before consumption
Text by Denistya Sagita
Stock photos from Pexels
Source(s):
- https://authoritynutrition.com/foods/strawberries/
- http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=32