Does strawberry deserve universal love: the benefits and harms of red berries

What does strawberry not bring to the human body: health benefits, preservation of youth, improvement of mood. It is difficult to meet a man who would not like red berries. You can buy them even in winter and early spring, but the price "bites", and the chemical composition is in doubt. Another thing is a fragrant summer strawberry, plucked from the garden a few hours ago. Let's see what benefit the juicy berry brings to the body, whether it can harm and when to buy it.

Calorie content and composition

From the point of view of botany, the real name for the berry, which everyone calls strawberries, is strawberry. But, unlike wild strawberries, it is easily cultivated.

The calorie content of 100 g of strawberries varies between 30–45 kcal, depending on the variety. There are practically no proteins and fats in the composition. Carbohydrates are present in small quantities - about 6 g. They are absorbed by the body gradually due to the presence of fiber in the fruits. The latter normalizes the intestinal microflora, helps with constipation and dysbiosis. Strawberry is considered a dietary product and is recommended for inclusion in the diet of losing weight.

The berry has a balanced composition of vitamins, macro- and microelements. In this case, the substances are well absorbed in the body.

Table 1. Strawberry Substances

Name of substance	% of the daily rate in 100 g of product	Beneficial features
Vitamin C	0.65	Strengthens the immune system, resists respiratory and bacterial infections, protects against cancer, slows down the aging process
Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)	0.06	It has a beneficial effect on the hematopoietic system and hormonal background
Vitamin B5	0.025	Helps treat arthritis and heart disease by increasing glucocorticoid production
Vitamin B6	0.024	Increases the production of serotonin - the "hormone of happiness", prevents atherosclerosis
Potassium	0.061	Supports heart and blood vessel health
Iron	0.023	Prevents anemia, normalizes metabolism

Garden strawberry is also useful because it contains vitamins B1, B2, B4, E, K, PP, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids (albeit in small quantities). Also in the composition there are flavonoids - substances that slow down the growth of cancer cells and reduce the inflammatory processes in the body.

What is strawberry good for?

The first on the market (back in April and early May) appears greenhouse strawberries from Turkey and Spain. Due to the unripe harvest and long transportation in the refrigerator, such berries contain few vitamins. They taste sour. Greek strawberries grown in open field are slightly better in quality.

But if you want to not only enjoy the taste, but also get benefits for the body, buy red berries grown in the hometown. The peak of the season is from mid-June to early July.

Indications for the use of strawberries are as follows:

• Prevention of colds. Eat delicious berries in the summer (at least 3 kg per season). So you strengthen the immune system and do not get sick in the autumn-winter period.
• Normalization of digestion. The red berry has worked well in the treatment of chronic constipation, flatulence, intestinal infections, and obesity. It speeds up the metabolism, removes toxins and excess fluid from the body, promotes the growth of healthy intestinal microflora.
• Protection of the heart and blood vessels.For the cardiovascular system, the berry is useful in that it strengthens the walls of blood vessels, reduces the level of "bad" cholesterol, normalizes heart rate and cleanses the blood. The reason for this positive effect is a high content of vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants. Strawberry is useful for men, as it enhances blood circulation in the pelvic organs and positively affects intimate life.
• Fungal skin lesions. Strawberry has antimicrobial properties. Gruel from fresh berries is applied to the affected areas, wrapped with gauze and left for 15-20 minutes.
• Bad mood, depression. Vitamins of group B, which are contained in strawberries, will come to the rescue. They protect the nervous system from stress and overwork. And in children, berries increase concentration and improve school performance.

Cosmetic properties

Women have long been using strawberries to preserve their beauty and youth. Fresh berries make a nourishing face mask. Strawberries are kneaded and applied to the skin for 10-15 minutes, and then washed off with warm water. Such a mask has the following properties:

• brightens complexion, masks freckles and age spots;
• moisturizes;
• stimulates the production of collagen - a substance that improves skin elasticity;
• accelerates the process of exfoliation of keratinized cells;
• fights pimples, acne, greasy shine;
• gives a feeling of freshness.

Such a tool can be applied to the neck and chest, palms.

Another way to use it is to apply on the teeth for 10 minutes. Strawberry helps make the smile snow-white. But applications are contraindicated in people with sensitive enamel.

Harm and contraindications

In some cases, strawberries can harm the body. The berry contains a lot of organic acids, so it irritates the mucous membranes. The product should not be consumed in the morning on an empty stomach.

Greenhouse (industrial) strawberries, which are sold in supermarkets in the cold season, are usually harmful. It contains few vitamins and minerals. Berries are often treated with chemicals to extend shelf life and transport safely.

Contraindications to the inclusion of strawberries in the diet:

• ulcer, gastritis, increased acidity of gastric juice;
• appendicitis;
• gout;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• lactation;
• age up to 3 years;
• taking drugs containing enapril.

There are also categories of people who should be careful when eating red berries. These are pregnant women, hypotension and people with diabetes. Some strawberry varieties (the sweetest ones) can raise blood sugar, while others can lower it.

How is wild strawberry different from garden?

The botanical name for wild strawberries is green strawberries (Fragaria viridis). It is also called "field". The berry grows in the south of Russia, the Caucasus and other warm regions. He loves forest edges with moist soils, where the sun's rays regularly look.

How to recognize a plant by appearance?

• the fruits are small in size, spherical in shape and have a pinkish tint;
• sepals tightly to the berries;
• leaves are light green with a silvery sheen.

Wild strawberries are tastier than garden ones. As a rule, it is very sweet and fragrant, somewhat reminiscent of wild strawberries. It has the same healing properties, but a higher content of vitamins, natural sugars and flavonoids, as it grows on fertile soils. In wild strawberries, iodine is present, which makes it useful for the prevention and treatment of thyroid diseases.

What is more useful - strawberries or strawberries?

Wild strawberry (ordinary) is usually more high-calorie and surpasses strawberries in the number of the following substances:

• natural sugars (glucose, sucrose, fructose);
• Vitamin C
• beta carotene;
• vitamin E.

Thus, this small berry will bring a little more benefit to the external condition of the skin, hair and nails, the immune system. It is allowed to use for ulcers and gastritis (except in cases of exacerbation).Strawberries are also used for gout, since they remove uric acid from the body.

At the same time, strawberries are superior to their small rivals in the number of pectins and vitamins of group B. It will be more useful for people with digestive and nervous system diseases.

Both berries are equally useful for internal bleeding, hormonal disorders, diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Eat strawberries and strawberries to get the most health benefits.

The benefits and harms of popular strawberry foods

Unfortunately, fresh local strawberries are available in the market for a short amount of time. And so I want to pamper the body with vitamins all year round. What about strawberry products?

Strawberry jam

Jam is canned strawberries with sugar. With prolonged digestion, berries lose almost all vitamins and organic acids. Therefore, the use of the product to strengthen immunity and the prevention of respiratory infections is doubtful. And due to excess sugar and calories, it is able to provoke metabolic disorders, weight gain and caries.

It turns out that there is nothing useful in jam? There is good news for strawberry dessert lovers: the product retains minerals and fiber in the composition. Therefore, it can be used to normalize digestion and prevent diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Chocolate covered strawberries

The basis of the dessert is dried fruits, which are almost as good as fresh strawberries in the number of vitamins and minerals. But chocolate icing contains a lot of sugar and trans fats, harmful to metabolism and blood vessels. In addition, strawberries in chocolate are very high in calories. With moderate use (up to 4 balls per day) it is a neutral product for health.

Strawberry tea

Tea made from strawberry leaves is considered medicinal. It has the following useful properties:

• eliminates bloating and intestinal cramps;
• removes excess fluid from the body;
• reduces headache and muscle pain;
• drives away fatigue, tones the psyche;
• improves the outflow of bile.

During colds, it is better to lean on tea with strawberry leaves, rather than jam. A drink will reduce inflammation in a sore throat and eliminate a cough. To make medicinal tea, pour 1 tablespoon of dry raw materials into a mug and pour boiling water over it. Leave to insist for 5-7 minutes.

Strawberries confirm the thesis that healthy eating can be tasty. This amazing berry benefits immunity, the heart and blood vessels, the nervous system and the brain, stomach and intestines. It makes no sense to spend a lot of money on “plastic” strawberries in the winter. Try to buy juicy fruits of local production in the summer.