Berry Health America’s Favorite Fruit is a Super Fruit! Not only do strawberries taste great, they are power-packed with nutritional benefits. Strawberries are naturally high in vitamin C, fiber, folate, potassium and antioxidants. One serving of strawberries (1 cup which is about 6-8 berries or 4 oz) provides you with more Vitamin C than an orange, has only 8 grams of natural sugar, no fat and is only 45 calories. If you eat strawberries regularly, you may tap into a fountain of youth that can help improve your brain as well as maintain your healthy glow! The reported benefits from eating strawberries include: • Promote Heart Health • Lower cholesterol • Enhance memory function • Fight cancer • Reverse age-related physical and mental decline • Protect against birth defects • Lower obesity • Protect against vision loss • Protect against rheumatoid arthritis • Prevent cell and tissue damage throughout your body Potent Antioxidant Protection from Nutrients in Strawberries Strawberries, like other berries, are famous as a rich source of phenols. In the strawberry, these phenols are led by the anthocyanin and by the ellagitannins. The anthocyanins in strawberry not only provide its flush red color, they also serve as potent antioxidants that have repeatedly been shown to help protect cell structures in the body and to prevent oxygen damage in all of the body’s organ systems. Strawberries' unique phenol content makes them a heart-protective fruit, an anti-cancer fruit, and an anti-inflammatory fruit, all rolled into one. Anti-Cancer Compounds The ellagitannin content of strawberries has actually been associated with decreased rates of cancer death. In one study, strawberries topped a list of eight foods most linked to lower rates of cancer deaths among a group of 1,271 elderly people in New Jersey. Those eating the most strawberries were three times less likely to develop cancer compared to those eating few or no strawberries. A study published in the November 2003 issue of the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry analyzed eight strawberry cultivars for their content of protective plant compounds (phenols, flavonoics and anthocyanins) and their antioxidant capacities. All cultivars were able to significantly inhibit the proliferation of human liver cancer cells. A Smarter Brain with Strawberries In animal studies, researchers have found that strawberries help protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of age-related related declines in brain function. Researchers found that feeding aging rats strawberry-rich diets significantly improved both their learning capacity and motor skills. In terms of traditional nutrients, strawberries emerged from the food ranking system as an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese. They also qualified as a very good source of dietary fiber and iodine as well as a good source of potassium, folate, riboflavin, vitamin B5, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B6, magnesium, and copper. For additional information, you may wish to visit these helpful websites: Nutricoach - Benefits of Strawberries http://nutricoach2.com/Strawberries.aspx Learn how “Superfoods” such as strawberries help heal and strengthen your body. Medical News Today - Strawberries May Help Reduce Risk Of Having Elevated Inflammation In Blood Vessels http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/93792.php New research from Harvard Medical School finds that strawberries may offer heart disease protection.