Do strawberries deserve universal love: the benefits and harms of red berries

What strawberries do not bring to the human body: health benefits, preservation of youth, improvement of mood. It's hard to meet a person who doesn't like red berries. You can buy them even in winter and early spring, but the price is steep, and the chemical composition is questionable. Another thing is a fragrant summer strawberry, picked from the garden a few hours ago. Let's figure out what benefits a juicy berry brings to the body, whether it can cause harm and when to buy it.

Calorie content and composition

From a botanical point of view, the real name of the berry, which everyone calls strawberry, is garden strawberry. But, unlike wild strawberries, they are easy to cultivate.

The calorie content of 100 g of strawberries ranges from 30–45 kcal, depending on the variety. There are practically no proteins or 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 dysbacteriosis. Strawberries are considered a dietary product and are recommended for inclusion in the diet of those losing weight.

The berry has a balanced composition of vitamins, macro- and microelements. At the same time, the substances are well absorbed in the body.

Table 1. Substances in strawberries

What are the benefits of strawberries?

The first to appear on the market (back in April and early May) are greenhouse strawberries from Turkey and Spain. Due to being picked in an unripe state and being transported for a long time in the refrigerator, such berries contain few vitamins. They taste sour. Greek strawberries grown in open ground 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 your native area. Peak season is from mid-June to early July.

Indications for consuming strawberries are as follows:

• Prevention of colds.Eat delicious berries in the summer (at least 3 kg per season). This way you will strengthen your immune system and avoid getting sick in the autumn-winter period.
• Normalization of digestion. Red berries have proven themselves in the treatment of chronic constipation, flatulence, intestinal infections, and obesity. It speeds up metabolism, removes toxins and excess fluid from the body, and promotes the growth of healthy intestinal microflora.
• Protection of the heart and blood vessels. The berry is beneficial for the cardiovascular system because it strengthens the walls of blood vessels, reduces the level of “bad” cholesterol, normalizes heart rate and purifies the blood. The reason for this positive effect is the high content of vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants. Strawberries are good for men, as they increase blood circulation in the pelvic organs and have a positive effect on intimate life.
• Fungal skin lesions. Strawberries have antimicrobial properties. A paste of fresh berries is applied to the affected areas, wrapped in gauze and left for 15–20 minutes.
• Bad mood, depression. The B vitamins 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 used strawberries to preserve beauty and youth. Fresh berries are used to make a nourishing face mask. Strawberries are kneaded and applied to the skin for 10–15 minutes, and then washed off with warm water. This mask has the following properties:

• brightens the complexion, disguises freckles and age spots;
• moisturizes;
• stimulates the production of collagen, a substance that increases skin elasticity;
• accelerates the process of exfoliation of dead cells;
• fights pimples, acne, oily sheen;
• gives a feeling of freshness.

This product can be applied to the neck and chest area, palms.

Another way to use it is to apply it to your teeth for 10 minutes. Strawberries help make your smile snow-white. But applications are contraindicated for people with sensitive enamel.

Harm and contraindications

In some cases, strawberries can harm the body. The berry contains many 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 during the cold season, are usually harmful. It contains few vitamins and minerals. Berries are often treated with chemicals to extend shelf life and ensure safe transportation.

Contraindications to including strawberries in the diet:

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

There are also categories of people who should be careful when consuming red berries. These are pregnant women, hypotensive patients and people with diabetes. Some varieties of strawberries (the sweetest ones) can increase blood sugar levels, while others can lower them.

How are wild strawberries different from garden strawberries?

The botanical name for wild strawberries is green strawberry (Fragaria viridis). It is also called “field”. The berry grows in southern Russia, the Caucasus and other warm regions. Loves forest edges with moist soils, where the sun's rays regularly peek.

How to recognize a plant by appearance?

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

Wild strawberries taste better than garden ones. As a rule, it is very sweet and aromatic, 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. Wild strawberries contain iodine, which makes them useful for the prevention and treatment of thyroid diseases.

What is healthier – wild strawberries or strawberries?

Wild strawberries (ordinary) are usually higher in calories and are superior to garden strawberries in the amount 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, and the immune system. It is allowed to be used for ulcers and gastritis (except in cases of exacerbation). Strawberries are also used for gout, as they remove uric acid from the body.

At the same time, strawberries are superior to their smaller rivals in the amount of pectin and B vitamins. They will be more useful for people with digestive and nervous system diseases.

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

The benefits and harms of popular strawberry products

Unfortunately, fresh local strawberries are only available in the market for a short period of time. And I really want to pamper my 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 benefit of the product for strengthening the immune system and preventing respiratory infections is questionable. And due to excess sugar and calories, it can provoke metabolic disorders, weight gain and tooth decay.

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

Strawberries in chocolate

The basis of the dessert is dried fruits, which in terms of the amount of vitamins and microelements are practically not inferior to fresh strawberries. But chocolate glaze contains a lot of sugar and trans fats, which is harmful to metabolism and blood vessels. In addition, chocolate covered strawberries are very high in calories. When consumed in moderation (up to 4 balls per day), this is a neutral product for health.

Strawberry tea

Strawberry leaf tea is considered medicinal. Has the following beneficial properties:

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

When you have a cold, it is better to drink tea with strawberry leaves rather than jam. The drink will reduce inflammation in a sore throat and eliminate cough. To prepare healing tea, pour 1 tablespoon of dry raw materials into a mug and pour boiling water over it. Leave to infuse for 5–7 minutes.

Strawberries confirm the thesis that healthy eating can be delicious.This amazing berry benefits the immune system, heart and blood vessels, nervous system and brain, stomach and intestines. There is no point in spending a lot of money on “plastic” strawberries in winter. Try to buy locally produced juicy fruits in the summer.