The Amazing Health Benefits of
Strawberries

Succulent strawberries contain a unique combination of beneficial nutrients. Prized in ancient Rome for their medicinal uses, strawberries are recognized as having more vitamin C than some citrus fruits. One cup of strawberries gives you a whopping 140 percent of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. They are also a very good source of dietary fiber and manganese, and a good source of folate and potassium.

Strawberries are packed with flavonoids, two in particular, called quercetin and kaempferol. As with most flavonoids, quercetin and kaempferol have antioxidant properties that are believed to have anti-cancer effects as well as cardiovascular benefits.

A study that followed more than 66,000 women over a period of 12 years, reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology (June 1, 2007), found that women who consumed higher amounts of kaempferol were less likely to die of heart disease than women with the lowest intakes.

Research shows that quercetin may help to prevent cancer, especially prostate cancer. Men who are concerned about prostate problems would also benefit from quercetin. Quercetin is also a natural anti-histamine, which helps relieve allergic symptoms and asthma symptoms, and has anti-inflammatory properties, which may help to reduce pain from disorders such as arthritis.

Strawberries also contain ellagic acid, which seems to have some anti-cancer properties, and has been said to reduce heart disease, birth defects, liver problems, and to promote wound healing.

The Hollings Cancer Institute at the University of South Carolina has conducted a double blind study on a group of 500 cervical cancer patients that had everyone excited. Nine years of study have shown that ellagic acid stops cancer cells from dividing in 48 hours, and that ellagic acid causes normal cell death (apoptosis) within 72 hours in cases of breast, pancreas, esophageal, skin, colon and prostate cancers.