Strawberries are in season! Living in Lakeland and being just a drive away from Plant City, I had to visit the farm, enjoy the strawberry festival and fresh strawberry short cakes. This season is a great reminder that spring is on the way. There are a few reasons why we are allowed to love strawberries and enjoy them. Just about 8 strawberries give you the daily recommended dosage of Vitamin C. You can skip your Vitamin C supplement for the day by eating 8 strawberries for that day. Vitamin C has earned it’s recognition for helping the body develop resistance against cold, flu, common infectious agents, even counter inflammation and reduce harmful free radicals.  Strawberries contain co-factors such as Vitamin B-6, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and folic acid; these co-factors help the body metabolize fats, proteins and carbohydrate. Strawberries have potential health benefits due to high amounts of phenolic flavonoid phyto-chemicals called anthocyanins and ellagic acid.  More than just being beautiful and delish, they are packed with minerals such as potassium, manganese, fluorine, iron, copper and iodine. Iron and copper are needed for production and formation of red blood cells. Fluoride from strawberries can even help with prevention of dental caries (cavities). Some of these vitamins and minerals are needed components from the basic cellular function to controlling heart rate and blood pressure. All these benefits from a low calorie food. Strawberry berries do have a high sugar count but they do not contain any saturated fats and cholesterol.  If you are counting calories, that’s only 32 cal/100g.  They are packed with phyto-nutrients, minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. So enjoy these delicious beauties while they are in season.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Ida Abraham