When we hear the word “strawberry”, we might think about a very commonplace fruit. But the antioxidant capacity of strawberry is anything but common! Sweet and tart strawberries are the perfect way to enjoy the season and are a healthy food to eat to lose weight.
A natural dessert that burns fat, increases your metabolism, is high in fibre …
A Fat Burning Dessert!?
These flavourful, juicy berries make a wonderful healthy snack or dessert. Packed with powerful antioxidants strawberries can turn on your fat-burning hormone Adiponectin.
Increases Metabolism and Curbs Cravings
They can help reduce inflammation and make your weight loss hormone (Leptin) do its job of increasing metabolism and curbing cravings.
More than Just Control Weight Loss
Exciting research now shows that eating strawberries can help control blood sugar, thus not only help you to lose weight, but provide nutritional support to help fight diabetes, pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
Polyphenol Content May Reduce Blood Sugar Levels
Scientists have recently discovered a fascinating relationship between intake of strawberries, table sugar, and blood sugar levels. With the equivalent of approximately one cup of fresh strawberries (approximately 150 grams or 8 large strawberries), blood sugar elevations from simple sugar intake can be reduced, and they put it down to its high polyphenol content.
Eating high nutrient density foods … key to weight loss and disease prevention.
Aides in Lowering Levels of Inflammation
Recent research has shown that several blood markers for chronic, unwanted inflammation can be improved by regular intake of strawberries. With all the antioxidants found in strawberries, including vitamin C, anthocyanins, ellagitannins, flavonols, terpenoids, and phenolic acids it is not surprising to find increasing research interest in the anti-inflammatory properties of strawberries. But it’s still exciting to see this remarkable fruit lowering levels of inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) when consumed several days per week in everyday amounts of approximately one cup.
Good Source of Fibre and Minerals
Strawberries are also a good source of fibre and contain the minerals magnesium, potassium and calcium.
Highly Nutritious yet Low in Calories
One cup of strawberries has only 49 calories. Eating high nutrient density foods such as strawberries, with lots of nutrition for the calories consumed, is a key to weight loss and disease prevention.
Studies also indicate that strawberries may also be great brain food, helping to keep the brain young and fit.
Keep it simple!
Keep it Simple – Serving Suggestions
To get the full health benefits of strawberries, skip the sugar, cream or whipped cream. Just let the natural sweetness of the berries shine through. Look for organic strawberries, which may have higher levels of nutrients -according to studies.
Chopped strawberries make a healthy summer treat when added to a smoothie, yogurt, cereal, granola or porridge.
Keep strawberries in mind when the seasons change. You can still enjoy strawberries when they are not in season by getting organic frozen strawberries. I like to use frozen strawberries as a great starting point for a delicious smoothie. Sweet and delicious, a strawberry smoothie can remind us of hot summer days even when it is raining outside.
