8 Reasons To Eat 8 Strawberries A Day

05 Jul 8 Reasons To Eat 8 Strawberries A Day

By Toby Amidor, MS, RD

This post was sponsored by the California Strawberry Commission, whom I work with as a spokesperson and who paid for my trip to Monterey, California.

There’s nothing more gorgeous than the strawberry fields of California. This year was my third time, and even more beautiful than I remember. I was honored to be invited by the California Strawberry Commission to discuss the health benefits of strawberries over a mouth watering strawberry-filled lunch. In the fields, there’s nothing sweeter than fresh picked warm strawberries. However, besides being sweet and delicious, strawberries are also packed with nutrients.  Here are 8 reasons to aim for eating 8 strawberries a day.

Speaking during a delicious strawberry-filled lunch

Reason #1: Strawberries are packed with good-for-you nutrients
One serving of eight medium-sized strawberries contains:

• 45 calories
• 140 per cent of Daily Value for vitamin C
• 8 per cent of Daily Value for folate
• 12 per cent of Daily Value for dietary fiber
• 6 per cent of Daily Value for potassium
• Only 7 grams of sugar

Strawberries growing in the field

Reason #2: Strawberries may help stave off diabetes
At the 2015 American Diabetes Association’s 75th Scientific Sessions, Dr. Howard Sesso, SCD, MPH of Harvard University revealed data from a Women’s Health Study, which included over 37,000 nondiabetic middle-aged women. At the start of the study, the women reported how often they ate strawberries. Fourteen years later, over 2,900 of the women had diabetes. Compared to women who rarely or never ate strawberries, those who ate strawberries at least monthly had a lower risk for diabetes.

Further, the American Diabetes Association identifies berries, including strawberries, as one of the top 10 superfoods for a diabetes meal plan.

A strawberry attached to its flower

Reason #3: Strawberries are good for your heart
Anthocyanins are phytonutrients (or natural plant chemicals) found in strawberries.  A 2013 study published in Circulation found that high anthocyanin intake (more than 3 weekly servings of strawberries) is associated with a lower risk of heart attacks in middle-aged women.

Strawberries grown on raised beds

Reason #4: Strawberries are good for your MIND
Researchers recently discovered that an eating plan that can lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease by more than one-third. It’s called the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, or MIND, diet. As it turns out, a healthy daily dose of berries, including strawberries, in your diet can play a big role in staving off dementia in old age.

It takes a little more work, but here are long-stemmed strawberries

Reason #5: Strawberries have less sugar than many realize
Folks believe that strawberries have more sugar than other fruits. However, strawberries actually contain the lowest amount of sugar (7 grams) per one-cup serving compared to the top 5 popular fruit (oranges, bananas, grapes, apples, and strawberries).

Gorgeous handful of fresh picked strawberries

Reason #6: Strawberries are everyone’s favorite super fruit
In a recent consumer survey, The California Strawberry Commission recently ran a survey of more than 1,000 consumers and uncovered that among five common fruit (oranges, apples, bananas, grapes and strawberries), more than a third (36 percent) of respondents chose strawberries as their favorite. However, when asked which they consume the most, only 12 percent of respondents indicated strawberries as their most consumed fruit.

The group enjoying fresh picked strawberries (I’m on the left!!)

Reason #7: Strawberries have more vitamin C than an orange!
In the same survey conducted by the California Strawberry Commission, eighty-six percent of respondents thought oranges had the most Vitamin C per serving. However, fact is, a one-cup serving of strawberries has more vitamin C than an orange. Vitamin C is known for its antioxidant properties, helping to protect the body from oxidative stress.

Enjoying the strawberry fields with Christy Wilson, RD

Reason #8: Strawberries are versatile
Although most people maintain the belief that strawberries are a dessert-only treat, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Below are several savory dishes that were served on my trip to California.

Cheese-stuffed strawberry