Strawberry Nutrition Facts

Who doesn't love luscious, juicy strawberry, more so when it contains innumerable health benefits. The history of strawberries can be traced back to around 234 B.C, when wild variants were found abundantly in Italy. Native Americans started cultivating these fruits during the latter part of the seventeenth century. Another contention is that strawberries were cultivated by humans before the Christian era and were highly valued by ancient Romans, who used these berries for its medicinal properties. It was in the eighteenth century, garden strawberry varieties were bred from the existent ones and this triggered the commercial production of this fruit, which develops from the receptacle that holds the ovaries and not from the ovaries. So, strawberry is also classified as an accessory fruit or false fruit. Now, there are almost 600 varieties of strawberries, that are cultivated across the globe. It is one of the popular berry fruits, for being sweet, juicy and delicious. Apart from that, these deep red berries are also highly nutritious with various health benefits.

Nutritional Value

As mentioned above, strawberries are also valued for their nutritional benefits, as they are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. One cup (145 grams) of fresh strawberries amount to around 44 calories and contain 11 grams of carbohydrates, 3.5 grams of dietary fiber, 7 grams of sugar, one gram protein and 132 grams water. It contains no cholesterol and 0.5 grams of fat. The following table can give you an in-depth information about strawberry nutrition. The value of the nutrients given in the table is with regard to one cup of fresh strawberries.

Nutrient	Value
Vitamin A	38.88 IU
Vitamin C	81.65 mg
Vitamin E	0.37 mg
Folate	25.49 mcg
Vitamin K	3.17 mcg
Calcium	20.16 mg
Potassium	239.04 mg
Phosphorus	27.36 mg
Manganese	0.42 mg
Magnesium	14.40 mg
Iodine	12.96 mcg
Selenium	1.01 mcg

Health Benefits

Strawberries contain lots of nutrients and is considered as an excellent source for vitamin C and flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties. They have high levels of antioxidants like anthocyanins type 2 and ellagitannins. Apart from imparting red color to this berry, these pigments are found to be effective in lowering the risks of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Strawberry consumption is said to be good for removing harmful toxins from the blood, thereby reducing the risks of various diseases. Like carrots, strawberries are also said to be good for healthy eyes and regular intake of this berry prevents macular degeneration. These fruits are also said to be beneficial for preventing inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Due to the high levels of potassium and magnesium, this fruit can be helpful in lowering high blood pressure. In short, strawberries have lots of health benefits and so daily intake of this fruits in moderate amounts is recommended. It is also said that the compounds in strawberries can reduce the rate of aging of the brain and the nervous system. Strawberry contain significant amounts of folate, that can prevent birth defects. Apart from that, vitamin C is good for preventing cold and other such infections.