A little something...

For most of us strawberries are a symbol of the summer. They tempt us with their unique aroma and the juicy flesh of exceptional flavour. We all reach for them eagerly because they are simply delicious! It is important, though, to realize what a beneficial effect they have on our health.

A vitamin bomb...

These unusual berries contain vitamins A, B1, B2, PP, and above all vitamin C (they have more of it than lemons or grapefruits!). What’s more, strawberries are rich in fibre and folic acids, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron. Ripe strawberries contain 90% water and 10% soluble solids.

100 g of strawberries contains:

  • about 60 mg vitamin C

  • 100 mcg vitamin B2

  • 30 mcg vitamin B1

  • about 100 m.u. vitamin A

Here’s to your health!

It was already the ancient Romans who discovered their unusual properties. Strawberries were used as a medicinal remedy in inflammatory conditions, fever, kidney stones, diseases of the liver, pancreas and blood, and even as a remedy for depression... Our grandmothers, on the other hand, used strawberries to treat fungal skin infections, acne and sunburn. Strawberries protect against cancer (they are a source of ellagic acid) and anaemia, increase immunity, stimulate the digestive system and kidneys, help in the building of cells, and have blood-forming properties. Strawberry fruits also help you lose weight – you don’t have to watch how many of them you eat as they are low in calories, improve metabolism, while the pectins cleanse the intestines of food remnants and have a beneficial effect on the natural bacterial flora there. Thanks to bromelain – an enzyme that breaks up proteins – strawberries assist in the burning of fats. They can be even eaten by diabetes sufferers because they contain easily digestible sugars – glucose and fructose. Strawberries also help in the fight against rheumatic and arthritic diseases.

Quite a lot for such a small fruit...

The leaves and roots of the strawberry plant also have therapeutic effects, but that’s a separate subject.

For good looks...

These red berries rich in manganese also have a beneficial effect on the skin and hair. Strawberry masks are perfect for moisturizing and refreshing your skin. You can use strawberry juice to whiten discolorations on the skin, lighten your freckles or alleviate the symptoms of eczema.

In cosmetics, use is also made of the oil from the seeds of the strawberry Fragaria ananassa. The product is a valuable source of antioxidants and gamma-tocopherol, linoleic acid, alpha linolenic acid and oleic acid. Strawberry seed oil is used in the care of dry, damaged and mature skin – local application of the oil replenishes the essential fatty acids of the skin.

For the soul...

Strawberries are an excellent aphrodisiac. According to Patrick Holford (the founder of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition) strawberries owe these properties to a high zinc content. They are rich in vitamin C, which has a positive effect on a person’s vigour and sexual performance. Apart from that, their shape, colour and consistency make strawberries inevitably associated with love.

Allergy sufferers take note!

Some people have an allergic reaction to strawberries. For that reason, nursing women, infants and people with a predisposition to allergies should introduce these fruits into their diets gradually. Strawberries should not be eaten by people with known hypersensitivity to salicylates because the fruits contain large amounts of them.

In some cases it is possible to avoid the occurrence of allergic symptoms – simply pass the strawberries through a sieve (to get rid of the seeds, which may cause the allergy) and add to them a little calcium.

For most of us strawberries are a symbol of the summer… They tempt us with their unique aroma and the juicy flesh with a unique flavour. We are all eager to consume them as they are simply delicious! However, it is important to realize what beneficial effects they have on our health…