Sonoma Diet Powerhouse Food #8: Strawberries

Is there anyone who doesn’t love strawberries? These little heart-shaped beauties are tasty, good for your heart and health in general, yet have just 43 calories in a cup with no calories from fat.



A cup of strawberries contains 136% of the recommended DV of vitamin C and are also rich in phytonutrient phenols – powerful antioxidants all. Strawberries' high phenol content makes them a heart-protective fruit, an anti-cancer fruit, and an anti-inflammatory fruit, all rolled into one.



Though it isn’t yet clear why, studies have shown that eating three servings of fruit a day reduces the risk of age-related macular degeneration by 36%. Taking antioxidant vitamins did not reduce the risk, so something else is at work.



If three servings of fruit a day sound like a lot to you, remember that one serving is the size of your fist. Put a few on top of your cereal. Have some mixed into your yogurt. Dip some big juicy strawberries in (heart-protective) dark chocolate for an elegant dessert.



Try this luscious fruit salsa to serve as a side dish instead of or in addition to the typical vegetable sides. Good with pork, fish and poultry.



Easy Strawberry Fruit Salsa

Mix 1 ½ cups hulled and sliced strawberries, 4 T. orange juice, 2 T. each chopped red onion, lime juice and cilantro, 1 t. Tabasco sauce and ¼ t. salt.



Tags: strawberries for health, heart-healthy fruit, phenols and antioxidants