Originally published July 17 2005
Strawberries contain range of healthy antioxidants, says columnist
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The UK Telegraph's Thea Jordan writes about strawberries, which contain more vitamin C than oranges, and also have anti-inflammatory and anti-aging benefits as well.
English strawberries are now in peak season - just in time for Wimbledon, where about three tonnes will be consumed.
Overindulgence, however, could be a good thing: as well as being delicious, the world's most popular berry is said to do wonders for your health.
"Strawberries can legitimately claim to be heart protective, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory, all rolled into one," says dietician Nigel Denby.
Strawberries are a rich source of phenols - including anthocyanins and ellagic acid - which are potent, cancer-busting antioxidants.
Anthocyanins give the berries their distinctive red colour, and mop up free radicals in the blood, which can cause cancerous changes in cells.
In laboratory studies, ellagic acid has been shown to halt the growth of tumours in the lungs, oesophagus, breast, cervix and tongue.
Researchers have found that rats fed a strawberry-rich diet showed less of an age-related decline in brain function.
This could be because strawberries contain omega-3 fatty acids - the building blocks of brain tissue.
Strawberries also protect against macular degeneration, which is the primary cause of vision loss in older adults.
A study in the Archives of Opthalmology in 2004 indicated that eating three or more portions of a vitamin C-rich fruit, such as strawberries, may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration by 36 per cent.
Folic acid, or folate, is one of the few vitamins known to prevent neural-tube birth defects, such as spina bifida, which affects one in every 1,500 babies in the UK.
Just eight strawberries a day contain a fifth of an adult woman's daily folate requirement.
Strawberries contain high levels of dietary fibre, which reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and intestinal disorders.
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