The Remarkable Strawberry Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about the remarkable strawberry.  You know....the fruit that you enjoy with your morning meal.  The fruit you use for strawberry shortcake.  The fruit....I could go on and on and on....if I cared to.  

But, the story must progress.  Everyone and everything from The Beatles ("Strawberry Fields Forever") to Tiny Tim ("Strawberry Tea") has sung the praises of the delicious red fruit.  And now researchers from the Illinois Institute of Technology are singing its praises, too.  At Nutrition 2024, they shared their controlled, randomized study, funded by the California Strawberry Commission, that looked at the impact that four weeks of daily consumption of eight strawberries had on cardiovascular health.

Thirty-six women and thirty-two men, ages 20 to 62, who were overweight participated.  Those who ate a cup of strawberries a day had far healthier blood flow and blood pressure (measured by flow-mediated dilation of the artery in their arm) than those who didn't get a daily dose.  In fact, their risk of cardiovascular problems, like heart attack and stroke, was calculated to be eight times less than folks in the control group.  What is it about strawberries that make them so heart-friendly?  A cup a day provides more than the recommended daily value of vitamin C and a good dose of potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium.  Those nutrients reduce inflammation and support healthy heart functions.

And now, a new study indicates that CoQ10, also found in strawberries, can improve how the heart pumps blood in folks with cardiovascular disease.  Other studies have found that CoQ10 works as a polyphenol that protects cells from damage and helps prevent blood clots.  To find out more about the health benefits of strawberries, read the iHerb.com's blogs, "Freeze-Dried Strawberries and Cardiovascular health," and "Coenzyme Q10 Health Benefits."  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Are you ready for a strawberry yet??