Nutritional Benefits of the Strawberry
The heart-shaped silhouette of the strawberry is the first clue that this fruit is good for you. These potent little packages protect your heart, increase HDL (good) cholesterol, lower your blood pressure, and guard against cancer.
Packed with vitamins, fiber, and particularly high levels of antioxidants known as polyphenols, strawberries are a sodium-free, fat-free, cholesterol-free, low-calorie food. They are among the top 20 fruits in antioxidant capacity and are a good source of manganese and potassium. Just one serving -- about eight strawberries -- provides more vitamin C than an orange.
This member of the rose family isn’t really a fruit or a berry but the enlarged receptacle of the flower. Choose medium-sized berries that are firm, plump, and deep red; once picked, they don’t ripen further. First cultivated in ancient Rome, strawberries are now the most popular berry fruit in the world. In provincial France, they were regarded as an aphrodisiac. These red gems may be good for your heart in more ways than one.
Want other ways to get your vitamin C? Try brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, mango, papaya, red peppers, watermelon, and winter squash.
Strawberry Salad With Grilled Shrimp
Makes 4 servings
Salad:
2 cups baby spinach, rinsed and dried
2 cups arugula, rinsed and dried
2 cups strawberries (about 1 pt), hulled and sliced
2 oz crumbled goat cheese
3 tbsp pecans, toasted and chopped
2 small green onions, sliced
1 lb shrimp, cleaned and deveined
Dressing:
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar