• 6/17/2005
  • England
  • Thea Jourdan
  • The Telegraph (www.telegraph.co.uk)

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.

Traditionally, strawberries, which contain more vitamin C than the equivalent weight of oranges, have been used to cleanse the digestive system. They also contain a range of phytonutrients, with many health-boosting effects. “Strawberries can legitimately claim to be heart protective, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory, all rolled into one,” says dietician Nigel Denby. “They rank as one of the world’s healthiest foods.”

Why are they good for you?

Anti-cancer

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.

Anti-inflammatory

Some phenols found in strawberries reduce the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. In people with rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis and asthma, their overactivity contributes to inflammation. Drugs with a similar effect can cause intestinal bleeding.

Anti-ageing

Researchers have found that rats fed a strawberry-rich diet showed less of an age-related decline in brain function. Their learning capacity and motor skills were also improved. 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.

Pregnancy

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. It is an essential component of spinal fluid, and helps to produce red blood cells and the mood-lifting hormone serotonin. Just eight strawberries a day contain a fifth of an adult woman’s daily folate requirement.

Digestive health

Strawberries contain high levels of dietary fibre, which reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and intestinal disorders. One punnet contains 3.5 grams of dietary fibre – about one tenth of the recommended daily intake – and just 47 calories. Ripe fruit, which contains high levels of soluble fibre, is best for your gut.