These strawberry benefits justify picking up an extra pint of ruby-reds from the market. As if they weren't sweet enough already!
10 Surprising Strawberry Benefits for Your Health and Wellness
Updated Dec. 22, 2023
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Ward Off Colds
Strawberries are jam-packed with vitamins. In fact, you only need to eat around 5 large berries to get 98% of your daily value of vitamin C. This vitamin plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy immune system—helping your body avoid sicknesses and recover more quickly. Here are 55 delicious ways to eat more strawberries.
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Protect Your Heart
Studies have shown that regularly consuming anthocyanins—which are found in strawberries—can reduce the risk of heart attack. Plus, strawberries may aid in preventing platelet build-up and even reducing blood pressure.
Needless to say, your heart will thank you for eating these delicious berries—and these other heart-healthy foods.
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Support a Healthy Pregnancy
One of the most commonly recommended supplements for pregnant women is folate or folic acid, which is instrumental in a baby’s development. Happily, strawberries are a great natural source of this nutrient—one cup of fresh berries has around 40 micrograms of folate! We’re betting strawberries aren’t one of the foods Meghan Markle can’t eat while pregnant.
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Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation can cause a number of problems in the body—chronic inflammation has even been linked to serious conditions such as stroke, heart attacks and cancer. Strawberries have anti-inflammatory properties that can help promote all-around well being.
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Plump Your Lips
Want to smooth, soften and plump your lips before date night? It’s incredibly easy to make a DIY strawberry lip scrub. Just mix together two mashed strawberries with two teaspoons of sugar, then rub gently on your lips to exfoliate. Wipe the mixture off, then pucker up!
Bonus: Have you ever seen strawberries sprout?
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Improve Digestion
You probably know fiber is a key nutrient for your digestive system, and fiber-rich strawberries are a great way to get a little extra in your diet. They also have a high water content, so they’ll keep things moving and help prevent constipation.
These other fiber-packed snacks can boost your digestive health even more.
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Manage High Blood Pressure
Strawberries are high in potassium, which helps them negate the effects of sodium in the body. (These delicious foods can help lower blood pressure, too.) Even if you don’t have high blood pressure, you can probably benefit from more potassium—only around 2 percent of Americans meet the recommended daily intake of this key nutrient!
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Soften Your Skin
This two-ingredient DIY face mask will leave your skin feeling refreshed. Mix two or three mashed strawberries with two tablespoons of honey, then spread on your skin. Let it work its magic for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.
Did you know honey has lots of health benefits, too?
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Regulate Blood Sugar
Strawberries have a lower glycemic index than other fruits, making them helpful when it comes to regulating blood sugar levels. Studies have even shown that eating strawberries every day can reduce complications related to diabetes.
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Whiten Your Teeth
Swap out expensive whitening strips for a pint of strawberries. This fruit can help whiten thanks to its malic acid content. Just mash together one strawberry and a small scoop of baking soda, then spread onto your teeth with a toothbrush. Rinse off after a few minutes and repeat weekly for pearly whites.
Originally Published: September 01, 2019
