When your co-workers will smell strawberries under their noses, they will not be able to resist them. Keep an eye on them -the strawberries, co-workers, and everyone who comes near you will want a bite! We know what it’s like: the grass is usually greener on the other side, and the berries sweeter… To make the conversation between you and this crowd easier, start with some interesting facts about strawberries.
Curious visits
Probably everyone already knows that these red flirts-strawberries are a famous aphrodisiac, so you better reveal to them this female trick from the past: Before the girls from the countryside, who didn’t have a variety of makeup available, went on a date, they desperately needed strawberries! Some of them ate strawberries for better breath. Some crushed them and smeared their lips with juice, so they emphasized their natural beauty and also smelled tempting. How many guys they seduced, only they know…
Also, they don’t actually belong among the berries. Strawberries do not have seeds inside the fruit, just like blueberries and raspberries. Its tiny dots appear on the outside. Some are even more precise and say that each of these seeds represents a fruit in itself. Can you imagine eating about 200 fruits in one bite?
Strawberries can take us on a real journey around the world. They take us from the famous Belgian museum dedicated to this treasure of nature, to Great Britain, where everyone likes to sweeten themselves with strawberries and cream at the Wimbledon tournament.
The US went crazy and fell in love with strawberries from Chile. Even a French spy brought them to his homeland. By crossing the French variety and the variety from Virginia, the strawberries we enjoy today have slowly developed.
If you get more demanding guests, serve strawberries with chocolate. It may be necessary to even prepare Panna cotta, strawberry tiramisu, or a smoothie. What if you have to bake a pie? Don’t panic, if you have strawberries, it will be great.
How to save them?
If you want to prepare these red flirts for an afternoon snack, I suggest that you wash them, cut off the stalks, cut them in half, and put them in a box that can be closed. BUT! If you want them to last for a few days, it is better to wash them just before you want to sweeten them. If you rinse them much earlier, the strawberries decay faster.
Sweet harbingers of summer
Strawberries are on store shelves almost all year round, but many swear only by those that grow in the home garden. The fruits ripen from early to late summer, depending on the variety. Most of them are to be picked between May and July. There are many varieties, but all of them have a common red color and fruits with a sweet and aromatic taste – strawberries need enough sun for that.
Rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber
And an excellent source of vitamin C and the mineral manganese. They are a very good source of dietary fiber, iodine, and folate, as well as many other trace elements important for our body: copper, potassium, biotin, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin B6, and omega-3 fats (a form of alpha-linolenic acid).
In addition, they have a low caloric value, as 100 grams of strawberries contain 33 kcal (137 kJ). For comparison: blueberries and raspberries have a similar caloric value (37 kcal and 156 kJ, respectively), while grapes contain 70 kcal (292 kJ) and bananas as much as 92 kcal (384 kJ) per 100 grams.
They have an antioxidant effect
Strawberries contain many antioxidants, which are substances that prevent oxidation and the formation of free radicals that can cause cell damage in our bodies. They also include anthocyanins, which give strawberries their characteristic red color, flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, tannins, and stilbenes. Vitamin C also has an antioxidant effect.
Studies show the positive effect of eating strawberries when it comes to high blood sugar and other risk factors such as high blood pressure and obesity. So they help to prevent diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Numerous studies, in addition to the antioxidant and antihypertensive effects of eating strawberries, also prove anti-inflammatory effects, so it definitely makes sense to include them in a balanced diet.
An excellent dietary
Food research has shown the positive effects of strawberries in a diet with limited fat intake. The fruit is said to increase the action of the hormone adiponectin, which is secreted by fat cells.
The Institute of Nutrition, where they advise us on this fruit, states that its characteristic red color is given by the pigments anthocyanins, which are also antioxidants: Salicylic acid in berries, which is a component of aspirin, protects the plant from infections. It is said to reduce the risk of bowel cancer and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Eating fresh fruit is also said to lower blood pressure and drain urea stores.
They get damaged and mold quickly
Strawberries are quickly damaged and do not stay fresh for long. So do not buy them in stock, but eat them as soon as possible. Choose strawberries that have healthy fruits and stalks. Usually, smaller berries have a stronger taste and aroma than large ones. It is best to keep them in airtight packaging, and also not to overfill them, because the strawberries will be damaged faster and therefore moldy. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days.
If you have too many strawberries in your home garden to eat on a regular basis, you can also freeze them. When frozen, they lose part of their aroma because they crack the cell walls when they are frozen. But they retain most of the vitamins and minerals, but only if we freeze fresh and healthy fruits.
Strawberries and pesticides
In their cultivation, the use of pesticides or chemicals is very common, as they like to be attacked by pests and various diseases. Monitoring at the European Commission level has shown that strawberries are foods that contain more pesticide residues. It is best to choose strawberries from the home environment, even better organically grown, as such production is strictly regulated for the use of pesticides. No matter what kind of strawberries you choose, they should be washed thoroughly before eating, as this greatly reduces the number of pesticides that are on the surface.
Some are also allergic to strawberries
Strawberries are allergenic foods. An allergic reaction is thought to be triggered by a specific protein in berries that is similar to the common allergen birch pollen. Many people are also sensitive to chemicals or pesticides used to spray strawberries.
Something just for you
When everyone is finally gone, take the strawberries you managed to hide. Step barefoot on the grass. Take a walk to the river. When you are on its bank, absorb all the sensations of summer and the sweet juice of strawberries. Don’t forget that you can eat as much as you want – your swimsuit will still look great on you.
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