S is for Strawberries

Continuing the theme of bringing some summer joy to you, today it is S for Strawberries.

Strawberries are the quintessential English fruit. They bring to mind, Wimbledon, Garden Parties, and warm sunny days I hope you are feeling that warmth right now! They are one of the most popular berry fruits in the world.

Strawberries are delicious and low on the Glycaemic Index which I talked about last time. The Glycaemic Index is a system of ranking that measures the impact of carbohydrates on our blood sugar levels. The index gives a numerical value to food, based on how quickly the carbohydrates in that food are digested and absorbed. The ranking ranges from 0 to 100. Diabetics are often unsure of which fruits they can eat because all fruit contains fructose which does affect our blood sugar levels.

🍓 Strawberries are rated 41 on the GI index so an excellent fruit for diabetics.

🍓 Strawberries have lower amounts of sugar than many other fruits and are high in fibre.

🍓 The plant compounds in strawberries may help to offset inflammation in the brain and delay age-related memory loss, hopefully reducing the risk of dementia.

🍓 Strawberries are a reliable source of Vitamin C. I hope you know by now that Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects our cells from free radical damage. Antioxidant foods are important for our immune system.

🍓 An 80g portion of strawberries contains only 26Kcal so a useful source of sweetness if you are working at reducing your weight.

🍓 Strawberries also contain small amounts of protein, folate, and potassium.

Strawberries are another fruit that can easily be grown in the garden.

Live with joy and health 💚
Elizabeth Beetham