First berry, which opens the summer season – strawberries! It is worthy of special attention and you just have to fill up stocks of vitamins and minerals with this berry.
SEASON
The main strawberry season is June and early July. In these months the berry abundantly represented in the markets. At other times you can find hothouse berries, which taste and usefulness, of course, is not as good as seasonal.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Choose dry, with no external damage berry. It should have a rich color and strong aroma, which indicates its ripeness. Try to buy berries in the market, not in stores, because it is not stored for a long time.
After the strawberries were picked, store it for no more than 2 days, so do not buy a lot of berries at once, take portions that will be eaten on the same day. If you are going to leave fruit in the fridge for some time, do not wash them, otherwise, you will damage the surface and cause the secretion of juice and run the process under which the berry will begin to deteriorate and lose all its useful properties. Before use, of course, thoroughly wash under running water.
USEFUL PROPERTIES
For the heart and circulatory system
Copper, molybdenum, iron, and cobalt are indispensable sources for blood, and it is these trace elements rich in strawberries. Due to the magnesium content, it is a preventive measure against strokes and potassium promotes the proper function of the heart muscle and regulates blood pressure. Berries are rich in folic acid, which strengthens blood vessels and prevents breakage.
Bones and teeth
Calcium and fluoride can help strengthen bones and teeth. And vitamin C contributes to the regeneration and renewal of the connective tissue and improves the quality of synovial fluid.
For youth and beauty
The red color of strawberries is due to b-carotene, it provides cell renewal and skin elasticity as well as smoothes wrinkles. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and slows the aging process.
For immunity
It is an interesting fact that vitamin C in the strawberry more than in lemon! And everyone knows that this vitamin strengthens the immune system. Salicylic acid contained in the strawberries has an antibacterial effect and even has a mild analgesic effect.
But do not forget that the strawberry is a strong allergen, so in the first place, is to figure out if you among those whom it is contraindicated.
HOW TO USE
This berry can be applied and combined with the most unexpected products. Classics are, of course, preserves, jams, marmalades.
But do not neglect the sauces from strawberries to seafood and poultry, they are ideal company.
It is a wonderful complement for salads based on lettuce leaves and even a win-win combination of strawberries with dairy products.
Of course, strawberries will decorate cakes and will enhance any dessert!
More about strawberry health benefits and harms read in our big article.
Be healthy!