Strawberries are high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are high in potassium and magnesium, micronutrients that many people lack. Eight strawberries contain more vitamin C than a whole orange with peel. These berries have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects…
Even with a huge list of benefits, it happens that in spring and summer, during the peak strawberry season, doctors are faced with a lot of cases of "strawberry victims".
Here are the reasons why:
Allergies
Strawberries are one of the most common causes of food allergies as they contain substances that directly irritate immune cells. The berry contains a substance called Fragaria allergen 1 (Fra a 1), which the immune system identifies as something harmful and foreign.
Strawberry allergy symptoms can range from mild to extremely severe.
Pesticides and nitrates
All strawberry benefits come to naught when chemical substances come into play. Pesticides in strawberries pose serious health risks to consumers, workers and people living near strawberry farms. Even more, some pesticides are so dangerous that they have been banned in some countries.
As in 2022, this year strawberries continue to be on top of the list of contaminated foods, the so-called "dirty dozen".
How to identify if strawberries are good or not?
- Strawberries should have a "healthy" red color, but if they are too bright in color, it indicates the presence of nitrates.
- To find out whether a berry contains chemical substances, you can also use an ordinary napkin. Take a berry and wrap it with a napkin, if it leaves a greasy trace, which has an oily structure, then you should refuse such a product.
- A dangerous berry is also one that is odorless and juiceless. It is enough to cut a strawberry into two pieces. The sign of a low-quality product is the absence of a specific berry flavor and white stripes on the stalk, which indicates the presence of a huge amount of chemicals. Such a treat can lead you to a hospital bed.
Infections
Berries can be a source of parasite and hepatitis A infections if they are grown in fields contaminated with excrement or if they are picked by people infected with hepatitis A.
Don't forget to wash the strawberries, even if they look clean. The best science-based recommendation is to soak them in water with baking soda (10 g per 1 liter) for 10 minutes before eating them.
Tooth decay
Strawberries can exacerbate tooth decay and have a negative impact on tooth enamel. All because of the abundance of different acids in the composition of this berry. Tooth sensitivity will be noticeable immediately after consuming strawberries. In this case, you need to rinse your mouth or brush your teeth.
Gout and gastritis
The same acids in the composition of the berry will badly affect those who have problems with the stomach, gout and genitourinary system. The complex of organic acids (oxalic, salicylic and others) will only aggravate these problems. In contact with the mucous membrane of the stomach, it increases its irritation, which may contribute to an exacerbation of gastritis, gastroduodenitis, gastric and duodenal ulcers. In general, ulcer patients are better to eat this berry for dessert in small quantities and mixed with something, such as cottage cheese.
To enjoy the benefits and delicious taste of strawberries, especially when they are in season, I have a few recommendations for you:
- Buy organic strawberries or from small, local farmers.
- Don't eat them on an empty stomach.
- Combine the fruits with other foods – milk, cream, ice cream, cottage cheese.
- Try to eat the berries within 1-2 days of purchase.
- The normal dose for a healthy person is 150-200 grams per day.