I HEART HEALTH
Nutrition Tips
Strawberries, Blueberries, and Me: Have a Love Affair with your Anti-Oxidants!
by BD Marie Hughes
Enjoying strawberries & blueberries is an easy task! There are no 2 better “jewels” in the food chain that are more effective in anti-oxidant properties.
Slowing down the aging process by stabilizing “free radicals”, anti-oxidants can quickly become your new BFF. So it should be. By partaking in strawberries and blueberries, we’re able to halt the cumulative effects seen in skin damage, stroke, heart disease, certain cancers, and loss of memory and concentration over the long haul. Quite a punch for their diminutive size!
Strawberries and blueberries contain high concentrations of anti-oxidants – strawberries contain approximately 85 g per serving, blueberries approximately 80 – 85 mg. Compare that to one orange of about 65 – 70 mg. Both fruits are very low in fat. They also contain other essential nutrients like folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, & dietary fibre. You can graze them freely, bake them, and you can shake them – low-fat yogurt smoothies make a satisfying dessert or snack on the go!
Aim on getting your 5 – 10 recommended servings of fruits and veggies per day. Loosen your mind and your wallet year round shopping for these gems. In season, pick up organically grown for that extra assurance of peak perfection. Off season, there are great choices in the freezer section. Incorporate strawberries and blueberries into your weekly grocery run. Your heart health and brain power will indulge your love affair!
Refs/Sources:
Nancy Clarke’s Sports Nutrition Guide, 2007
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php
Images 1: organic-city.com/.../strawberry-full.jpg
Image 2: eats.beloblog.com/archives/NF_12Blueberries2.JPG
Image 3: Model: Cherine Badawy,
Photographer credit: Paul J. Faiazza,
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