Strawberry consumption may improve heart health, cognitive function, new study finds
USA – Strawberries are a source of many bioactive compounds and as a result, are considered a superfood by many health-conscious consumers.
In addition to providing 100% of our daily vitamin C needs, strawberries contain heart-healthy nutrients like folate, potassium, fiber, phytosterols, and polyphenols.
Previous studies have found that consuming berries can help ease inflammation and oxidative stress, which can be triggers for many diseases.
Other studies have linked berry consumption to benefitting and protecting certain areas of the body, including the gut microbiota, nervous system, cardiovascular system, and immune system.
A new study conducted at San Diego State University has now found an association between daily strawberry consumption and improved cognitive function.
The randomized clinical trial presented at Nutrition 2023, the annual meeting of the American Society of Nutrition as linked dairy strawberry consumption to lower blood pressure and higher antioxidant capacity.
2 servings of strawberries is good enough
For this study, Dr. Shirin Hooshmand, a professor in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at San Diego State University and principal investigator on the study, and her team conducted a study with 35 healthy men and women between the ages of 66 and 78.
Over an eight-week period, each day, study participants either consumed 26 grams of freeze-driedTrusted Source strawberry powder — equivalent to two servings of fresh strawberries — or a control powder.
At the end of the eight weeks, researchers found those who ate the strawberries increased their cognitive processing speed by 5.2%, lowered their systolicTrusted Source blood pressure by 3.6%, and increased their antioxidant capacity by 10.2% when compared to those who took the control powder.
“This study demonstrates that consuming strawberries may promote cognitive function and improve cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension,” said Dr. Hooshmand.
“We’re encouraged that a simple dietary change, like adding strawberries to the daily diet, may improve these outcomes in older adults.”
Link between strawberries and brain health
The link between strawberry consumption and brain health has also been well explored in both clinical and population-based studies.
Strawberries and pelargonidin, a biochemical primarily found in strawberries, were associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s dementia in studies conducted at Rush University.
Another long-term observational studies, including the Health Professionals Study and the Nurses’ Health Study, found that strawberry consumers had lower rates of cognitive decline.
Outside the study, experts recommend that most adults eat 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fruit each day which is equivalent to about eight large strawberries are equal to one cup of fruit.
There are a number of ways in which strawberries can be incorporated to diets including, adding strawberries to a protein-packed smoothie, as an addition to a salad or grain bowl, they can also be added to yogurts or consumed just as they are.
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