Calories In Strawberries

There are Nutrient-Rich Calories in Strawberries

It’s rare that something that tastes so good is so good for you, but that is just the case when you consider nutrients and calories in strawberries. Strawberries are a naturally sweet fruit that taste great by themselves or when added to other foods like cereal or yogurt.

So, consider these figures: A large, whole strawberry has exactly ten calories. One cup of whole strawberries has 46 calories. If you slice them up, more fit in a cup, so there are 53 calories in one cup of sliced strawberries. Even though they are sweet, the calories in strawberries are actually low. The sugar in strawberries is under five percent.
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There is also another way to measure calories in foods and that is by the quality of the calories. For instance, a piece of sugar candy may also have 46 calories, but those calories come from corn syrup. These are considered empty calories because other than the fact that it tastes good and gives your blood sugar a quick burst upwards, the piece of candy has no nutritional worth.

Now look at strawberries again in this light. Strawberries contain nutrients, vitamins and non-nutritive chemicals that are necessary for good health. Strawberries have an excellent amount of vitamin C and manganese. Plus, they are a good source of dietary fiber needed for a healthy digestive tract. Strawberries contain all of the ingredients needed for heart health.

Over the last 10+ years numerous animal and human health studies have been done on strawberries. These have examined the effects of strawberries on such human conditions and diseases as cancer, heart disease, anti-inflammatory and aging processes. Among the findings are that strawberries contain a plant pigment, called anthocyanin, which may be beneficial in preventing certain cancers. They contain ellagotannins, which have been proven to be effective in preventing esophageal cancer. Strawberries also contain flavonoids which prevent inflammation and strengthen human capillaries. These anti-oxidants help neutralize the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are a natural byproduct of the body’s use of oxygen but they also cause cellular damage.

Strawberries are full of potassium, a mineral that has shown positive results in lowering the risk of stroke, and a good supply of B vitamins which do everything from help concentration to strengthening of the immune system. These are all ways in which the calories in strawberries are quality calories. They have a positive effect many different aspects of human health.

Other positives about strawberries are that they are available year-round. They taste good in a variety of foods with little preparation. And, because the calories in strawberries are low, they can be eaten with other fruits and vegetables as part of any healthy weight-loss program.