Strawberries
Fragaria × ananassa
Fruits. Folk & home remedies and Modern nutrition.
Also called Garden strawberry, Fresa, Frutilla
Pinyin: Cǎo Méi
Spanish: Fresa (frutilla)
Strawberries are sweet red fruits, eaten fresh, frozen or as jam, and prized for their vitamin C and flavor.
Did you know? Each strawberry has about 200 tiny seeds on its outside, and each seed is really a separate little fruit called an achene.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Colds, flu & immunity. Strawberries are high in vitamin C, which immune cells use. Food amounts have not been tested for colds or infections.Traditional proof
- Heart health. Observational studies link berry eating to better heart health. Small trials of strawberries alone are few and mixed.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Wild strawberries were gathered across Europe for centuries. Folk healers made leaf teas for diarrhea, though these uses are not well tested.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Nutritive, Antioxidant. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Eaten fresh, frozen, in smoothies or as jam. Most health studies test whole berries in the diet, not pills.
Food.
Where to get it
The garden strawberry is a hybrid of two American wild species, first bred in Europe in the 1700s. Grown worldwide, with large crops in the US (California and Florida), Mexico, Spain, Egypt and Turkey. Sold fresh, frozen, dried and as jam. Key nutrients: vitamin C, folate, manganese, potassium and anthocyanins.
Be careful
Strawberries can cause itching, hives or mouth tingling, especially in people with birch pollen allergy. Some people are allergic to strawberries. Most people eat them without any problem.
Avoid if: birch pollen allergy; strawberry allergy.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
A common fruit salad and smoothie pairing.
- Works well together
Classic fruit salad and smoothie pairing.
- Works well together
Strawberries with mint is a classic fruit salad pairing.
The honest take
Strawberries are a tasty fruit with vitamin C, fiber and folate, and they are a healthy choice. Heart and immunity claims rest on observational studies or on vitamin C data. Detox and skin-whitening claims have no good proof.