There's something about strawberries...

Nutritionist Siobhan Julian on the benefits of strawberries and some interesting side effects

 
There is something undeniably romantic about the strawberry .... their Latin name is Frugaria, meaning fragrance; they taste utterly delicious and are bursting with nutrients including Vitamin C, potassium, folic acid and fibre. One of their lesser known side effects is that they are reputed to be an aphrodisiac so it's no suprise that they are frequently linked with decadent foods like cream and champagne.

Rather less romantically, they have also been traditionally used to treat indigestion, sunburn, discoloured teeth and gout! 

But according to Glenisk nutritionist Siobhan Julian, the strawberry's nutritional credentials are hard to beat. This little minx of a berry is virtually fat free and helps the body to absorb iron.

"Strawberries are the most popular berry in the world and rightly so from a nutritional perspective. Their main nutrients are Vitamin C and dietary fibre. Vitamin C helps to mop up any waste products in our bodies, while also boosting our immune system by helping to ward off bugs and viruses. Vitamin C  plays an assistant role in the absorption of iron and particularly iron from non-meat sources of iron, such as cereals. Adding strawberries to your breakfast cereal is a great way to help absorb the iron in the cereal.  Fibre is important, not just for keeping you 'regular' but also for promoting long term bowel health and preventing problems in later life.

One way to reduce over use of foods at the top of the pyramid and boost calcium intake is to choose snacks such as fruit and yogurt.

"Research indicates that Irish children are only getting half their recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day. The over use of foods from the top of the pyramid is displacing the fruit and vegetable intake. It has also been documented that 28% of boys and 37% girls in Ireland are not getting enough calcium in their diet. One way to reduce over use of foods at the top of the pyramid and boost calcium intake is to choose snacks such as fruit and yogurt. To supplement your five a day, you could choose a fruit yogurt such as Glenisk Organic Greek Style Low Fat Strawberry Yogurt.  And remember that strawberries can be especially vulnerable to absorbing pesticide residue so always choose organic when you can."