California Strawberries pack a powerful nutritional punch!

For all you strawberry fans out there, here's more reasons to love them. Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Fruit Guru Gary Bernstein was kind enough to provide us with this information from the California Strawberry Commission:

One serving of strawberries - about 8 strawberries - is an excellent source of vitamin C. In fact, a serving of strawberries provides more vitamin C than an orange!

Fiber is considered by the American Heart Association to be important for heart health. Epidemiological studies report that people who eat higher amounts of total fiber have a lower risk of heart disease.

Potassium is an important nutrient to balance electrolytes, aid muscle contractions and maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Antioxidants (including vitamin C) are key to warding off chronic diseases and promoting optimum health. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C. Research shows that the antioxidants in strawberries are efficiently absorbed within one hour after being eaten. Once absorbed, antioxidants fight free radical compounds that can cause chronic illnesses.

In a recent study strawberries ranked second among the top ten fruits in antioxidant capacity (TAC), which is one reason why they may help prevent cancer and heart disease.

Folate may prevent some types of birth defects. It also reduces serum levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that may be an independent risk factor in heart disease.

In addition to traditional nutrients, strawberries are also rich in phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and elagic acid, which are the focus of intense study due to their antioxidant, anticancer and antimutagenic properties. The majority of flavonoids in strawberries are anthocyanins, the compounds responsible for the blue, red and purple hues of berries, grapes and other fruits.

Consumers are increasing their reliance on the distinctive red heart with the white check mark as a quick and easy way to ensure them of heart-healthy choices at the grocery store. When they see this mark on more than 800 certified food packages, they know the food inside meets the American Heart Association's strict criteria for low levels of total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol.

Strawberries are setting the direction of nutrition research in the 21st century. Today nutrition scientists are looking beyond the traditional vitamins and minerals - as imortant as those are - to characterize and understand the actions of hundreds of other compounds in plant foods, as well as the protective power of the whole foods themselves.

Strawberries are one of nature's healthiest "packages" of power nutrients. Moreover, they're one of the tastiest! In the coming years, the completion of exciting new research should provide even more reasons to enjoy strawberries year-round.