Strawberries Boost Antioxidant & Anti-inflammatory Status of Blood

The colorful pigments of berries (polyphenols antioxidant shown to affect cell-to-cell signaling, receptor sensitivity, inflammatory enzyme activity or gene regulation. Found in many different fruits, vegetables, red wine, grains, honey, and legumes.) are known to have antioxidant activity. Two new human strawberry studies prove that these antioxidants are well absorbed into your body and exert significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits within your circulation, thereby helping your blood and arteries have less stress and be healthier.

In one study, volunteers ate a pound or so of strawberries¹ every day for two weeks, spread out over the course of the day. The researchers analyzed their red blood cells and found they had better antioxidant function and were more resistant to damage. In order for your circulation to flow well your red blood cells must be slippery. When cell membranes are injured due to oxidative stress, then the red blood cells die faster as well as stick together. This reduces blood flow as well as the quality of your blood. Strawberries helped protect against these problems.

In another study 24 overweight adults² consumed a moderately high-fat, high-carbohydrate meal along with a strawberry beverage (or placebo).  In other words, the meal was designed to be stressful to metabolism and likely to produce an exaggerated insulin response in an overweight person. The strawberry beverage lowered the inflammatory response of the meal (lower CRP C-reactive protein. It is an acute phase protein that increases during systemic inflammation. It is a general way to assess cardiovascular disease risk. A more sensitive test for heart disease risk is hs-CRP, highly sensitive CRP. and IL6).  Strawberries also significantly reduced the exaggerated insulin response.

These studies show that strawberries, including concentrates of strawberry polyphenols antioxidant shown to affect cell-to-cell signaling, receptor sensitivity, inflammatory enzyme activity or gene regulation. Found in many different fruits, vegetables, red wine, grains, honey, and legumes. found in dietary supplements and beverages, can have a positive impact on circulatory health – even helping to offset the stress of a high-calorie meal.

Thus, if you like a big Sunday brunch as I do, eat plenty of organic strawberries and blueberries along with everything else – and be really good the rest of the week.