Red, sweet strawberries…yum! It’s
that time of year - somewhere in the world – for fresh strawberries’
tastiness and nutritiousness to brighten
up your plate and your mind, heart, and insulin resistance. Strawberries are the focus of our McHenry chiropractic nutrition tip of the month! Our McHenry
chiropractic patients at OrthoIllinois Chiropractic can enjoy positive effects
from strawberries in at least one of these ways!
HEART DISEASE BENEFIT FROM STRAWBERRIES
A newer study found and reported that when obese
adults with raised serum LDL cholesterol levels ate
just two and a half servings of strawberries each day for 30 days, it significantly improved lipid particle
profiles, insulin resistance, and serum plasminogen activator inhibitor-1
(PAI-1) which is an inflammatory marker often found in
artherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and even Alzheimer’s/dementia. Those
who participated ate what they usually
ate and did everything they usually did in this
study with the exception of only eating strawberries and
not other berries. (1) That makes it easy! Just include
strawberries into your daily diet.
VASCULAR HEALTH BENEFIT FROM STRAWBERRIES
Strawberry consumption was reported to potentially
enhance vascular health independent of other metabolic changes most likely via microbial-derived
phenolic metabolites after eating strawberries that influences
endothelial - the cell lining of blood and lymphatic vessels - function. This
is a positive for anyone with moderate hypercholesterolemia! (2) A delicious
way to keep the blood flowing!
STRAWBERRIES REDUCE RISK OF DEMENTIA
Let us keep the memory flowing, too. Late-life dementia may benefit from
strawberry consumption. Researchers explained that
neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s develop over many years starting
in midlife. Further, insulin resistance is known to be a risk
factor for late life dementia and known to progress in
midlife. Researchers pointed to research that highlights how eating
berry fruits like strawberries has previously been demonstrated
to affect metabolism and cognition implying
a potential to decrease the risk of dementia. In another study, researchers documented that strawberry
supplementation started in midlife may well lower the
risk of dementia. (3) Strawberries and their bright red color are a happy
way to keep your mind going.
BERRY WINES WITH HEALTHY INGREDIENTS
And for those in mid-life and older who may enjoy
a glass of wine, berry fruit wines (and even spirits) are increasing
in popularity and in reputation for their health
benefit! Wines made of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries offer
low alcohol content, high acidity, and beneficial bioactive molecules like
phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, melatonin, and carotenoids. Such berries have
lots of vitamin C, folates, and minerals making them very
popular and more in demand with over
11,000 kilotons of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries in 2021. That is
a lot of berries! (4) It’s nice to have options in how to consume strawberries this season!
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox, developer of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management we use at OrthoIllinois Chiropractic, talks about
how we can help with back pain relief and neck pain relief as well as arm pain
and leg pain relief on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson.
Make your McHenry chiropractic
appointment now this strawberry season to maximize
the health benefits of both chiropractic and strawberries!