Diary of a Morning Girl: Strawberry Morning Show Highlights

Strawberries:
It's National Strawberry Month! May begins peak strawberry season, and there are plenty of reasons that we should be adding these little berries to our menus. From salads to desserts, strawberries are very versatile. For some family fun, visit some of Louisville's local farmers' markets or the Strawberry Festivals throughout the area. I'll be sharing some recipe ideas later in this post.

So Good for you:
Here are some Nerdy Girl Health facts:

1. Level blood sugar: The latest research on strawberries might make easing into bikini season a little less daunting. Studies show that when you eat strawberries at the same time as a high-carb meal, it tempers the blood sugar spike from sugar Researchers believe the berries' polyphenols play a major role in keeping blood sugar levels on even keel.

2. Packed with antioxidants. In a study investigating the antioxidant capacity of 12 different fruits, the strawberry ranked the highest. Other studies suggest that based on common serving sizes, strawberries came out third among all foods, including spices, seasonings, fruits and vegetables, for greatest antioxidant activity (only blackberries and walnuts scored higher).

3. Uber Nutritious: There is only 49 calories in one cup of strawberries and 3 grams of fiber. Strawberries are considered a powerful food for weight loss, and Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C (2x more than the average fruit) and manganese (a disease-fighting mineral).

4. Heart Healthy. Strawberry extracts have direct anti-inflammatory effects, because they contain a group of phenolic antioxidants called anthocyanins (which give strawberries their deep red color). Researchers believe anthocyanins reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by protecting blood vessels from the effects of wear and tear. (Article)

5. Keep you young: Wanna know what all that vitamin C does to keep you looking youthful? Check this out. Women with higher intakes of vitamin C also had fewer wrinkles and less dry skin. It makes sense, because vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can quench free radicals — unstable atoms and molecules in your body that harm cells. "Antioxidants prevent damage to cells and to cell DNA that can interfere with the production of collagen, the main supporting structure for your skin," explains Dr. Friedman.

(Article)