Berry good flu fighter

Ivy Ong-Wood
Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Strawberries and cream make a refreshing summer tea. But did you know that the fruit is also considered a "superfood" capable of warding off colds and seasonal flu? Loaded with vitamin C and low in calories, strawberries are an excellent source of water-soluble nutrients.
The recommended dietary intake for women is 75 milligrams of vitamin C daily and 90 mg for men. A serving of eight medium strawberries provides 96 mg of vitamin C, well above the dietary requirement. That's more vitamin C than one medium orange, which contains 74 mg.

Assistant professor of biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences Navindra Seeram at the University of Rhode Island said a healthy diet rich in vitamin C can reduce the chances of catching flu, limit the severity of symptoms and shorten the duration of illnesses.

"While most people associate vitamin C with oranges, strawberries actually contain more vitamin C than oranges on an ounce-per-ounce basis, and they also contain potassium, folate, fiber and phyto-nutrients that prevent and even reverse serious diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stomach ulcers and also help lower cholesterol levels," he said.

The fruit is also high in antioxidants, which provide protection by neutralizing the damaging free radicals. A report published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition analyzed over 1,000 foods and beverages for antioxidant capacity

Strawberries came in third, behind only blackberries and walnuts , in total antioxidant capacity per serving.

Antioxidants help defend the body against several diseases, including cancer, heart disease, neurological decline and diabetes.
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=16&art_id=84409&sid=24473564&con_type=1&d_str=20090707&fc=3