Taking half a kilo of strawberries a day for two weeks, a group of volunteers has shown that eating this fruit improves the antioxidant capacity of the blood . The study, coordinated by researchers from the Polytechnic University of la Marche (UNIVPM, in Italy) and the University of Granada (UGR), has just been published in the journal Food Chemistry .
During the experiment, the scientists supplied 12 healthy volunteers with 500 grams of strawberries of the "Sveva" variety per day throughout each day. Taking blood samples at 4, 8, 12 and 16 days, and a month later, they found that regular consumption of this fruit can improve the antioxidant capacity of blood plasma and the resistance of red blood cells to oxidative hemolysis (fragmentation). The team now analyzes the variations when eating fewer strawberries (the usual consumption is usually a drink a day with 150 or 200 g). ? The important thing is that they are part of a healthy and balanced diet, within the five daily servings of fruits and vegetables ,? says Battino.
It is not the only proven benefit of strawberries. Last April, Ohio State University research revealed that eating strawberries prevents esophageal cancer . In addition, researchers from the Salk Institute of Biology (USA) have found that fisetin , a natural flavonoid found in strawberries, stimulates long-term memory .
