Diets high in fruits and vegetables can help delay the onset of many diseases including cardiovascular disease.
Strawberries are high in polyphenols which is why freeze dried strawberry powder has been studied for improving cholesterol, insulin sensitivity, and reducing inflammation.
One strategy to improve fruit intake is through the use of freeze dried strawberries.
In many instances fruit can be 70-90 percent water so by freeze drying the fruit the potential to consume more antioxidants could be increased.
What are in strawberries that are good for you?
- Pelargonidin-3-glucoside
- Procyanidin B1
- Catechin
- Gallic acid
- 3,4-dihydrobenzoic acid
- Syringic acid
- p-coumaric acid
- Ellagic acid
- Isoquercetin
- Sinapic acid
- Tiliroside
- Quercetin
- Kaempferol
A recent study was published in the British Journal of Nutrition that evaluated the cardiovascular benefits of freeze dried strawberry powder in overweight teenagers.
Study Details:
- Males age 14-18 were enrolled in the study
- BMI was above the 75th percentile
- Randomized controlled double blind cross over study
- Short term (1 week) and 1 hour vascular responses were studied
- 50 grams of freeze dried strawberry was used
- 28 subjects enrolled in the study, 25 completed the study
| Freeze Dried Strawberry Powder (FDSP) (50 grams)
Serving Size = 50 grams |
||
| Control | FDSP | |
| Total Calories | 180 | 172 |
| Total carbohydrates | 42 | 39 |
| Total Phenolics (milligrams) | 0 | 245.44 |
| Total Phenolic Breakdown (milligrams) | ||
| Pelargonidin-3-glucoside | 0 | 198.50 |
| Procyanidin B1 | 0 | 15.31 |
| Catechin | 0 | 12.52 |
| Other Phenolics | 0 | 19.11 |
Here are the results:
- Significant increases in plasma nitrate/nitrite were observed with Freeze Dried Strawberry Powder
- No changes in blood pressure were observed
- No changes after 1 week in cholesterol were noted (*)
*Other studies have shown 4 weeks is needed to observe changes in inflammation and cholesterol
Take away message: Several studies have reported the benefits of freeze dried strawberry powder on lipids, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation. This study was the first to show that adolescents (14-18 years old) could improve levels of nitrate and nitrite in the blood with freeze dried strawberry powder. The benefit of increasing nitrate and nitrite is that blood vessels are opened up (i.e. vasodilation) which reduces the stress on blood vessels. More studies of longer length are needed to determine if the benefits of freeze dried strawberry powder will improve the cardiovascular health over a longer period.
British Journal of Nutrition. 2016 August ; Volume 116 (Issue 4): Pages 639-47.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Body weight, Cholesterol, Clinical Trials, Heart