Strawberries could help protect against fatty deposits that cause heart attacks and strokes
Strawberries may help protect against fat deposits that cause heart attacks and strokes, research suggests
Scientists have found that putting fresh strawberries in a bowl can prevent the buildup of fatty deposits that cause heart attacks and strokes.
The vitamin C-rich fruit protects against potentially fatal artery blockages caused by high cholesterol, their research showed, and the benefits are visible within an hour of consumption.
The British eat almost 200,000 tons of strawberries every year – Wimbledon participants alone eat more than 38 tons during the tournament.
Scientists at Setsunan University in Osaka, Japan, wanted to see how quickly the health effects became visible after eating the fruit.
They gave 23 healthy volunteers, all young women in their early twenties, 500 grams of strawberry puree or a sugary drink.
Strawberries, pictured here during the Wimbledon tennis championships on July 9, may help stop heart attacks and strokes, study suggests
Actress Cara Delevigne munches on strawberries and whipped cream at Wimbledon on July 10
Half an hour later, they took blood samples — and repeated the process every 30 minutes for another four hours.
The results, published in the Journal of Nutritional Science, showed that the strawberry group showed fewer signs of a buildup of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, than those given the sugar-flavored treat.
LDL is the harmful form of cholesterol that can cause blood vessels to narrow and become clogged.
Clots that then form can cause a heart attack or stroke.
These benefits were apparent within an hour of the strawberry puree settling down and lasted for at least four hours afterwards.
In a report on their findings, the researchers said, “Strawberries are an important source of nutrients and studies show that high consumption of fruits such as these are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.”