The undeniable benefits of strawberries

It's hard to find a person who doesn't like strawberries. The delicious, aromatic berry is pleasant to eat fresh; it makes excellent jam and fragrant compotes. Few people think about the health benefits of the berry, but it is a real natural healer.

Properties of strawberries

Both forest and garden strawberries have many beneficial properties.

Here are just a few of them:

• the berry has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland;
• prevents the development of cancer, especially in women;
• helps reduce blood pressure, improves the functioning of the heart muscle;
• helps strengthen the body, improves immunity;
• due to the content of iron and other substances, strawberries are a real record holder for saturating the body with oxygen;
• used as a diuretic, helps with gout;
• improves appetite, including for people whose bodies are weakened after undergoing operations;
• fresh berry juice helps with uterine bleeding;
• improves the condition of the nervous system;
• helps to effectively cope with physical activity;
• strengthens vision.

In order for the precious berry to bring maximum benefit and not cause a negative reaction, it is enough to eat half a glass a day.

It is also used for cosmetic purposes. Masks made from grated strawberries are an excellent remedy for age spots, acne and other skin problems. If the skin is dry, it can be mixed with egg yolk, olive oil or sour cream. For oily skin, a mixture of berries with honey or kefir is suitable. It is also useful to prepare a scrub, for which prepared berries are mixed with soda or salt.

Can children have strawberries?

Strawberries should be given to children with caution. The baby’s body begins to perceive it no earlier than a year and a half. Despite the huge number of elements, these berries contain pigment, which gives them their red color. Allergies to it are quite common among very young children.

For diseases such as atopic dermatitis or diathesis, it is better not to give fruits until the child reaches two years of age. Of course, during the period when rashes appear on the baby’s skin, eating strawberries is out of the question.

Treats should not be introduced into a child’s diet right away. First, it is enough to treat the baby with one berry. After this, you need to observe the body’s reaction for two days. This period of time was not chosen by chance: doctors believe that allergies to berries do not appear immediately, especially in children. If redness or rash appears on the skin, you should stop giving your baby strawberries and consult a specialist.

When the body tolerates the natural delicacy normally and a rash does not appear, you can give your child more berries. But you shouldn’t overfeed it with healthy fruits. You can eat strawberries both live and in the form of fruit drinks, as well as with porridges. It is advisable not to add sugar.

It is also important what kind of strawberries the child is fed. Berries bought on the market that contain chemicals will definitely not be good for your baby. It is much better to pick wild berries in the summer and freeze them for the winter.

Strawberry contraindications

Even such a healthy and tasty berry has contraindications. Adults should not eat strawberries in the following cases:

• Individual intolerance to one or more substances included in the composition of the treat.
• Allergy. In adults, it can be accompanied by symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, nausea and even vomiting. Allergies can also occur to leaves, because they are also sometimes used in the form of decoctions or infusions.
• Inflammation of the gallbladder, stomach, peptic ulcer.

But even healthy people with good tolerance to berries should not abuse them. If you get too carried away, you can end up with problems such as irritation, rashes, and itchy skin. It is better to eat berries after meals: eating them on an empty stomach can cause stomach problems. Of course, strawberries must be washed thoroughly.

So don’t forget about a sense of proportion, and everything will be fine. If your body allows you to eat strawberries, do not deny yourself this delicious berry, which brings so many health benefits.