A strawberry is a superstar when it comes to anti-oxidant power, says Dr. Barry Sears in his book The Top 100 Zone Foods. In addition, 1 cup of strawberries gives you a whopping 140 percent of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. Strawberries are also packed with flavonoids, two in particular, called quercetin and kaempferol. Research shows that these two flavonoids help keep “bad” (LDL) cholesterol from oxidizing and damaging artery walls.
The Romans prized wild strawberries for their medicinal properties. Ounce for ounce, strawberries have more Vitamin C than citrus fruit. According to the American Cancer Society, foods rich in Vitamin C may lower the risk of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.
Strawberries also contain ellargic acid — also found in raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, grapes, cherries, walnuts, pecans and Brazil nuts — which acts as a scavenger to “bind” cancer-causing chemicals, making them inactive. It inhibits the ability of other chemicals to cause mutations in bacteria. In addition, it prevents binding of carcinogens to DNA and reduces the incidence of cancer in cultured human cells exposed to carcinogens.
Select strawberries that have a full red color and avoid any that are uncolored or white.
Strawberries Romanoff
Indigrents
1 pint fresh strawberries with stems intact
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup granulated brown sugar
Cooking Instructions
1. Wash the strawberries and soak them in the orange juice for a few minutes at room temperature or several hours in the refrigerator.
2. In a small mixing bowl, combine the sour cream and 1/4 cup of the brown sugar. Transfer the sweetened sour cream to a small serving bowl and place the remaining brown sugar in a small dish or bowl.
3. Drain the strawberries and place them in a large serving bowl.
4. Invite everyone to dip their own strawberries (holding them by the stems) into the sweetened sour cream and then into the brown sugar.
Serving Size: 1/2 cup strawberries with sour cream and brown sugar
Strawberries - Nutritions and Cooking Tips
