Club Chronicles: Embrace ever-popular strawberry this summer

The fragrantly sweet juiciness and deep red color of strawberries can brighten up the taste of any meal. It is no wonder they are the most popular berry fruit in the world.

Although Strawberries are available year-round, they are a seasonal fruit. They are most delicious and most abundant at their peak from April through July.

The red berry is a delicious treat and offers many nutritious benefits, such as:

• Maintains eye health – Strawberries can help prevent macular degeneration, vision defects and other eye-related illnesses. The potassium found in strawberries might help alleviate any pressure within the eye.

• Aids weight loss – One cup of strawberry halves is about 49 calories. It has around a half gram of fat and over one gram of protein. If you are trying to lose weight, strawberries are naturally sweet and delicious. Not only do they taste good, but the variety of nutrients can help stimulate your metabolism for weight loss.

• Boosts immunity – Vitamin C can raise your immune system to fight against microbial agents like the common cold. A single serving has about 150 percent of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C. Eat more strawberries, and you might start feeling better.

• Treats inflammation – The antioxidants found in strawberries have been known to treat inflammation. Eating strawberries can help detoxify your body. If you want a natural anti-inflammatory, then add more strawberries to your diet.

• Reduces hypertension – Magnesium and potassium found in strawberries can help with hypertension. The minerals can help improve blood circulation by opening blood vessels and allowing blood to flow easily.

• Improves heart health – Strawberries not only have high levels of vitamin C and B but are rich in folate and fiber, which strengthens the cardiac muscles and reduce cholesterol in the blood vessels and arteries.

• Prevents birth defects – Pregnant women need to have a sufficient amount of folic acid to avoid congenital disabilities, and strawberries are a natural source of folic acid. Eating healthy fruits and vegetables are ideal for expecting mothers.

• Encourages brain function – As you age, brain tissues can degenerate as nerves become weak. Eating strawberries can neutralize these effects, thanks to antioxidants. Iodine and potassium regulate the functions of the nervous system and brain as well as improve cognitive function by promoting blood circulation to the brain.

• Delays certain cancers – Consuming strawberries on a daily basis might help reduce cancerous cells drastically. The red fruit is rich in flavonoids like folate, anthocyanins, quercetin and kaempferol, which help fight tumor growth, and with vitamin C and antioxidants. All these nutrients work together to help prevent cancer.

The really good news about strawberries is that they retain their nutritiousness even when whirled into milkshakes, baked into pies or smothered with whipped cream on strawberry shortcakes.