Are Strawberries Good for Blood Glucose Levels?

When most people think of strawberries, they think of summer, picnics and something delicious. Strawberries have a heart shape and red color, and due to this fact, they were the symbol of the goddess of love – Venus. Moreover, the Romans used strawberries as a remedy for depression and kidney stones. But, regardless of that sweet, red and ripe, strawberries are a great delight. And are they safe for your blood glucose levels? There are fruits which are high in carbs. Such fruits can lead to high blood glucose levels in people who have diabetes. There is a way to find out whether the fruits people are consuming are suitable for their blood glucose levels. The best way is to check blood glucose levels after eating. However, if we are a strawberry lover, don’t panic, they are OK for our blood glucose levels. As a matter of fact, they come with many health benefits. Read on to find out more, in that way you will have more reasons to include strawberries in the diet.

Nutrition Facts on Strawberries

(RDA – Recommended Daily Amount) Strawberries have a GI, i.e., the glycemic index of 40 which is considered low. Half a cup of strawberries contains around 2.5 percent RDA phosphorus, 14 percent RDA manganese, 3 percent RDA potassium. And also 2.5 percent RDA magnesium, 4.5 percent RDA folate and 4 percent copper. Half a cup of halved strawberries provides 75 percent of the RDA of vitamin C. Moreover, it contains around 1.5 g of dietary fiber, 24.5 calories, and less than 6 g of total carbs. That is from 4.3 to 4.5 g of net carbs.

Health Benefits of Strawberries

Strawberries contain dietary fiber which helps promote healthy gut bacteria, promotes satiety and regulates blood glucose. Also, strawberries contain vitamin C which helps the body absorb iron from food sources such as spinach. Also, vitamin C boosts immunity and assists in tissue repair and growth. Strawberries contain anthocyanins. This a dietary compound which can prevent heart disease and boost the cognitive function. There is more to this compound. Strawberries contain folate, a mineral which can help lower the oxidative stress in people with type 2 diabetes.

Study About Strawberries

According to research, this fruit contains an ingredient which is helpful for those with type 2 diabetes. Strawberries have substantial amounts of substances by the name anthocyanins and ellagitannins. These substances might help in the treatment of high blood pressure and hyperglycemia linked with type 2 diabetes. According to research published in the “Journal of Medicinal Food” and the journal “Biofactors,” these substances might help lower our blood glucose levels after we consume a meal rich in starch. Also, they might break down the starches we consume. Moreover, these substances come with antioxidants properties.

Serving Ideas and Tips

Replace some of your fruit servings with strawberries, but try to include different fruits in order to have a different nutrient intake. The strawberries make a great addition to any fruit salad. We can add strawberries in our yogurt or oatmeal which we make for breakfast. If we want to have a great and delicious snack, all we need to do is slice a couple of strawberries and consume them with cottage cheese. This is a creative and yet, low-glycemic, high-protein snack. Moreover, in case we want to have a fancy dessert feel free to dip strawberries in dark chocolate. This dessert will surely satisfy our sweet tooth without having a significant impact on our blood glucose levels. If strawberries are your favorite fruit, then you don’t have to worry, cause they are good for you.