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Friday, 10 January 2014

Food Therapy - Strawberries and Heart diseases

Strawberry is a genius of Fragaria × ananassa belongs to the family Roseaceae. They have been grown all over the world with suitable climate for commercial profits and for health benefits.
Beside cancer, heart disease kills more than 2,000 Americans everyday. Approximately 60 million Americans have heart disease. There are many causes of heart diseases. Most of heart diseases are caused by high blood pressure contributes to hardening of the arteries. High levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) build up in the arteries as a result of uncontrolled diet with high levels of saturated fat and trans fat. All these add to the formation of atherosclerosis lesions and eventually arterial blockage or anything that serves to damage the inner lining of blood vessels and impedes the transportation of oxygen and nutrition to the heart.


Nutrients and Chemicals constituents

1. Carbohydrate
2. Dietary fiber
3. Omega 3 fatty acid
4. Calcium
5. Iron
6. Magnesium
7. Phosphorus
8. Potassium
9. Sodium
10. Zinc
11. Copper
12. Manganese
13. Selenium
14. Vitamin C
15. Thiamin
16. Niacin
17. Pantothenic acid
18. Vitamin B-6
19. Folate
20. Vitamin B-12
21. Vitamin A
22. Vitamin E
23. Vitamin K
24. Etc. 
The major chemical compounds include anthocyanin and ellagitannins and p-Hydroxybenzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, ellagic acid, cyanidin-3-glucoside, pelargonidin-3-glucoside, kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin 

The benefits
Anthocyanin-rich foods, blueberries and strawberries intake is found to be potential in preventing myocardial infarction (MI) in young and middle-aged women, according to study, as it associated with a decreased risk of MI  in a comparison of those consuming >3 servings a week and those with lower intake. In other study, the water-soluble pigments, Anthocyanins displays wide range of biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-carcinogenic activities and a variety of effects on blood vessels, platelets and the risk of coronary heart diseases. In fact, Dietary intakes of flavanones, anthocyanidins, and certain foods rich in flavonoids were associated with reduced risk of death due to CHD, CVD, and all causes.
The Side effects
1. Some people may beexperience anaphylactoid reaction to the consumption of strawberries

2. Oxalation
Oxalates in high concentration can cause problem for people with kidney diseases.
3. Etc.
References

(1) High anthocyanin intake is associated with a reduced risk of myocardial infarction in young and middle-aged women by Cassidy A, Mukamal KJ, Liu L, Franz M, Eliassen AH, Rimm EB..(PubMed)

(2) Anthocyanins and heart health by Mazza GJ.(PubMed)
(3) Flavonoid intake and cardiovascular disease mortality: a prospective study in postmenopausal women. byMink PJ, Scrafford CG, Barraj LM, Harnack L, Hong CP, Nettleton JA, Jacobs DR Jr.(PubMed)

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