Health Benefits of Dried Strawberries
You may want to make dehydrated strawberries bulk buys a consistent part of your shopping routine when you discover the numerous health benefits they have to offer. Strawberries support heart health, bone health and eye health. They assist in the reduction of inflammation and help prevent inflammatory diseases. By aiding in the reduction of inflammation, they also help relieve pain. Strawberries may help prevent oesophageal cancer. Strawberries contain anthocyanins which promote fat burning. That combined with their high fiber content make them an ideal food to include in a weight loss or weight management plan. Strawberries contain antioxidants that help support hair, nails and skin. Making strawberries a regular part of your diet can help reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Dried strawberries can be benefical to your overall health.
Strawberries Can Delay Memory Decline
Sometimes, beneficial help comes in a very welcome and unexpected form. For example, strawberries, which are a popular fruit, well-loved for their amazing flavor, are also a food that contributes to the maintenance of a sharp mind and the delay of short-term memory loss. Studies have shown that berries containing anthocyanins can help prevent age-related memory loss. Strawberries are rich in these anthocyanins which help improve blood flow to the brain and therefore boosts cognition and memory. Strawberries have the distinction of ranking exceptionally high as a food that is an excellent source of antioxidants. They ranked 4th among all fruits for their antioxidant capacity. One study indicated that those who included antioxidant-rich berries in their diet could delay mental decline and memory loss for as much as two years, possibly more. When you eat strawberries, you’re doing something nice for your taste buds and your brain.
Low Calorie – High Fiber, A Winning Combination
Fresh strawberries do not have a long shelf life. However, when you do have access to perfectly ripe strawberries you can indulge in their goodness without worrying about consuming too many calories. A 1 cup serving of fresh strawberries contains 46 calories. That same size serving provides 12% of your daily recommended fiber intake. When fresh strawberries are not available, or when it isn’t practical to take them along for snack, dried strawberries are a good alternative. The calorie count of dried strawberries increases to 150 calories and the fiber content remains the same. The high fiber content of fresh and dehydrated strawberries will help you feel full. A feeling of fullness prevents you from reaching for unhealthy snacks that would be detrimental to your weight loss plan. It’s worth making adjustments in your diet to include dehydrated strawberries in your snack routine or recipes so that you can acquire the health benefits they provide.
Strawberries Support Immune System
Health experts recommend that you include a variety of brightly colored fruits in your diet. The reason for that is that red foods, such as strawberries, contain antioxidants that protect the body from damage by free radicals. Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C. This vitamin helps boosts your immune system and protect you from a variety of illness and diseases.
How to Dehydrate Strawberries?
Strawberries can be dried in an oven or in a dehydrator. Oven drying can be a lengthy process requiring no less than 8 hours and possibly up to 12 or more hours. The first steps in the drying process are the same regardless of which method you use. You will need to wash the berries, pat them dry, remove hulls and slice. It’s essential that the slices be as uniform in thickness as possible to assure that they slices dry within the same time frame. If using the oven on your stove, set it to the lowest setting. Place strawberry slices in a single layer, not touching each other, on a baking pan that you have oiled lightly or sprayed with a non-stick spray. Check the oven every 2 hours turning the berries over each time you check them. Remove them when they are no longer sticky.
If you are drying the berries using a dehydrator, set the temperature at 135 degrees. The process will take 8 to 10 hours for dehydrated strawberries to obtain a pliable texture. If you want dry strawberries with a crisp texture, the drying time may take up to up to 14 hours. Dry strawberries should be stored in an airtight container away from direct light.
Strawberry Trivia
- Strawberries were first grown in America in 1835.
- Today, California produces over 1 billion berries each year.
- Strawberries are a member of the rose family.
- Strawberries are the only fruit to wear its seeds on its exterior surface.
- There are over 600 varieties of strawberries.
- According to some sources, February 27 is National Strawberry Day. However, there is no indication as to who made that designation.
- Strawberries should only be picked when they are ripe because they will not ripen after they have been picked.
- Strawberries are the most popular type of berry in the world.
- Scientifically speaking, strawberries are not actually a berry. They are what is referred to as an “accessory fruit.”