Strawberries, a popular fruit choice, are members of the Rose family and the first fruits to ripen in the spring. According to the University of Illinois Extension, 94 percent of United States’ households consume strawberries, averaging an intake of 3.4 pounds of strawberries per person each year. Although most people choose strawberries for their taste, the fruit is also high in several nutrients.
Calories and Macronutrients
A single cup of sliced strawberries contains only 50 calories, making it a low-calorie food and popular diet choice. Most of these calories come from carbohydrates. Each cup of strawberries contains almost 12 grams of carbohydrates. Fiber contributes nearly 4 grams of these carbohydrates and just over 7 grams come from simple sugars, like fructose, sucrose and glucose. Four of the calories in strawberries come from protein. One cup of sliced strawberries contains 1 gram of protein.
Vitamins
Strawberries are also loaded with several important vitamins. A single cup of sliced strawberries contains just over 94 milligramsof vitamin C, which exceeds the daily vitamin C recommendation for both men and women. Ounce for ounce strawberries offer more vitamin C than any citrus fruits, according to The University of Illinois Extension.
One cup of sliced strawberries also contains approximately 29 micrograms of the B vitamin folate, making it a high folate food. Because folate is important in preventing birth defects, strawberries are an excellent snack for pregnant women. Each cup of strawberries also offers a little more than 44 international units of the fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin A.
Minerals
Strawberries are also rich in potassium, offering 45 milligrams per cup. Potassium helps with nerve signal transmission and muscle contraction and keeps your heart pumping correctly. A cup of sliced strawberries also offers 23 milligrams of calcium, the mineral that helps keep your bones and teeth strong. A cup of sliced strawberries also contains almost 17 milligrams of magnesium and just over 31 milligrams of phosphorus. In addition, strawberries contain small amounts of the minerals iron and selenium.
Considerations
The Produce for Better Health Foundation reveals that strawberries are fat-free, saturated-fat free, sodium-free and cholesterol-free. These attributes make strawberries an ideal component of a heart-healthy diet.
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