It's strawberry season, and eating strawberries can slow down aging!

Strawberries, a representative spring seasonal fruit, are attracting increasing attention not only for their delicious flavor but also for their outstanding health benefits. Among the many components found in strawberries, those related to aging are being highlighted as effective. What are these benefits?

Anti-inflammatory "anthocyanin"

Anthocyanin, the natural pigment that gives strawberries their red color, protects blood vessels and improves inflammation.
According to a nutrition research team at the University of East Anglia in the UK, who analyzed 25 studies on the relationship between anthocyanin intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, consistently eating a handful of berries such as strawberries and raspberries a day can reduce the risk of death from heart disease by up to 40%. The research team analyzed that the anthocyanins contained in strawberries lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and improve arterial stiffness, which helps vascular health. (2018, Official Journal of the International Society for Molecular Biology) In particular, these effects were greater in younger adults than in the elderly, and it is said that eating just one to two servings a day is sufficient.

Fisetin, a drug that prevents Alzheimer's disease, kills senescent cells.

Fisetin, which is commonly used to color fruits and vegetables, is said to help prevent Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting cell destruction caused by reactive oxygen species and through its anti-inflammatory action. According to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, one of the world's top three biotechnology research centers, mice that ate a diet containing fisetin for three months had significantly lower stress and inflammation levels than those that did not. Furthermore, while some nerve cells in the brains of mice that did not consume fisetin developed inflammation, those that did not, demonstrating fisetin's effectiveness in preventing neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, are not affected.

Vitamin C, an antioxidant that removes active oxygen accumulated in the body

According to the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, strawberries contain 67mg of vitamin C per 100g, far more than other fruits and vegetables. This is 1.5 times that of oranges, twice that of lemons, and over 10 times that of apples. Vitamin C is not only effective in aiding recovery from colds and relieving stress, but it is also said to be effective in recovering from fatigue, boosting immunity, and beautifying skin. However, vitamin C is water-soluble, so be careful not to soak it in water for too long, as it will leach out.