According to a recent study, strawberries may enhance glucose regulation and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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In addition to being the most popular fruit in America, strawberries may also be a smart option for heart health promotion, according to studies. At the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting, Nutrition 2024, held in Chicago on June 30, a poster session featuring a novel study that focuses on cardiovascular health and better glucose control was presented.The results were presented by the principal investigator, Lasantha Krishan Hirimuthugoda, M.D., a postdoctoral research associate at the Illinois Institute of Technology. With a focus on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) responses to intervention and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, the study sought to determine the dose-related effects of strawberry fruit consumption on endothelial function and glucose regulation.
32 men and 36 women, ages 20 to 62, with a body mass index (BMI) of 29.8±4.8 kg/m2 were included in the study. Researchers evaluated the link between FMD responses to treatments and CVD risk, as well as the impact of strawberry consumption on FMD. Eating strawberries every day for four weeks had a significant impact on FMD% when compared to the control group, indicating a dose-response toward the higher and lower medians, respectively (Kruskal-Wallis test, p<0.001). According to preliminary CGM analyses, there are no discernible differences across therapies in terms of changes from baseline (p>0.05 for the Kruskal-Wallis test). Using all interventions with FMD responses and a 2% rise in FMD as a measure of decreased CVD risk, a logistic regression model (with goodness of fit p=0.33) revealed that consuming strawberries dose-dependently decreased CVD risk by eight times when compared to the control group (p<0.001). Similar results came from the sensitivity analysis, which imputed missing primary outcome data.
According to co-author Britt Burton-Freeman, Ph.D., a professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, “one of the top three risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease is a diet low in fruit.” “Your cardiovascular health may benefit from including as little as one cup of strawberries per day in your diet.”
Strawberries are a consumer favorite and one of the most widely available and popular fruits in the United States. Eight strawberries, or one cup, provide a variety of essential nutrients and healthy bioactive components in addition to meeting the daily required amount of vitamin C. Strawberries are a year-round fruit that is popular with both adults and children due to its versatility and convenience.
Concerning the California Strawberry Commission
Over 300 strawberry producers, exporters, and processors make up the California Strawberry Commission, which collaborates to promote strawberry growing for the benefit of our land and people in the future. Through innovative initiatives centered on workforce development, strawberry production research, and nutrition research, commission programs open doors to success. It spreads the good news about sustainable farming methods that improve the health of people, farms, and communities by providing science-based information and education.