Who doesn’t like lovely juicy strawberries?
I always loved strawberries; the taste and smell are just divine. Awaken all my senses. They are such a versatile fruit. We can eat them fresh, frozen, dried, in jams, or used in foods and drinks. Strawberry season in the UK starts in May and will finish in October. My favourite ones are from Charleton fruit farm in Montrose, Scotland. You pick and eat them at the same time. I mostly eat them. And then, if you are still hungry, there is a lovely cafe with amazing food and the most delicious freshly made strawberry tarts in the world.
Bit of history and facts:
The first garden strawberry was grown in Brittany, France, during the late 18th century. Before this, wild strawberries and cultivated selections from wild strawberry species were the common fruit source.
Strawberries aren’t berries in the botanical sense but are considered an accessory fruit.
Many products smell like strawberries such as candles, wax melts, bath bombs, lip balms, shower gels, creams, soaps… But do they contain a real natural strawberry essential oil? Is there something like strawberry essential oil? The fact is that there is no such a thing as Strawberry Essential Oil, only Strawberry Oil.
All the strawberry aromas and flavourings you come across are artificial/synthetic and usually will have added word “fragrance .”The term “fragrance” on a cosmetic ingredient list usually represents a mixture of chemicals.
Benefits of strawberries
*Eating strawberries reduces LDL-cholesterol, might help protect against heart diseases, and might protect against some types of cancer.
*Great taste, low on calories, can help promote weight loss by boosting the production of two fat-burning hormones (leptin and adiponectin) and help suppress appetite
*Rich in nutrients, Vitamin C, fiber, potassium, antioxidants
*They are anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibiotic, strengthen our immune system
*Help with hydration as it contains mainly water, around 91%
*Slower rates of cognitive decline due to potassium content, which increase blood flow to the brain
*Anti-ageing effect thanks to Vitamin C
Can dogs eat strawberries?
They can, as they are a healthy, low-calorie, sweet treat. Most dogs will love them, especially during warm months. But all in moderation as they contain sugar, and eating too much can cause stomach upset. Strawberries are full of antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber and are high in water content. Strawberries contain malic acid, a tooth whitening enzyme that might help whiten your dog’s teeth ( and yours too).
The safest way is to wash strawberries thoroughly and cut them into small pieces to prevent choking and make them easier to digest. If you have a smaller dog, you can mash up the
strawberries and add them to the dog’s food. When cut up, frozen strawberries can make a nice summer treat. Other nice fruit treats are apples, blueberries, and bananas.
Bea xx