Who doesn’t love strawberries? Strawberries are everyone’s favourite, be it a toddler or an old man. This berry provides us with several health benefits. Butis strawberry a fruit or a vegetable? Let’s find out.
Strawberries are a hybrid species which are grown and consumed worldwide. It can be consumed in its raw form or can even be made into jam, juice or ice creams. From eateries to cosmetics strawberry flavour is immensely popular. They are widely consumed around the globe.
Strawberries originated in France, where it was cross-bred between a plant from North America and Chile.
Strawberry- A miraculous gift of nature
Strawberries have been used since the time immemorial for medicinal and beautification purposes. They are also used to treat depression and anxiety. They are known to increase the serotonin levels in the human body, serotonin is the hormone that makes our mood happy.
Strawberries have this exceptional taste, some might be sweet and some might be sour. But their deep red colour and juicy taste makes it one of the most loved fruits of all time.
Strawberries are enriched with Vitamin C which is essential for growth, development and repairment of the tissues throughout the human body. They are an excellent source of manganese which is one the most important nutrients that helps in proper brain development and nervous system functioning. They contain a decent amount of vitamin b9 also known as folic acid which is very important for pregnant women as it enhances the human body’s capacity to convert food (carbohydrates) into energy (glucose). Other than these magnificent benefits, strawberries are a good source of antioxidants and potassium which helps maintain blood sugar levels.
These small heart shaped like goodies are perfect to be consumed at any time of the day be it breakfast, lunch, dinner or your midnight munchies. According to me, they make the perfect pair with some chocolate sauce. You can also use them in the form of various spreads, jams, and juices. There is a whole different section for strawberry flavoured ice creams, cakes and pies today.
Fruit and vegetable
To understand whether strawberries are a fruit or a vegetable let us first understand the difference between a fruit and a vegetable.
Fruits contain seeds. They come from the flowers of the plant. Fruits are mostly used for desserts, snacks or juices as they have a sweet and sour taste to them. The sweetness and sourness of the fruit varies from plant to plant.
Vegetables contain leaves, roots or stems. They can develop from the root of a plant like a potato. There are also leafy vegetables like spinach, coriander etc. Most of the vegetables come from the stem of a plant like broccoli, onion etc.
Strawberry is a berry?
We often confuse ourselves between fruits and berries. They are very different from each other, yet we categorise a lot of berries as fruits because we don’t know the difference between them. Berries come from a single ovary of an individual flower. They are plupy, fleshy fruits that have lots of seeds in them. Some examples of berries mistaken as fruits are bananas, grapes, tomatoes etc.
Strawberries are not classified as berries. However, cranberries and blueberries are only two true berries.
Strawberry- A Fruit
Strawberries are said to be a multiple fruit. Botanists and scientists even call it a ‘false fruit’. The outer fleshy red surface of the strawberries contains a lot of seeds which are embedded in its skin. They generally appear whitish-brown specs on the strawberries
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The seeds of strawberries are called achenes. They are enchired with fibre. It is scientifically proven that one and a half cups of strawberries supplies more fibre to the human body than a whole wheat bread. They are loaded with vitamin C.
Strawberries contain a lot of seeds called achenes. They come from the flower of the strawberry plant. They have a sweet and sour taste to them which depends from plant to plant. It is mostly used in desserts, juices, jams and flavourings. Strawberries fits into every condition to be called a fruit. Therefore, strawberries are classified as fruits.
These little power packed, heart-shaped fruits are quite undeniably one of the best and most loved fruits of all time. Since strawberries are a by-product of crossbreeding, they adapt to almost all climatic conditions and hence are cultivated worldwide. They are a good source of vitamins, fibre and some essential nutrients. They can be consumed raw. Today , most of the kids love strawberry jams. Strawberry juice is personally my favourite and my go-to drink at any time of the day. Most of the bakeries have a whole section of their menu devoted to strawberry items, now they may be strawberry cakes, puddings, pastries or even pies. They are available almost throughout the year in the local markets. Never take your health for granted, always go for healthy eating options. Replace that junk in your freezer with some fresh fruits like strawberry.
