subscribe to newsletter
Strawberries
Gleaming red, with tiny hairs and a sweet, aromatic flavour – the strawberry. Do you like them too? And did you know that poets of every age have been inspired by them? The Roman poet Virgil described them small, sweet divine fruits, while the German writer Paul Zech was crazy for a strawberry-red mouth. You can learn more about the delicious berry in this article.
Neither fruit nor berry
Yes, you read that right. The strawberry, contrary to what many believe, is neither a berry nor a fruit. It is a member of the Rosaceae family and in botanical terms is correctly referred to as an aggregate fruit. There are many different varieties that differ in both appearance and flavour. The garden strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) is the most widespread and most frequently available in our shops. Although it originated as late as the mid-18th century, when the aromatic north American Virginia strawberry was crossed with the large-fruiting Chile strawberry, it is now the modern star in European gardens.
A vitamin bomb
The strawberry is 90 percent water and contains many healthy nutrients. Despite the high water-content, strawberries are bursting with vitamins and minerals. For example, they contain more vitamin C than oranges. They’re worth snacking on. Just 200 g of strawberries contain the average daily requirement of vitamin C, which your body needs for building bones and tissues – among other things. Vitamin C also boosts the immune system and, as an antioxidant, fights off free radicals in the body. What’s more, strawberries also contain folic acid, which is important for making new cells, and plays a very important role during pregnancy too. Other important nutrients in strawberries include potassium, which contributes to regulating blood pressure, as well as calcium and magnesium, which are important for bone strength.
Potential positive effects on the cardiovascular system
Strawberries are also known for their beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. A review of randomised controlled studies (RCTs) found that consuming strawberries may significantly reduce blood pressure. In addition, some animal and clinical studies have shown that consuming strawberries also reduces blood cholesterol and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disorders.
Good for the brain
An increasing number of studies indicates that eating strawberries regularly may also improve cognitive functions. In addition to animal studies, clinical studies have also demonstrated that consuming strawberries may result in improved working memory in older adults. What’s more, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties of strawberries may contribute to boosting brain health.
A healthy snack
Strawberries have many health benefits, of which some have already been scientifically proven, while others require further investigation. Consequently, there are good reasons for frequently eating strawberries as part of a balanced, nutritious diet. You can’t go wrong by snacking on strawberries, even between meals. Due to their high water-content, they are also low-calorie: they contain only 32 kcal per 100 grams!
Into the fields!
The strawberry season is now underway in Switzerland. The first Swiss strawberries can be harvested between early and mid-May. The high season is just around the corner, begins in June and goes on until the end of July. During this time, the shops are supplied with the popular berries almost every day. But, instead of buying these sweet fruits in the shops, you could also go into the fields and take the freshest of berries home with you. We’ll tell you where you can do this in the region.
Pick-your-own strawberries in the region
- Hünenberg (ZG): Buuregarte – the Boog family. The Boog family’s pick-your-own strawberry field is expected to reopen at the beginning of June. You can find more information and the berry field address here.
- Mettmenstetten (ZH): Sunnehof – the Stübi family. You can pick a great many fresh strawberries in the Sunnehofs’ strawberry field. You can find more information about strawberry picking here.
- Wauwil (LU): The whole family can pick fine strawberries in the Sandmatt in Wauwil. Learn more here.
- Zufikon (ZH): You can pick your own strawberries at Karlis Erdbeeren. You can find out here when this starts and exactly where you need to go.
- All of Switzerland: You can find all the pick-your-own opportunities in Switzerland on the website Selberpflücken (pick-your-own).
References
Smith, A. et al. (2012). Polyphenols in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) fruits and pomace: Antioxidant activity, contents and composition during fruit development. Food Chemistry, 132(1), 86-97.
AOK Gesundheitsmagazin (2020). Erdbeeren: Die gesunden Kräfte der roten Frucht. https://www.aok.de/pk/magazin/ernaehrung/obstgemuese/wie-gesund-sind-erdbeeren/
Devore, E. E. et al. (2012). Dietary intakes of berries and flavonoids in relation to cognitive decline. Annals of Neurology, 72(1), 135-143.
Erlund, I. et al. (2008). Favorable effects of berry consumption on platelet function, blood pressure, and HDL cholesterol. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 87(2), 323-331.
Giampieri, F., Tulipani, S., Alvarez-Suarez, J. M., Quiles, J. L., Mezzetti, B., & Battino, M. (2012). The strawberry: composition, nutritional quality, and impact on human health. Nutrition, 28(1), 9-19.
Kresty, L. A., & Mallery, S. R. (2016). Flavonoids in cancer prevention: a review of the evidence. Nutrition and cancer, 68(8), 1263-1292.
Müller, S. (2023). Erdbeeren: Eine Frucht, die gut für Körper und Seele ist. Zentrum der Gesundheit. https://www.zentrum-der-gesundheit.de/ernaehrung/lebensmittel/obst-fruechte/erdbeeren
