Strawberries: All About the Sweet Strawberry

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Fun Strawberry Facts

Do you love fat, juicy strawberries? You're not the only one! The strawberry is the most popular berry in the world, though technically it's not a berry. In fact, it's not even a fruit! It's actually an enlarged receptacle of a flower. The real fruits are those little seed-like things embedded in the strawberry. But referring to a strawberry as an "enlarged receptacle" sounds a little weird, so we'll just stick to calling it a berry.

Strawberry Health Benefits

Strawberry Vitamins, Strawberry Benefits, Strawberry Goodness!

Strawberries don't just taste good--they're good for you! Strawberries are full of Vitamin C, manganese, potassium, and fiber. Eating strawberries every day can reduce your risk for cancer and heart disease.

Strawberries contain a phytonutrient called quercetin. This quercetin stuff inhibits the growth of cancerous cells. The quercetin bonds with damaged cells, preventing them from replicating themselves and causing damage to the body.

People who eat strawberries are also more likely to have healthy lifestyles, or at least that's what researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health concluded. Of the 27,000 women who participated in their study, they found that the women who ate at plenty of strawberries were usually physically active, didn't smoke, and had lower levels of "bad" cholesterol.

This doesn't mean that eating strawberries every week is going to radically change your life. However, it's not a bad way to start!

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How Strawberries Got Their Name

We don't actually know the true origin of the word "strawberry," but the most official explanation is that it evolved from the Anglo-Saxon word "Streabergen" that was in use during the 18th century. It means "to spread." It sounds plausible, since strawberries really do look as though they're strewn about when they're growing.

There is a myth that claims strawberries got their name when children in the 19th century collected and strung them on grass straws. Possible, but not probable.

Strawberry Pictures from Flickr

Pictures of Strawberries

Here's a collection of strawberry pictures from Flickr. Many of them are just plain nice pictures, but a few of them are bizarre. One strawberry has a face, one has a bunch of green growths, and one has "hairy mold."

Strawberry and Champagne - Day 246 by Velo Steve
Strawberries by *clairity*
Strawberry by Jeff Kubina
strawberry iii by {eclaire}
Strawberry by sigusr0
Strawberry Heart by *saxon*
Mouldy strawberry by goosmurf
strawberry macro by grendelkhan
The most amazing strawberry ever! by ianw
Strawberry Cake by jetalone
Fresh Strawberries by jon gos
curated content from Flickr

How to Eat Strawberries


  • By themselves: Simply rinse them off and enjoy them on their own. If they're sufficiently fresh, juicy, and flavorful, they are the perfect treat!

  • With cream: Chopped strawberries in a bowl of cream or half-and-half is simply decadent.

  • With chocolate: Strawberries covered in chocolate, mmm.

  • As a sauce: Boil them with sugar to create your own strawberry sauce to dribble on ice cream or something equally bad for you.

  • As a smoothie: Blend some strawberries with ice cream or plain yogurt and ice to create a refreshing strawberry smoothie.

  • In shortcake: Make strawberry shortcake! A classic indeed.

Strawberry Binder for Recipes

Stuffed Strawberries

This video will show you how to make your very own stuffed strawberries. It's like eating strawberry cheesecake!
Stuffed Strawberries
by PrincessDiana161 | video info

977 ratings | 209,772 views
curated content from YouTube

Luscious Strawberries

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Share your thoughts about strawberries!

  • Comfortdoc Jul 1, 2011 @ 11:47 pm | delete
    Off to melt some chocolate to drizzle over strawberries.
  • prosperity66 Feb 8, 2010 @ 12:54 pm | delete
    I love strawberries! I grow them in the garden, on the terrace, and this season I'm going to grow them indoors!
    Dom.
  • andrea Sep 23, 2009 @ 2:33 pm | delete
    i like to put strawberries in sugar and eat them. they are so good
  • Arizona Julie Mar 2, 2009 @ 3:47 pm | delete
    I've started blending a good size handful of frozen strawberries, mangoes, banana and a couple T. of crushed pineapple in a blender with about a cup or so of purified water. This drink is so delicious and healthy tha I am now hooked on them and make one everyday. My question is this:
    Should I be concerned about all of those little strawberry seeds collecting and causing problems somewhere in my body and possibly getting something like diverticulitis???? ...or do they just, you know, pass???
  • BigGirlBlue Sep 13, 2008 @ 1:11 am | delete
    I always add frozen strawberries to my blended drinks.
  • dc64 Sep 8, 2008 @ 10:33 pm | delete
    A great tribute to my favorite fruit! The perfect day includes strawberries, chocolate, coffee, and the perfect man. I've experienced three of these...guess which three!
  • Judi Jun 27, 2008 @ 8:20 pm | delete
    Strawberries are terrific, especially in Ontario, Canada!!

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