Strawberries are at their peak now and will remain so through July. In addition to being an appealing valentine-shaped fruit that you can eat fresh or in pies and desserts, strawberries are good for you in special ways.
In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) terms, strawberries are cooling in nature which make them the perfect summer food. They are good if you have a dry cough or sore throat. Strawberries lubricate the lungs, promote production of body fluids, strengthen spleen, and, for those regrettable evenings, detoxify alcohol intoxication.
Eat strawberries at room temperature. Like other foods that are rich in vitamin C, strawberries enhance the absorption of iron from foods and having enough iron is important for nourishing your blood.
Strawberries are touted to have other healthy properties including anti-inflammatory properties which makes them useful in the fight against rheumatoid arthritis. One study has linked strawberry consumption to lower cancer rates in the elderly and other reports remind us that strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, manganese, dietary fiber,iodine, potassium, folate, vitamin B2, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, copper, and vitamin K.
Jennifer Dubowsky, LAc, is a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in downtown Chicago, Illinois, since 2002. Dubowsky earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from University of Illinois in Chicago and her Master of Science degree in Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Boulder, Colorado. During her studies, she completed an internship at the Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital in Beijing, China. Dubowsky has researched and written articles on Chinese medicine and has given talks on the topic. She maintains a popular blog about health and Chinese medicine at Acupuncture Blog Chicago. Adventures in Chinese Medicine is her first book. You can find her at www.tcm007.com.
