The word prescription has become synonymous with medications that can only be prescribed by a licensed physician In 2014, Im going to do my part to reinvent the use of this word Beginning today and continuing onward for each month of 2014, Im going to prescribe a natural practice that may very well transform your current state of health for the better The more prescriptions you adopt, the more your wellness is likely to improve

The latest volume of Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition describes the potential of the common strawberry to modify risk factors relating to diabetes, heart disease and more The publication explains that strawberries are a rich source of antioxidant phyto- or plant- chemicals, such as anthocyanins, catechins, ellagic acid and quercetin, which affect various biomarkers or pathways related to chronic disease The review primarily cites population studies that draw an inverse association between strawberry consumption and elevated blood sugar, hypertension and systemic inflammation The closing comment in the review makes a plea for further research to define the optimal dose and duration of strawberry intake needed to afford such health benefits Thankfully, a few recently published papers address this very issue

In December, a one month study presented in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry revealed that eating 500 grams of strawberries about 2 cups daily lowered LDL bad cholesterol by 1372%, triglycerides by 208% and significantly decreased markers of oxidative stress isoprostanes -2790%, serum malondialdehyde -3140% and urinary 8-OHdG -2967% In addition, a reduction in the number of activated platelets was noted and suggests a circulatory benefit Whats also of interest about this particular study is that it was carried out in a group of already healthy volunteers In real world terms this indicates that frequent strawberry use may be useful as a preventive measure against heart disease A separate study involving type 2 diabetics, which utilized a freeze-dried strawberry extract 50 grams/day, equivalent to 500 grams of fresh strawberries, was also published at the end of 2013 The 6 week trial determined that the freeze-dried strawberry powder effectively lowered a long term measure of blood sugar HbA1c, C-reactive protein an inflammatory marker and oxidized LDL cholesterol a risk factor for atherosclerosis This is of particular interest for anyone concerned about fruit, even low glycemic fruits like berries, causing unwelcome elevations in blood sugar

Before adopting my strawberry prescription, please be aware that conventionally grown strawberries often harbor a wide array of pesticide residues This is why I suggest buying organic An added bonus is that organically grown strawberries tend to be higher in antioxidants Finally, if you need one more reason to include more strawberries in your daily diet, consider this: Breaking research from the US Department of Agriculture and the University of California, Davis has found that regularly eating strawberries can support immune function in overweight individuals who are at a higher risk for infection Specifically, dietary strawberries increase the immunological response of T-lymphocytes and monocytes This is all the more reason to keep these delicious, red berries stocked in your refrigerator year round