#ygkChallenge: Eat Strawberries!

Welcome to Kingstonist’s weekly challenge, dare, resolution or whatever you prefer to call it. Each week we establish a new and ambitious community goal, encouraging our readers, followers, friends and families to step out of their comfort zones and do something great, and hopefully a little out of the ordinary. Consider this your official and personal invitation to join us in completing a small but meaningful achievement. By taking part in this community-wide initiative, we hope to make Kingston a slightly better place to live, work and play. And of course, we also hope that you will feel proud of your contribution and achievement.

This week’s challenge encourages you to:

Eat Strawberries!  As we approach the tail end of strawberry season in Ontario, I challenge you to include more strawberries in your diet. This vibrant, fragrant fruit is high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C, folate, and potassium. One serving contains approximately 50mg of vitamin C, which is half of your daily requirement. Strawberries are beneficial for reducing inflammation, boosting your immune system, may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and may have protective effects on the brain. An in vitro study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2006 found that strawberry extracts slowed the growth of colon and breast cancer cells. In addition, due to their high fiber content strawberries are beneficial, in moderation, to those with type II Diabetes as the fiber slows the absorption of glucose in the blood. Furthermore, the Harvard School of Public Health examined the association of diets high in flavonoids such as anthocyanins (plant metabolites found in abundance in berries) and the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. They found that those who consumed the most flavonoids reduced their risk by 40%. This month, fill up on strawberries and enjoy all the benefits they have to offer!

Sign up and commit to completing this week’s challenge by commenting below with an “I’m in“, “challenge accepted“, “en garde” or something along those lines. Further, help us spread the word via Twitter and Facebook by using the hashtag: #ygkchallenge. As you work towards completing this week’s task, please feel free to lend others a helping hand by providing tips on how you achieved success.

Thanks to Capt Piper for today’s photo.