"Spent 30,000 Won on a Box at the Mart... Changes in the Body After 8 Weeks of Eating Strawberries"

Daily 26 g for 8 Weeks
Improved Health Indicators in Older Adults

A study has found that consuming the equivalent of two cups of strawberries a day may help improve cognitive function, blood pressure, and antioxidant capacity in older adults.

Strawberries are displayed at a large supermarket in Seoul on the 4th as winter seasonal fruits, strawberries and tangerines, see rising prices due to climate change and supply instability. Yonhap News

Recently, a research team at San Diego State University in the United States reported in the international journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases that, in a clinical trial where older adults consumed 26 g of freeze-dried strawberry powder daily for eight weeks, there were improvements in cognitive processing speed and reductions in systolic blood pressure.

The researchers conducted the clinical trial to examine how strawberry intake affects cognitive function and cardiovascular health. They enrolled 35 healthy older adults with an average age of 72 and had them consume, for eight weeks each, freeze-dried strawberry powder equivalent to two cups of fresh strawberries (26 g per day) and a control powder without strawberry components, with a four-week washout period between the two intake phases.

Cognitive function was assessed using standardized test tools, and cardiovascular-related indicators such as blood pressure, waist circumference, blood triglyceride levels, and antioxidant capacity were also measured.

The results showed that cognitive processing speed improved during the period when participants consumed strawberries. The ability to recall personal experiences also tended to improve during the period when they consumed the control powder.

Regarding cardiovascular indicators, systolic blood pressure decreased after strawberry intake, and there was also a tendency for waist circumference to be reduced. Blood triglyceride levels increased in the control group but did not increase during the strawberry intake period. In addition, overall antioxidant capacity in the body decreased in the control group, whereas it increased during the strawberry intake period.

The research team stated, "Daily intake of 26 g of freeze-dried strawberries improved cognitive processing speed, lowered systolic blood pressure, and enhanced antioxidant capacity," adding, "These effects may contribute to promoting cognitive function and improving cardiovascular risk factors."

Strawberries are a popular fruit in winter. In particular, Korean strawberries, known for their firm flesh and high sugar content, are gaining popularity overseas as well. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, strawberry exports totaled 72 million dollars last year, up 4.0% from the previous year.

However, prices have risen sharply due to factors such as climate change and supply instability. According to the Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation, as of February 13, the price of grade “product” strawberries (2 kg) was 32,098 won, which is 10.3% higher than the average price in the same month a year earlier (29,101 won).