Vitamin C and Strawberries

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant found in foods such as strawberries, oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes and potatoes.

Antioxidants are compounds that protect the body against the damaging effects of "free radicals", natural by-products of metabolism. Free radicals are formed when oxygen is metabolized, or burned by the body. The damage caused by free radicals may contribute to aging and other health problems.

Diets high in vitamin C from fruits and vegetables are associated with maintaining a healthy body and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. However, it seems that vitamin C, taken as a supplement, doesn't have the same effect. It's possible that some of the beneficial effects of vitamin C in fruits and vegetables may be due to an interaction between the vitamin C and other compounds. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C. In fact, 8 medium strawberries provide 84 milligrams of vitamin C or 93 percent of the recommended daily intake. That's more vitamin C than one medium orange, which contains 74 milligrams of vitamin C.

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