I don't know about you, but when I think of strawberries, I immediately think of springtime. These juicy and sweet red fruits are delicious on their own as a snack or blended up in a smoothie. They're even fantastic in deserts. Strawberries are naturally sweet, but sometimes they can have a slight bitterness to them.
Since strawberries do have a little bitterness, many people have posed the question:
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Are strawberries acidic?
Strawberries are acidic based on their pH rating. Strawberries tend to have a pH of 3 to 3.5. On the pH scale, a rating from 0 to 6.99 is considered acidic. The closer the number is to 0, the more acidic it is.
Where strawberries fall on this scale means they're about as acidic as soda! But don't worry, they're still much better for you than a can of soda.
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Is There a Way to Make Strawberries Less Acidic?
If you have acid reflux disease but absolutely love strawberries, there is a way you can eat them without causing a reaction. Pairing acidic strawberries with alkaline foods can help neutralize them. For example, if you're making a smoothie with strawberries, you can use unsweetened almond milk as your liquid.
Unsweetened almond milk is alkaline-forming when in your body. Mixing the two can prevent you from getting acid reflux while still enjoying the deliciousness of strawberries.
READ NEXT: 15 Alkaline Foods You Should Include In Your Diet
Are Strawberries Good For You?
You always hear people saying how important it is to eat your fruits and veggies. So yes, fruits are good for you in moderation, which means strawberries are too.
These fruits make a great snack for anyone of any age unless you have an allergy, of course. They're a very low-calorie food with only 54 calories per cup of sliced strawberries. Since they're low-calorie, it means you can eat quite a bit of them without feeling like you're eating a massive amount of calories.
For those who are on a fitness journey, strawberries are a great addition to your diet. In conjunction with having a few calories per serving, they have less than a gram of fat and no added sugar.
Strawberries are rich in vitamin C, iron, vitamin B-6, calcium, and magnesium. They're also rich in antioxidants which makes them beneficial for your heart health and keeping your blood sugar levels under control.
Heart disease is the most common killer throughout the world. Some studies have found an association between consuming strawberries and a healthy heart. In one study of older adults with risk factors for heart disease, strawberry consumption helped to improve blood pressure, good cholesterol, and the function of blood platelets.
When you eat carbs, your body begins to secret insulin. This tells your cells to get the sugar from your bloodstream and either store it or use it for fuel. When your blood sugar levels aren't regulated, it puts you at high risk for diabetes and obesity. Studies have shown that strawberries help slow down glucose digestion and can help prevent your blood sugar from spiking.
Due to the strawberries' ability to fight oxidative stress, they can help prevent tumor formation of the mouth and liver cells in humans. There are protective elements of strawberries that can help stop the growth of cancer cells when you eat them.
Although there are some studies that have proven strawberries to be beneficial in preventing certain cancers or tumors, more research needs to be done to understand the prevention properties of these fruits fully.
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If I Eat Strawberries, Will I Get Heartburn?
I hate to be the one to break this to you, but yes. Strawberries have been known to cause acid reflux and heartburn. If you're someone who regularly gets acid reflux when consuming acidic food or beverages, strawberries may not be the right fruit for you.
Now, if you're only eating one or two strawberries here or there, you may not experience any issues. For those who don't experience heartburn or acid reflux, you might not have an issue with eating them. But keep in mind that everyone's body is different, and how your body will react to the acidity of strawberries might be different than your neighbor's.
Strawberries Aren't Berries
Did you know that strawberries aren't actually berries? The name is misleading because these fruits are accessory fruits. If you're like me, you're probably wondering what on Earth an accessory fruit is. Berries all have seeds inside, and strawberries don't have seeds inside of them.
Instead of the fruit's flesh stemming from the fruit's ovaries, it stems from where the ovaries are found. When strawberries fully develop, the flesh merges to make one single strawberry. Strawberries are part of the rose family. If you see them growing anywhere, stop and smell them! They'll smell really fragrant and delicious.
If you want a fun fact to impress people at parties, even though strawberries aren't berries, avocados are part of the berry family.
RELATED: Are Blackberries Acidic? (Should You Eat Them?)
Where Are Strawberries Produced?
Strawberries are enjoyed all over the world. They grow in a variety of countries, but there are a few that take the lead in strawberry production. The United States comes in first place for strawberry production in the world. The U.S. produces over one million tons of strawberries annually.
In the United States, California is the state leading the pack in strawberry production. Many people assume that Florida produces the most strawberries here because they have a whole festival dedicated to it, but they don't.
The second world leader in strawberry production is Turkey, with about 300,000 tons a year. Spain falls into third place with about 260,000 tons of strawberries a year. Other countries that produce large quantities of strawberries include Egypt, Mexico, and Russia.
Don't know what to drink? Check out these articles: 20 Most and Least Acidic Juices and 20+ Alcoholic Drinks Ranked by Acidity Level
Even though the United States leads the world in strawberry production, they don't consume the most strawberries. China consumes the most strawberries in the world. They consume about 41%, whereas the United States consumes only 16%.
