Why a handful of strawberries can leave you in the pink

Wimbledon fans might be looking forward to their strawberries and cream - but they would be better off snacking on Scottish raspberries.

Experts say they can combat all of summers ills, reversing the damaging effects of sunburn, preventing colds and even easing hayfever.

And raspberries are one of the top anti cancer foods, as they contain nutrients, which can not only prevent cancer, but help reverse it once it starts. The fruits are a godsend for dieters with only 122 calories per punnet - half the number of a small chocolate bar.
Atkins diet followers, notmally barred from fruit, are allowed raspberries because of their low carbohydrate content.

But although sales of raspberries are booming only 22,000 tons were sold in the UK last year compared to more than 30,000 tons of strawberries.

leading health Nutritionist Patrick Holford, founder of the Institute for Optimum nutrition, says we often underestimate the power of the raspberry.

He added "If you want to stay in shape and look food with an action packed summer, snack on a handful of raspberries a day, eaten on their own, with yoghurt or even as a natural sweetener on cereal or in a cocktail."

And he says sunbathers can keep off the wrinkles by eating a few raspberries before they go out.

The berries also help beat hay fever as they contain a natural anti-histamine, quercetin that combats allergic reactions to pollen.

Quercetin also helps improve the appearance of the skin, fighting bruiss, varicose veins, fragile capillaries and oedema. it has also been found to prevent of slow the growth of prostate cancer cells.

Other constituents of raspberries are effective in slowing or reversing cervical, oesophageal and mouth cancers. And there is more vitamin C in five raspberries tha there is in an orange - so they help to prevent colds and infections, as well as boosting production of collage, the glue between skin cells that creates healthy and firm skin.

A spokesman for the industry group British Summer Fruit said "We believe raspberries are the unsung health food of the century.

"Scottish raspberries are among the best in the world and contain an absolute wealth of goodness to maintain health and prevent illness."

June 28th 2004