We’ve all been eating strawberries wrong, according to a one doctor who revealed the most nutritious way to consume the fruit.
Dr Karan Raj, known for debunking health myths and sharing hacks with his 5.3 million TikTok followers, revealed that the most nutritious way to enjoy strawberries is to eat them with their leaves.
He explained: “If you’re eating strawberries, eat the leaves as well. A strawberry top with the leaves is known as a calyx. It has a nutritional value on par with the berry itself.”
The leaf tops, he added, are brimming with antioxidants and almost as much vitamin C as the berry itself, not to mention magnesium and fibre.
However, his advice sparked questions from followers concerned about pesticides on the leaves and fruit.
For those worried about how to wash strawberries, chef and nutritionist Lisa Marley recommends using bicarbonate of soda for an extra thorough clean.
She said: “Washing with water alone can help remove some bacteria, but using a vinegar and bicarbonate of soda solution may be more effective at reducing the risk of E.coli contamination,”
She suggests soaking the fruit or veg in a litre of water with 150ml of white vinegar and 40g of bicarbonate of soda, stirring and rinsing thoroughly after five minutes.
So, have you been eating strawberries with leaves or did you just find out too?
Accoriding to WebMD, strawberries have a high levels of vitamin C and other antioxidants that can help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.
They also have a low glycemic index score and may help lower the post-meal increase in blood sugar.
Meanwhile, strawberries can help promote weight loss by increasing the production of fat-burning hormones.