Freeze-Dried Strawberry Powder May Help Improve Cholesterol Levels

Strawberries are rich in vitamin C and antioxidant compounds such as polyphenols. Supplementation with 13 grams of freeze-dried strawberry powder was found to help improve cholesterol levels in a recent study.

Twenty overweight adults with an average age of 50 participated in the study. They were given 13 grams of freeze-dried strawberry powder, 40 grams of freeze-dried strawberry powder, or a placebo daily for 4 weeks. Participants switched interventions following a 2-week washout period. Cholesterol levels were evaluated at baseline and at the end of each supplementation period.

Participants saw a 4.9% reduction in LDL cholesterol during the 13-gram supplementation period. They also saw a 2.8% reduction in total cholesterol during the 13-gram supplementation period.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Arizona. It was published online ahead of print on February 23, 2022 in the Journal of the American Nutrition Association.

Walnuts were found to help improve cholesterol levels in a previous study.