Strawberries are sweet, soft, bright red fruits. They are delicious and have tiny edible seeds. We can see seeds all over the surface. Also, there are attractive white flowers. They are eaten raw and used to make jam, juice, ice cream, and various products. Not only it but also strawberries used for medicinal purposes. When considering fruits, there are various types such as berries, citrus fruits, melons, and tropical fruits. According to these types, there is some confusion among people about the type of strawberries. Is strawberry a citrus fruit? Let’s find out.
Citrus fruits
It is very good to know about citrus fruits first and then you can easily understand the type of strawberries.
Citrus fruits belong to the Rutaceae family, also known as rue, and the genus Citrus. The Citrus genus is made up of a group of trees that grow predominantly in warm, subtropical climates around the world, with the exception of the pomelo, which grows in the tropics.
A hesperidium is an acidic, fleshy berry produced by all of these trees. Hesperidia have waxy outer skins with oil glands and a spongy white sublayer. This rind is the exterior skin. There are self-contained portions inside the fruit that are covered in thin skin. Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C and, thanks to their thick rinds, store well.
Lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit are examples of citrus fruits.
Strawberry
Strawberries, like garden roses, are members of the Rosaceae family and belong to the Fragaria genus. Strawberry seeds are retained on the surface of achene, the fruit of the strawberry. It’s an aggregation fruit. It means it’s made up of a lot of ovaries. Runners, rather than seeds, are used to promote garden strawberry types. Strawberries, like citrus fruits, are high in vitamin C.
Strawberries have a wide range of flavors depending on how ripe they are, the variety, and how they are farmed. It is delicious, sweet, and juicy, with a hint of acidity. strawberries in season and at optimal maturity are fruity, sweet, and juicy. When you bite into one of these large and juicy red berries, your mouth will be filled with a delightful burst.
Is strawberry a citrus fruit?
Now you have a clear idea about citrus fruits and strawberries. They have an acidic flavor, so they’re often mistaken for citrus fruits. Also, they are acidic and contain a high percentage of citric acid, which is responsible for their acidity. There are also malic acid and ellagic acid. However, strawberries are not a citrus fruit.
They are creeping groundcovers and do not grow on trees. Strawberries are also achene. It is not a hesperidium. Also, when compared to citruses, which are members of the Rutaceae family, strawberry belongs to the Rosaceae botanical family as I have mentioned before.
Another reason is the flavor profile of strawberry that it can’t be considered as citrus fruit. Because they have a sweet flavor profile and low acidity, they are not classified as citrus fruits.
Strawberries have a low sugar content when unripe, usually around 5%, but are quite acidic. The sugar content increases to around 9% as the fruit ripens, but the acidity decreases, resulting in a sweet flavor. Citric acid accounts for about 88% of the acidity.
According to the above factors, we can conclude that strawberries are not a citrus fruit.
Other example fruits in the Rosaceae family are peach, apple, cherry, pear, raspberry, blackberry, and apricot.
Is strawberry a berry?
This is also another confusion about strawberries among people like “Is strawberry a citrus fruit?” Strawberries are not botanically classified as berries. This is due to the fact that the botanical and common-use definitions of berries differ. This is a multi-fruit that is made up of many small individual fruits that are all embedded in a fleshy receptacle.
Cucumbers, bananas, eggplants, tomatoes, avocado, and chili peppers are included in the botanical definition of berries, while plants like strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are not.
Benefits of strawberries
When considering factors such as “Is strawberry a citrus fruit?” It is important to know about the benefits of this fruit. So, here you can get knowledge about the five main benefits of strawberries.
Blood sugar regulation
Blood sugar imbalances and high-sugar diets are linked to an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Strawberries appear to slow glucose digestion and minimize glucose and insulin rises after a carb-rich meal. As a result, strawberries may be especially beneficial in the prevention of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Heart health
Berry eating is linked to a decreased risk of heart-related deaths. Berries may enhance HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood platelet function.
Also, strawberries may improve vascular function and improve blood antioxidant status. Not only these but also reduce inflammation, and reduce the oxidation of bad LDL cholesterol.
Prevent cancer
Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are frequently connected to the development and progression of cancer. Berry’s capacity to resist oxidative stress and inflammation has been linked to the prevention of cancer in a number of studies. In animals with mouth cancer and human liver cancer cells, strawberries have been proven to suppress tumor development.
Strawberry’s anti-cancer properties may be attributed to ellagic acid and ellagitannins, which have been found to inhibit cancer cell growth. However, more research is needed for cancer prevention.
Boost immunity
There is vitamin C in strawberries. Vitamin C is a well-known immunity enhancer and a powerful, quick-acting antioxidant.
Maintain healthy vision
Strawberry’s antioxidant capabilities may also aid to prevent cataracts, a clouding of the eye lens that can lead to blindness as people get older.
Vitamin C is needed to protect our eyes from free radicals produced by the sun’s strong UV rays, which can damage the protein in the lens. Vitamin C also aids in the protection of the retina and the cornea of the eye.
Conclusion
Is strawberry a citrus fruit? Now you know the correct answer to this question. In this article, I have mentioned reasons for that. Also, there are some main benefits of strawberries and I hope this article may be very valuable for your knowledge.
When considering confusions like this, there are many other questions related to foods among people. Let’s find them with correct answers. So, stay with us to know those things and consider following us on Facebook and Instagram.
