Strawberry daiquiris, a healthier cocktail

WASHINGTON, April 20 (UPI) -- Strawberries are a good source of antioxidants, but serving them in daiquiri form may make them even healthier, say U.S. and Thai researchers.

Dr. Korakot Chanjirakul and colleagues at Kasetsart University in Thailand in collaboration with scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture tested the strawberries with ethanol.

The study, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, found that the treatment improved the physiology of the fruit as measured by several different laboratory tests for antioxidant activity.

Those not keen on strawberry daiquiris might be relieved to know that the scientists found similar results with blackberries, meaning that a blackberry-crowned champagne cocktail might achieve the same effect.

Strawberries contain polyphenols and anthocyanins linked to the prevention of diseases ranging from cancer to neurodegenerative disorders.