Now you can eat your strawberry shortcake and know it's good for you, too. Strawberries and other fruits and berries contain anthocyanins, a natural reddish pigment belonging to a group of well-known compounds called flavonoids.
Flavonoids also are present in vegetables, nuts and seeds.
Anthocyanins are water-soluble and are found in strawberries, cherries, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, grapes and black currants. They may account for some of the beneficial effects of consuming fruits and vegetables. Research has shown that anthocyanins play an important role in preventing heart disease. Specifically, anthocyanins include antioxidants. Oxidation of lipoproteins contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, the disease process that leads to heart attacks and strokes.