Strawberries are one of the world’s most beloved fruits, boasting an abundance of antioxidants and essential nutrients that support overall wellbeing.
However, overfeeding guinea pigs can lead to various issues. That is why it is essential for them to receive small amounts of strawberries once or twice a week.
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Vitamin C
If your guinea pigs need extra Vitamin C in their diet, consider offering them strawberry plant leaves. These green leaves are highly nutritious and packed with essential vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for guinea pigs and helps them stay healthy by shielding their cells from damage. It also aids in absorption of iron from their diet as well as proper metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates.
Strawberries are an excellent source of polyphenols and flavonoids which have been linked to reduced cancer risks. Furthermore, their dietary fiber helps improve digestion and regulate blood sugar levels.
Antioxidants
Strawberry plant leaves contain antioxidants that may help prevent oxidative stress – an issue which has been linked to serious health conditions like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Strawberries contain antioxidants which help combat free radicals in the body, which are unstable molecules which can damage proteins, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and lipids. This is especially crucial for guinea pigs which are particularly prone to oxygen toxicity due to a lack of glutathione – an antioxidant.
Strawberries are an excellent source of antioxidants, especially vitamin C. Studies have also demonstrated that strawberries contain various other beneficial compounds like flavonoids and phenols.
Calcium
Calcium is an essential nutrient for strawberry plants. It helps create new cell walls and membranes, as well as providing stability to existing structures. Furthermore, calcium forms compounds and binding agents which reinforce your plants’ structure.
Calcium deficiencies in plants often manifest themselves much earlier than other macronutrient deficiencies. The first signs of the problem can often be seen in fruit and young leaves that transpire less water or none at all.
Leaf tip burn and puckering may indicate a calcium deficiency. In this disorder, the cell walls of a leaf become weaker at the start of tip growth, eventually leading to necrotic distal ends.
Tip burn can also affect the calyx of an emerging flower as well as the tips of fruits. This condition leads to wrinkled or shriveled leaves and fruits that don’t have their desired cosmetic quality.
Potassium
Strawberry plants absorb potassium, phosphorus and magnesium through their phloem. These essential minerals aid in photosynthesis and fruit development; deficiencies can cause reduced berry size/weight, decreased color/flavor intensity as well as lower yields.
Soil pH affects the availability of nutrients to strawberry plants. High acid soils restrict phosphorus availability, while a low pH makes it difficult for strawberries to absorb and use potassium.
Maintaining the soil pH between 5.5 and 7.5 is critical for healthy strawberry production. A reading of 6.5 or higher may cause issues due to excessive sodium in the soil.
Strawberry plants thrive best with a soil EC value of less than 1 dS/m. Soil EC values higher than 2 dS/m can be particularly toxic to their roots and lead to stunted growth and yield.
Tissue nutrient concentrations are affected by several factors, such as time of sampling and leaf age. They may also be affected by foliar applications, fertilizer residues, dust particles, and organic matter on the leaves.
