The You Docs Tip of the Day: Supercharge your health with this fruit

A sliced sweet, succulent strawberry is more than a perfect cereal topper, meal-ender, afternoon snack or treat to smother in dark chocolate. These little fruits have more powers than the whole cast of "Twilight" (but they use those powers for good). Here's what a few berries can do for you:

Fill you up without pudging you out. Check it out: Just 50 little calories in a whole cup (if you skip the chocolate).

Help you keep the beat. Strawberries help your heart by shaving down levels of C-reactive protein, an indicator of heart-hampering inflammation. These berries also might smack down the effects of lousy LDL cholesterol to give heart disease an extra boot. And they get a "best supporting actor" award for making oatmeal even healthier. Somehow, the vitamin C in the strawberries has a Chia Pet-like effect on compounds called phenols in the oats, causing their heart-helping powers to grow.

Stop cancer in its tracks. Certain compounds in strawberries, especially one called ellagic acid, may be able to block cancer at its starting point as well as keep tumors from progressing and spreading. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees here, but if you don't get cancer, you can thank those berries for helping.

Maintain your processing speed. Strawberries - like most other foods whose name ends in "berries" - are high in flavonoids, plant compounds that help shield cells from molecular damage, reducing the risk of needless brain aging.

Oh, and there's a whole different type of processing that these berries can boost. With 3 grams of fiber in every cup, they help keep your digestive system running smoother than a Mercedes.

And help the earth as you help your health: Buy local and organic (but still wash well) while these satisfying fruits are in peak season.

The You Docs - Mike Roizen and Mehmet Oz - are authors of the best-selling "You: Being Beautiful." To submit questions and for more info, go to www.RealAge.com.