The Amazing Strawberry; Benefits of this heart-shaped fruit

a fun and informative blog about aromatherapy, alternative medicine & the healing arts, beauty, & the mind-body-spirit

The Amazing Strawberry; Benefits of this heart-shaped fruit

April 11, 2011

Written by Candice Collins

One of the most beautiful fruits in nature’s bounty is the strawberry. Its ruby red color and heart-shape give us clues as to how it may help benefit our health too. Yup, you guessed it; the heart. But not only the heart, your skin can benefit too. Read on for more about the wonders and benefits of the amazing strawberry…

Strawberries peak season is April-July, but they are readily available all year in most places.

Strawberries don’t keep fresh for long (maybe a few days, but can be frozen for longer storage. While strawberries can be frozen whole, cut or crushed, they will retain a higher level of their vitamin C content if left whole.

Antioxidant Protection from Phenols-

Strawberries have very potent antioxidants that have repeatedly been shown to help protect cell structures in the body and to prevent oxygen damage in all of the body’s organ systems.

So that means they are a heart protective, anti-inflammatory, and an anti-cancer fruit all in one.

Nutrients of Strawberries

Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese. They are also a very good source of dietary fiber and iodine. Plus, strawberries are a good source of potassium, folate, vitamin B2, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, copper, and vitamin K.

Strawberries also contain an array of beneficial phytonutrients, including flavonoids, anthocyanidins and ellagic acid.

For an in-depth nutritional profile click here: Strawberries.

RealAge.com wrote this very interesting piece about eating strawberries after a fattening meal to help reduce oxidized LDL spikes in the blood

and lowering LDL cholesterol (the bad one)….

Check it out:

Next time you load your plate with mac and cheese and eat the whole thing, here’s what you should do next: Grab a couple of handfuls of strawberries.

High-calorie, fatty meals cause artery-damaging blood fats to spike temporarily. But in a recent study, people who followed a high-fat meal with a test beverage of pureed strawberries had a much smaller hike.

Blood-Fat Attack
Specifically, the strawberry concoction seemed to minimize oxidized LDL cholesterol — a dangerous, unstable kind of cholesterol that likes to chew up the lining of people’s arteries. And if that sounds bad, it is. Because an artery wall injured by oxidized LDL makes the perfect place for an arterial plaque to adhere and start growing. Regular exercise and an overall healthful diet are two good ways to help prevent that from happening. But if you have a dietary slip, perhaps a strawberry chaser isn’t a bad idea. Just two-thirds of a cup of strawberries reduced oxidized LDL spikes by 115 percent in the study. (Are your blood fat levels in need of attention? Take this self-assessment to find out.)

Super Strawberries
The study involved middle-aged people with high cholesterol, people who should be particularly concerned about the impact their diets have on their heart health. Researchers think that the polyphenols in the strawberries were probably responsible for dampening the oxidized LDL spike that normally happens after big, heavy meals. Other research has shown that polyphenols help inhibit LDL oxidation. And polyphenols, found in berries, teas, and chocolate, are generally considered heart healthy. So, regardless of your heart’s status, you’ll want to get more of them into your diet and not just use them as penance for bad meals. (Check out this gallery of 12 different ways to lower your cholesterol naturally without medication.)

Make your blood vessels healthier right now by watching a funny video. Here’s how laughter helps.

STRAWBERRIES for your SKIN!!! (from; thehealthprotector.net)

Quickest strawberry scrub

This most simple and quickest scrub will leave your skin healthy and glowing. For this remedy you just need to cut a strawberry and rub on your face for at least fifteen minutes. Leave it to get dry and then rinse it off with plain water. You can leave the pulp on your face for your entire night and then wash it off in the morning. This will clean away all dead cells from the skin and leave your skin smooth and soft.

Strawberry cleanser

Strawberry cleanser is very easy to prepare. Extract some juice of strawberry and mix it well with few drops of rose water. Spread the mixture with the help of cotton. While you spread the mixture try to even rub the skin. You will notice all the dirt on your cotton ball. Once you have cleaned the skin just rinse it off with cold water.

Mask with cream

Blend half cup of strawberries with one tablespoon of sour cream. Mix the mixture well and apply on your skin. Rest the application on your skin for twenty minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water. The strawberry in the mixture will help to tighten and soothe your skin while, the cream eliminates out all the dirt and dead cells from the skin. This remedy also moistens your skin.

Strawberry, cream, and honey

It won’t surprise me if you get tempted to eat this awesome mask recipe. The combination of ingredients are so amazing that it will surely turn into a favorite delicious recipe. But this is a cleanser mask, try to control yourself (or make extra and eat some while you’re waiting for your mask to dry…ha lol!. To make this mask; combine some fresh, juicy strawberries with fresh cream and add one teaspoon of honey. Now spread this mixture on your face and let it get dry. Gently wash the face and you will notice beautiful and soft skin. (did you save some to eat too?)

Scrub for foot

Summers, winters, or rainy days, our feet need extra care as our feet are mostly over used and under appreciated. Usually due to climatic conditions, poor eating habits, excessive traveling, and wearing high heeled sandals can cause damage to our feet. But we have got a simple foot scrub for our legs and feet that will keep them soft and supple. Mix approx seven to eight strawberries with two tablespoons of olive oil and one teaspoon of kosher salt. Blend this mixture into a paste. Massage your feet with this paste for at least twenty to thirty minutes. Then rinse it off with warm water and dry your feet. Walla! soft, supple tootsies!

Swollen eyes

Late night parties, late night office, or lack of sleep leads to swollen eyes. Swollen eyes cause lots of irritation near the eyes. So, whenever you have big, red, swollen eyes, just keep a slice of strawberry under them. Keep the strawberry slices in place for about ten minutes. After ten minutes remove the slices and rinse with cold water, then apply any moisturizer or your regular routine. It will help in soothing your eye sight, and the swelling.

Good on acne

Numerous women and teenagers have tried many solutions to get rid of acne. But this simple solution has worked very effectively on many. Mix one-half cup of strawberries with one tablespoon of sour cream and add few drops of rose water. Pound this mixture very well to make a paste, and apply it to your skin. Let the mixture stay on your skin for about ten minutes. Wash your face after ten minutes with warm water and see the beautiful change.

Mask for oily skin

Combine equal parts of fresh strawberries with plain yogurt. Mash the entire mixture well and spread it on your face. Clean the mixture after ten minutes and experience the soft skin. (you may want to make enough to have some to eat while you’re waiting for your mask to work as it’s a great breakfast, or snack and does wonders for your skin by eating the fruit too!)

So many miracles can be done by such a small fruit. Fruits have huge power to revitalize your skin and your health. Definitely, increase your intake of all fruits, but remeber to include the luscious strawberry, as it aids our bodies, minds and even our spirits too…Even trying a few or all of these simple recipes, and remedies will be very beneficial to you inside and out.

Oh and for some sweetness for your eyes (instead of the strawberry sweetness for your skin) see this fabulous post at Whateverudo blog;

The Most Beautiful Men in the World

http://whateverudo.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/the-most-beautiful-men-in-the-world/

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Comments on: "The Amazing Strawberry; Benefits of this heart-shaped fruit" (2)

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