Too often we complain about things going up up and up in price, but I don’t know if it’s the same where you live but strawberries are crazy inexpensive with us in Perth right now. Which means I keep on buying packs of them, and getting ever more inventive with them, and I’m going to end up looking like a strawberry if I’m not careful.
So when naturopath Karina Francois approached me with some ideas about why Strawberries are great for us and what they can do for us, I quickly came up with a few extra questions for her which she’s kindly answered below.
Without further ado … and thank you Karina for the following tips and hints …
Why use strawberries as part of your health and beauty regime?
Q: In what ways can strawberries improve skin tone and complexion?
Strawberries are great because they contain plenty of amino acids, glucose, citric acid, pectin, carotene, vitamin B complex, nicotinic acid and mineral substances – all of which are useful in helping to improve your skin tone and complexion.
Strawberries are also full of naturally occurring acid (known as tartaric acid), vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help strengthen skin elasticity and protect the skin from sun damage as well as helping to keep the skin soft.
Q: Can you comment on strawberries and their benefits regarding protection from UV sun damage?
Strawberries are best known for their vibrant red colour – and this is because they’re full of anthocyanins. It’s this pigmentation, as well as the antioxidants in the fruit, that can help protect skin from sun damage.
Q: What about strawberries and teeth whitening? How does it work?
Strawberries contain malic acid which acts as an astringent to remove surface discolouration on your teeth created by food or tea and coffee.
Simply use one strawberry and ½ a tablespoon of baking soda. Make a paste by crushing them together. Apply to your teeth and leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse and then brush with a toothbrush.
Q: How can strawberries help puffy eyes and what should we do?
Strawberries have an alpha-hydroxy that helps our skin look young and smooth. Simply place the strawberries in the fridge for half an hour. Remove the tops and slice into thick slices. Place slices over your eyes. Make sure you take before and after photos! Notice the improvement!
Q: How can we use strawberries as a foot scrub?
If you want to rejuvenate and soften tired feet… Add 10 strawberries to 1tsp of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of pink sea salt, mix well. Soak feet in warm water. Apply scrub and rub thoroughly. Remove and dry feet. You can add a drop of peppermint oil for further relaxation.
Q: What other ways can we incorporate strawberries into our diet, besides in desserts or in smoothies?
Strawberries taste amazing in salads. You can also add strawberries to almond meal pancakes or cereals. Strawberries bring out the flavours of chicken and fish dishes or made into a salsa with tomato and avocado.
Q: Can Strawberries be effective in sustainable weight loss, and do you have any tips?
Strawberries contain 92% water and a whole punnet has only 7% sugar. They are a low GI food that satisfies sugar cravings and is packed with amazing nutrients. They can be incorporated into any weight loss programme as they taste sweet and fill up the tummy without packing on the calories.
Add them to smoothies, salads, on chicken or fish or just have them as a snack with a couple of almonds. Watch your sugar cravings disappear ☺
About Karina Francois
Karina Francois has over 14 years experience as a naturopath, with extensive knowledge, studies and clinical experience. Karina is also associated with The Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association. She has experience as a …
- Naturopath
- Leading Health Expert
- International Author
- Speaker
- Holds Nutrition workshops
- Windermere Nutrition Consultant for children with special needs
- She’s also Weight Loss consultant
Karina believes that our health is an infinite relationship with our bodies and also an infinite search for ways to enhance the gift of life that we are so grateful to have been given.
About Clean Food Clear Thinking
Karina’s book “Clean Food, Clear Thinking” is an empowering, yet straightforward guide to achieving optimum health through nutrition, and a change of mindset. Going beyond mere facts about healthy and unhealthy foods and recipes, the book educates the reader on the basics required for health and weight-loss, as well as developing an understanding of the role mindset plays in forming dietary habits.
Click on the book icon and you can read more about it on Amazon below …
Disclaimer: This post includes an affiliate link and I stand to earn a small commission if you purchase the book (at no cost to you). As with all posts regarding health and diet on Lifestyle Fifty, this post is meant in good faith to inspire and be helpful. I urge you not to suddenly start eating something or using it as a beauty product just because we write about it here. Everyone is different and this advice may not suit you. Your own medical practitioner, dentist or health specialist is the person to ask for advice relating to your own specific health and diet requirements.
Has anyone reading got any more great tips about how or why they use strawberries for health or beauty?
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You are right about strawberries being inexpensive right now. I walked into Coles a couple of days ago and I kid you not it was wall to wall strawberries – there was hardly room for anything else.
Haha Lyn, I know. I was beginning to think maybe it was just my nearby Coles – but they were everywhere!
I never knew all these fantastic features of strawberries. I absolutely adore them and look forward to them being in season. They are also extremely cheap at present so I’ve been devouring punnets of them. 🙂
Such a super food, hey Kathy. In more ways than one 🙂
I never knew you could do so much with strawberries on the “outside” of your body… But I think I would still rather eat them! We used to have a pick-your-own strawberry place just on the south side of town. Sadly it’s gone now.
I wish there were more pick your own strawberry farms in the region Jill. Yes, I would rather eat them too but I was intrigued to find out there are so many things to do with them 🙂