How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

A ruby red strawberry will simply burst in your mouth and flood your tongue with pure delight. Bite sized and almost too easy to eat, you might find yourself gobbling up one juicy strawberry after another while enjoying their delectably tart sweetness. The symbol of love for the ancient Greeks, these plump little heart-shaped fruits gush with a myriad of health benefits. With each bite the cooling juice refreshes and hydrates your palate, as the slight roughness of the seeds brush against your tongue. Their succulent flavor and texture are universally adored and were even regarded by the ancient Chinese as the queen of fruits.

Gentle, Nourishing, & Easy to Digest

As delicate as they may look, the sourness you experience while savoring a strawberry stimulates the appetite, and moistens the entire gastrointestinal tract from mouth to final elimination. Next time you pucker while eating a strawberry, notice how this invigorating little fruit strengthens your entire digestive system, even helping to dislodge stagnant and undigested food as it reduces feelings of heaviness. Strawberries can also help soothe an irritated, inflamed stomach.

The sweet cool nectar of a strawberry encourages the production of body fluids, moisturizes muscles, and nourishes the kidneys. Want to satiate your thirst? Nibble on fresh, ripe strawberries. The juicy tartness of strawberry rejuvenates and revives you, while at the same time recollecting scattered thoughts and grounding the heart & nervous system.

Its nourishing minerals and rejuvenative qualities, in an easy to digest package, make strawberries an ideal supplement for the elderly, those recuperating from illness, and after strenuous physical activity. According to the Chamber's Edinburgh Journal, No. 462, strawberries are well suited for invalids, as they do not produce acetous (aerobic) fermentation in the stomach.

So, go ahead and indulge in strawberries!

Radiant, Healthy Looking Skin & Teeth

Strawberries are highly purifying, able to permeate the skin and pores. Packed with vitamin C and salicylic acid, strawberry helps to remove dead skin cells when used topically. In summer, capillary beds in the skin dilate to release heat, leaving the skin red and inflamed with a tendency towards rashes. The mild astringency of strawberry tones and whitens the skin as it reduces this blood flow. They are even ideal for remedying slight irregularities in skin pigmentation, lightening freckles. They have a protective skin property that soothes and heals mild sunburn. For smooth, bright and glowing skin, rub mashed strawberry juice over your entire face immediately after washing. For greater effect, leave the sweet-smelling strawberry pulp on your face as a mask for 15-20 minutes.

Want whiter teeth and fresher breath? Since strawberries are astringent and contain vitamin C, they help to remove surface stains and soften built-up plaque. Gentle apply the juice or pulp of a few strawberries directly onto your teeth and leave for five minutes. Rinse with warm water and a pinch of bicarbonate of soda. This natural tooth whitener will be sure to leave you smiling!

Cooling Liver Tonic

As we invite the warmth of the summer season, and our external environment starts to heat up, we start to feel our internal heat build as well. The heart rate increases as the temperature rises. Blood vessels dilate. Muscles feel heavy and fatigued. Excess blood flow irritates the eyes, which may seem stressed and dry. Naturally you'll become more social as well. But as the heat rises, you may even feel hot, irritated and impulsive. Your body cries out to be soothed and cooled.

Ayurvedically, all the above heat symptoms are signs that summer heat stresses the liver and spleen. Fortunately the cooling qualities of strawberries can help! Their slightly sweet and slightly sour taste offer an ideal liver restorative, alterative and blood coolant. You'll notice the relaxing effect on the eyes, and better focus to boot, within ten minutes of eating a strawberry.

Lung, Blood Sugar, and Other Health Benefits

As sweet as they are, research studies have shown that the sweetness of strawberries helps regulate blood sugar response. The sweetness and sourness of strawberries helps to moisten the lungs alleviating respiratory dryness. It's blood balancing properties have been used in feverish conditions. It has also been recommended for kidneys stones and difficult urination.

About Strawberries

The ruby red strawberry has been long appreciated for its unique aroma, bright red color, juicy texture, and sweetness. The first garden strawberry was bred in the 18th century in France. Prior to this, most strawberries were either harvested wild or from cultivated "wild" species.