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This might just be a matter of opinion, but here goes: Big, juicy, red strawberries are delicious.
But this next statement isn’t a matter of opinion: Strawberries are really good for you.
In fact, strawberries may offer numerous health benefits, including anti-inflammatory benefits for you and your skin. They’re also good for your overall health.
Want to make your skin look good? Plan regular trips to your local farmer’s market or the produce section of your favorite grocery store.
Eating a well-balanced diet that’s heavy on the fresh fruits and vegetables can help you preserve the youthfulness of your skin.
In particular, strawberries contain antioxidants known as polyphenols, as well as vitamins and minerals such as:
General skin care
How can strawberries enhance your skin care products?
Strawberries contain vitamin C. The stable, water-soluble version of this vitamin known as sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP) is known to brighten skin.
Acne
Since strawberries are high in vitamin C, and vitamin C is known for its anti-inflammatory qualities, it’s possible that strawberries could help reduce some of the inflammation associated with acne.
Some
If you’ve tried numerous other skin care products in the past, you may be a little skeptical. You may be wondering how useful strawberries really can be.
After all, advertisers have hawked lots of other products that might’ve let you down. Research, however, gives strawberries a boost in this arena.
Topical vs. eating
You don’t have to choose between eating strawberries or applying products containing strawberries to your skin to reap the benefits. You can do both.
Eating strawberries means that you’re consuming all those healthy vitamins and minerals that help you fight off oxidative stress and inflammation.
Meanwhile, using topical products containing strawberries on your skin may help you counteract the effects of aging.
But there isn’t much scientific evidence to support the idea that applying strawberries topically will drastically improve your skin.
A small
That said, the improvements were likely mainly due to the microneedling and the vitamin C serum, both of which have well-documented benefits for the skin.
Other benefits
If strawberries were just good for your skin, that might be persuasive enough.
But strawberries also have numerous other demonstrated health benefits when eaten. For example:
- They contain compounds called anthocyanins, which contribute to their vibrant color. These provide numerous benefits, including improving your blood lipid profile and decreasing your risk of developing heart disease.
- They contain lots of phenolic antioxidants, which may help prevent certain kinds of cancer.
- They seem to help modify your body’s digestion of sucrose, which may help prevent type 2 diabetes.
Of course, to enjoy these benefits, you’ll need to actually consume the strawberries, but that should leave you plenty of delicious options.
You’re probably familiar with strawberry ice cream, strawberry pie, and other delicious desserts containing this ruby-red fruit. But a growing number of skin products now contain strawberry or strawberry extract.
And there may be more on the horizon. For example,
UVA rays from the sun are notorious for causing premature aging and wrinkles. CoQ10 is a compound that helps generate energy in your cells, as well as protect your cells from oxidative stress and damage.
Here are some ways your skin can benefit from strawberries.
Strawberry face mask
Some people prefer to grab a container of strawberries from the fridge and make their own face mask, typically by mashing up the strawberries and mixing them with yogurt or honey. Some may prefer to mix in milk or cream. Be sure to rinse thoroughly after you apply your mask.
While there’s no harm in trying this DIY face mask, don’t expect drastic results. More research is necessary to determine if strawberries applied topically really have any benefit to the skin.
Strawberry juice
Vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber. What’s not to love? You can reap all these benefits from gulping down a glass of strawberry juice.
Put fresh strawberries, a little sugar, and some lemon or lime juice in your blender and create your own.
Strawberry scrubs
By mixing up some mashed strawberries and some sugar, you can create a pretty good facial scrub right in your own kitchen. You can also try adding a bit of coconut oil or olive oil to make it a little smoother.
For those with sensitive skin, be aware that sugar exfoliants can be harsh on the skin, leading to irritation and inflammation.
You can also purchase a commercial product that incorporates strawberries, like this strawberry exfoliating face wash from Fresh.
Overnight treatments
If you prefer to apply your facial treatments and then hit the sack, you might want to experiment with a product like the lip sleeping mask product by Laneige. It’s supposed to hydrate your skin while you sleep.
Other home remedies to try
Although there’s not a lot of research out there to prove that they work, other home remedies that incorporate strawberries include:
- Teeth whitening. Mix strawberries and baking soda and gently apply it to your teeth with a toothbrush.
- Eye de-puffing. You’ve seen people put cucumber slices on their eyelids, so why not try swapping them out for slices of strawberry that have been chilled in the fridge?
Strawberry treatments may nor may not help your skin.
Whatever you try, though, if you’re worried that your current regimen isn’t improving your skin, it may be time to try something else. You might want to consult a dermatologist to discuss stronger treatments.
It’s also important to call your doctor any time you have a skin issue that:
- won’t go away
- gets worse
- looks like it may be infected
You almost can’t go wrong with strawberries.
They may help:
- improve the appearance of your complexion
- improve your heart health
- lower your cholesterol levels
- reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes
- reduce your risk of cancer
Try finding some ways to incorporate strawberries into your diet on a regular basis. You might also give strawberry-infused skin care products a try.