Striving4Zen

Mash cucumbers and strain the juice. Smear the juice on clean skin and leave it for a while.

Mix 2 tablespoons of potato flour with 2 tablespoons of glycerin and half a cup of water. Fill up a pot with water, put the mixture in a pan and cook over the pot with the water. Make sure its not boiling. Cool and apply on face as a face wash.

Mix 40gm of orange flowers to 40gm of rose water, 40gm of distilled water, 5gm of alcohol, 5gm of glycerin, and 20gm of colon water. Use as a face wash.

Mash and strain strawberries, apply the juice on clean skin and leave for a while. Mash strawberries and strain them, apply the strawberries on face for 20 minutes and wash.

Melt some yeast in water and apply on face once a week.

Boil rosemary leaves in 1/4 liter of distilled water and 1 tablespoon of brandy. Apply as a face wash with a cotton ball.

Cleansing face, Mix: half a cup of yogurt, 2 tablespoons of yeast and 1 teaspoon of yeast sprout oil; apply on face for 15 minutes and wash.

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Labels: cleansers, DIY, facial, skin care, strawberries

1/2 cup (1/4 of the pint)	Calories	Fiber (g)	Vitamin A (mcg)	Vitamin C (mg)	Potassium (mg)	Folate (mcg)
Strawberries	23	1.4	9	42	110	17
Blueberries	41	1.7	39	7	56	4
Raspberries	32	4	20	16	93	13
Blackberries	31	3.8	154	15	117	18
Boysenberries	33	3.5	44	2	92	42
Raw Cranberries	22	2.2	28	6	40	0
Dried Cranberries (1/3) cup)	123	2.3	0	0	16	0

Labels: berries, blueberries, potassium, strawberries, Vitamins

Try something different. Add a little lychee to your fruit salad. Not only will it add an exotic tickle for your taste buds, but it will tickle your ticker, too.

When scientists recently measured the heart-helping polyphenol content of fruits popular in France, lychees were bested only by strawberries. Grapes came in third.

The Top 10

Who would have thought lychees -- cultivated in China -- would become a fave fruit in France? But the top polyphenol-spiked fruits there, in order, are:
strawberries, lychees, grapes, apricots, apples, dates, cherries, figs, pears, and white nectarines.

(Here’s how polyphenols help prevent heart disease.) The small, heart-shaped red fruit is now going global and making an appearance in U.S. markets, too, especially during the summer.

Two More for Your Ticker

In addition to impressive amounts of polyphenols, lychees also have heart-smart vitamin C and potassium. (Find out what this mighty mineral does for your blood pressure.)

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Labels: citrus fruits, eating healthy, heart healthy, lychee, polyphenols, strawberries, superfoods

TOMATOES

What to look for: Choose tomatoes that feel slightly soft and heavy. Size doesn't really matter as long as the color is as red as possible.
Storage: Don't refrigerate tomatoes. Temperatures below 55 degrees will destroy the flavor and make them mealy.
How to use them: There's actually more heart-healthy lycopene in cooked tomatoes, so make a basic sauce or, for a twist, try roasting them.

STRAWBERRIES

What to look for: Opt for fragrant, firm and fully red berries. The smaller berries are often the most flavorful.
Storage: Strawberries mold quickly at room temperature, but can last for a few days uncovered in the refrigerator. They freeze well (and they're about to go out of season), so wash them, cut off the hulls and put them in a sealed bag with as little air as possible.
How to use them: Throw them into a spinach salad or try this super-simple recipe for balsamic berries.

PEAS

What to look for: Skip pods that are blemished, wilted or loose. They should look crisp, bright and plump.
Storage: Pods can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Before refrigerating, wash and dry them fully and put them in a plastic bag.
How to use them: If cooking, blanch peas in water to bring out their full color and crispness. Or make a simple summery side dish by pairing raw peas with avocado and lemon.

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Labels: fruits and veggies, lycopene, peas, strawberries, tomatoes

The secret to this inexpensive home whitening method is malic acid, which acts as an astringent to remove surface discoloration. Combined with baking soda, strawberries become a natural tooth-cleanser, buffing away stains from coffee, red wine, and dark sodas.

While it’s no replacement for a bleaching treatment at your dentist’s office, “this is a fast, cheap way to brighten your smile,” says Adina Carrel, DMD, a dentist in private practice at Manhattan Dental Arts in New York. “Be careful not to use this too often, though, as the acid could damage the enamel on your teeth.”

You need:
1 ripe strawberry
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions: Crush the strawberry to a pulp, then mix with the baking powder until blended. Use a soft toothbrush to spread the mixture onto your teeth. Leave on for 5 minutes, then brush thoroughly with toothpaste to remove the berry–baking powder mix. Rinse. (A little floss will help get rid of any strawberry seeds.) Carrel says you can apply once a week.

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Labels: DIY, living holistically, strawberries, teeth, whitening treatment