Last week we discussed the skin benefits of strawberries, but strawberries provide plenty more benefits for your hair and immunity as well!
       The ellagic acid in strawberries not only protects skin against UV rays, but it also prevents hair loss/thinning and can even delay androgenetic alopecia.  The folic acid and vitamins B5 and B6 are found in strawberries as well and can also prevent hair loss.  Strawberries can also add extra shine to your hair.  Make a paste out of 7 or 8 mashed strawberries and mix with 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise.  Apply this paste to your hair and scalp for 15-20 minutes and cover with a shower cap.  This mixture also serves as a conditioner should be rinsed out with water.  Use cold water for extra shine.  Another option is to mix mashed strawberries and egg yolk and use that as a conditioner.
       In order to get the immunity benefits of strawberries, the best way is to use strawberries the traditional way-eating them!  One bowl of strawberries can provide one day's worth of vitamin C, which helps boost your immune system.  The vitamin C in strawberries can also help prevent cataracts and prevent sun damage to the eyes.                          Additionally, strawberries contain about 21% manganese as well as potassium and vitamin K which all help with bone health.  Strawberries also contain components that contain anti-inflammatory components, help to lower cholesterol, and assist with heart health.  We will have tons of strawberries available during our Strawberry/Honey Festival this weekend so stop by and try out some of these natural home remedies! 

           Did you know that strawberries can serve as more than just a delicious and healthy snack?  They can also serve as a natural way to improve your skin, whether you're looking for a better complexion, anti-aging solutions, or an alternative solution to rid and prevent acne.
           Strawberry extracts are often used as ingredients in facial cleansers and the salicylic acid that is naturally found in them is great for tightening pores.  Strawberries also contain ellagic acid which fights skin damage especially from UV rays.  You can also squeeze the juice out of strawberries and apply the juice to your face and leave it for 10-15 minutes for a more radiant, brighter complexion.  Or, you can mix 2 teaspoons of the juice with 50mL of rosewater and use it as a skin toner.  The vitamin C found in strawberries also helps with anti-aging.  You can mix 1 teaspoon of honey, 2 teaspoons of milk cream, and mashed up strawberries together in order to create an anti-aging face pack.  The pack can be applied for 20 min.
             Strawberries can also help with acne as well.  Mashing 7-8 strawberries with 1 teaspoon of milk and applying to your face for 10-12 minutes twice a week can help naturally prevent and get rid of acne.  Like cucumbers, strawberries can also be sliced and placed underneath the eyes to reduce under-eye puffiness.  You can also make strawberries into a foot scrub!  Mash 6-8 strawberries together with a few drops of glycerin and grounded oats.  The foot scrub will help exfoliate dead and rough skin.  Plus, not only are these scrubs/masks all natural, you get the added bonus of them being strawberry-scented too!  We will have tons of fresh, local strawberries available next weekend at the Strawberry Festival May 30th & 31st if you are feeling inspired and want to try some of these all natural solutions yourself! 

           Memorial Day is approaching soon, and you don’t want to be that person who brings the fourth bag of chips, or your typical potato salad dish that you bring every year (even though it is great).  Honey is a healthy sweetener and is a great addition to many, many dishes.  For unique and delicious recipes, we recommend Hoosier Honey’s Cookbook.  This 152-page cookbook is packed with all different kinds of recipes, and for all occasions. 
           On the other hand, maybe you are content with being that person who brings the fourth bag of chips because it’s quick and easy.  In that case, switch out the bag of chips for a box of crackers and make this easy "Happy Spread":

Happy Spread (Recipe found in Hoosier's Honey Cookbook)
Ingredients:
1/4 Cup of Honey
1/4 Cup of Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup of Apple Butter

Mix the ingredients together. Spread on toast, biscuits, waffles, graham crackers, etc.

            To see more recipes like this, come out to the Farm and pick up a copy of Hoosier Honey's Cookbook and some local raw honey. 

     Have you ever had seasonal (or year-long) pollen allergies that you can't seem to get rid of, even with expensive store bought medicine?  Or maybe you've been looking for a more natural way to treat your allergies.  Either way, RAW honey works wonders.  Actually, honey bee pollen and honeycomb are also great options as well.  
      For the best results, the honey should be local.  This is due to the fact that when the bees gather the pollen, they gather it from local plants.  The pollen from the local plants is what your allergies are from, so when you consume the honey it's like fighting fire with fire, or a vaccine, so to say.
          A spoonful a day (or possibly less, depending on the person and their level of allergies) will do the trick.  Another option is to mix a tablespoon of bee pollen into smoothies, or chewing a small amount of honeycomb for 10 minutes a day.  We have a large selection of raw, local honey products at Oasis Family Farm, so you can choose which method you'd like to try, or even try them all!