The benefits of feijoa for the body. Benefits and harms of feijoa: features of use for therapeutic purposes. Weight control with feijoa

My dear readers, today our topic will be a little exotic. First, I just want to ask you: Have you heard of feijoa? Have you tried it? If not, then I strongly advise you to pay attention to it. I just want to humor you a little: if anyone still doesn’t know feijoa, life has passed or is passing by. Today I invite you to a conversation about this berry, we will talk about the beneficial and medicinal properties of feijoa and its contraindications.

I first heard about feijoa when my daughter and I were treated in onco-hematology. The diagnosis was very serious. And so often I remember the head nurse. She advised us to be sure to buy them during the berry selling season and give them to our children. They inhibit the growth of cancer cells and are good for the blood, strengthening the body. Since then, I began to always buy feijoa during the season. You can buy feijoas in a large supermarket, but I prefer to buy them at the market, where you can find fresher berries, and there is always more choice.

The smell and taste of feijoa

To me, this berry tastes like a mixture of kiwi, strawberry and pineapple aromas. Believe me, it is a very tasty berry, although it may not seem very attractive at first glance. The pulp is very juicy. Feel free to ask the seller to cut the fruit and show the pulp. There are so many subtleties here. If you see white flesh, the fruit is unripe. There is nothing good about him. If the pulp brown, this means that the fruit is no longer suitable for food. The most mature feijoa fruit has absolutely transparent flesh.

It is best eaten by scraping out the pulp with a spoon. I personally don't like skin. This is not for everybody. You can buy slightly unripe fruits and let them sit at home for just a couple of days.

Feijoa. Compound. Calorie content

The unusual appearance of tropical fruits hides an aromatic, delicate taste and many useful substances. Tropical Pods include:

micro and macroelements: iodine, iron, manganese, zinc, silicon, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and calcium and others;
vitamins - B3, B5, C, A, B1, B6, PP;
acids - folic and malic;
amino acids - arginine, asparagine, glutamine, tyrosine, alanine;
pectin;
tannins;
essential oils;
biologically active substances - tannin, leukoanthocin and kakhetin;
enzymes;

The nutritional value of 100 g of feijoa fruit is 1.24 g of protein, 0.78 g of fat, 10.63 g of carbohydrates.

Feijoa calories

Calorie content of 100 g of exotic fruits is 49 kcal per 100 grams of berries.

Feijoa. Photo

This is what this berry looks like:

Feijoa. Useful and medicinal properties. Benefits and harms

The fruits have gained great popularity due to their content of highly concentrated organic compound iodine. Therefore, feijoa is considered an ideal remedy for the prevention of iodine deficiency. Doctors recommend tropical fruits to patients with thyroid diseases and mental workers. Together with the vitamin complex, iodine improves the functioning of the endocrine system and normalizes metabolism.

The significant content of pectins makes it possible to use feijoa fruits for making marmalade and jelly. Pectin is a soluble fiber that helps reduce appetite and improve digestive processes.

Reduces cholesterol levels.

This berry is very good for the heart.

Natural medicine for all hypertensive patients.

Cleanses the blood, very useful for anemia.

The peel of exotic fruits contains tannins, which impart a tart taste, and the biologically active substances leukoanthocin and kakhetin are considered powerful antioxidants. The peel is almost never used for food; it can easily be separated from the pulp, then dried and added to tea.

Due to its vitamin composition, the fruit has an immunomodulatory effect, so it is recommended to eat feijoa during exacerbation of colds, during the postoperative period and after serious illnesses.

Many nutritionists advise including feijoa in your diet for unstable gastrointestinal tract, constipation, various diseases of the intestines, pancreas, liver, and stomach.

If you have the opportunity to get feijoa leaves, I advise you to dry them and prepare delicious tea in winter. The leaves contain a lot of essential oils with the aroma of myrtle.

The prepared infusion and decoction of feijoa fruits, bark and leaves has an antiseptic and disinfectant effect. It can be used in the treatment of kidney inflammation, treat wounds, abrasions, cuts, rinse the mouth for periodontal disease,

Thanks to antioxidants, essential oils and other beneficial substances, feijoa actively affects pathogenic microorganisms and has a strong antibacterial and antifungal effect.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the iodine content in fruits depends on the area where feijoa grows. In areas where the soil contains little iodine or room conditions, the fruits are ineffective in preventing iodine deficiency.

Feijoa. Harm. Contraindications

We have learned the beneficial properties of feijoa, but I would like to warn you that you should be careful about your health and take into account all contraindications before eating feijoa.

If you come across unripe feijoas at the market, it is better to let them lie next to bananas for several days. room temperature. This will speed up the ripening of the fruit and relieve you of digestive system disorders, because an unripe tropical fruit can cause poisoning.

Feijoa should not be mixed with dairy products or washed down with milk to avoid disruption of the gastrointestinal tract. The reason is that the pectins contained in the fruits are not compatible with milk.

If you have diabetes, you should consult your doctor in advance. Large amounts of sugars can cause significant harm.

High iodine content will have harmful effects in hyperthyroidism. After all, both excess and deficiency of iodine have a detrimental effect on human health.

Nursing and pregnant women can consume feijoa berries in small quantities. Take into account whether doctors have previously prescribed iodine preparations to exclude an overdose of iodine and poor health.

To prevent all consequences, we can once again tell everyone one wise thing: never “lean on” any products. And if you're trying something for the first time, always try a little bit at a time. We are all different. And your reaction to even the simplest, most common and useful for many products can be individual.

The use of feijoa for medicinal purposes

Most healthy recipe, in my opinion, which I prepare myself and highly recommend you use. This recipe, in my opinion, is universal, suitable for both adults and children. I gave it to my daughter, and I always used it myself.

A universal recipe for using feijoa with health benefits

It's very easy to prepare. Wash the fruits and dry them. Cut off the stems of the berries. I never remove the peel. And then use either a meat grinder or a blender. The result is a mass of pleasant emerald color. Add granulated sugar to it. The nurse advised us to keep the proportions 1:1. But I often add less granulated sugar. For 1 kg of berries, 600 grams of granulated sugar. You can add orange and nuts here (walnuts are especially good). Mix everything thoroughly. Fold into glass jar. Place in the refrigerator. Take a teaspoon 3 times a day.

If you prepare this recipe with an orange, you must peel it and also grind it either in a meat grinder or in a blender.

I will talk in more detail about recipes with feijoa in a separate article. Here I will give only basic and brief recipes on how to use feijoa for health.

For stress, depression eat 5-6 fruits a day. Uplifting, tasty and healthy.

For prevention diseases of the cardiovascular system squeeze 1 tablespoon of juice and mix with ¼ glass of water. Drink once a day, at any time.

For treatment and prevention atherosclerosis make jam from feijoa and oranges.

Very good at problems with blood vessels use my universal recipe. And here's another recipe. Blanch 0.5 kg. feijoa. Do not peel the fruits, then grind them in a blender and add 1 kg. sugar until juice appears. Boil for 5-10 minutes, add juice from one orange and cook until tender. But when cooking jam, many beneficial substances are still destroyed. But it turns out very tasty.

For the prevention and treatment of diseases thyroid gland with iodine deficiency, take 1 tablespoon of feijoa puree half an hour before meals.

At hypertension Grind feijoa fruits in a blender, mix with sugar in a 1:1 ratio and take one tablespoon twice a day.

At hepatitis A(jaundice) drink tea from a mixture of feijoa flowers and leaves (in equal parts). Pour one tablespoon of the mixture into a glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Drink twice a day. Tea made from the leaves also helps with goiter.

A few fruits in your diet will help you in the following cases:

rheumatic pains;
anemia;
malaria and scurvy;
painful menstruation;
bronchitis;
high cholesterol;
gout;
Graves' disease;
acne;
atonic constipation;
reduced immunity.

I suggest you watch an interesting video about beneficial properties ah feijoa. I highly recommend watching the video. The market where these berries are sold is shown, and advice is given on how to choose feijoa and why it is useful.

And if you do buy feijoa at the market, I highly recommend that you treat yourself too. Let's prepare something tasty and don't forget about the face and décolleté area.

The use of feijoa in cosmetology

Due to its medicinal composition, feijoa fruit pulp is used for cosmetic purposes. She provides:

anti-inflammatory;
rejuvenating;
nutritious;
improving blood circulation
softening
refreshing effect.

Masks based on tropical fruits will help get rid of rosacea, acne, age spots on the face, give elasticity to the skin and improve appearance faces. For the same purposes, you can use a decoction of feijoa leaves.

Feijoa cosmetic mask recipe:

yolk from one egg;
a tablespoon of olive oil;
2 tbsp. spoons of cottage cheese;
pulp from half a feijoa fruit.

Grind the feijoa in a blender and mix with other ingredients. Apply the prepared mixture to the skin of the face and neck. Wash your face warm water in 20 minutes. Lubricate your face with moisturizer.

You can also simply use the pulp of the berry for a mask. Also a very good effect. I like it the most. Especially when there is no time to mix something there, there is simply no time, but you want mood and freshness of the face. Just remember to test on your wrist to see if this mask is right for you.

The use of feijoa in cooking

Tropical fruits go well with a variety of foods. You can add oily and citrus fruits, fresh or boiled beets, carrots, and apples to salads. It is better to season with yogurt or low-fat sour cream.

Feijoa with beets. Salad

Boil 400 gr. beets, grate. Wash and cut 200 gr. Feijoa hearths, mix with beets and add crushed kernels walnuts. For this amount of food, take about 5-7 walnuts. Add salt to taste and season vegetable oil. You can add feta cheese and sesame seeds.

Salsa with feijoa

Served as a sauce for fish and meat dishes. Mix 3 feijoa fruits, an onion and 1 tablespoon of cane sugar in a blender. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Feijoa jelly (marmalade)

To prepare jelly you need:

Grind 1.5 kg in a blender. feijoa;
mix with 1 cup natural apple cider vinegar and 50 gr. pectin for fruits;
Boil in a water bath for 5-6 minutes, avoiding boiling;
remove from heat and, stirring quickly, add 5 cups of sugar;
put it in a water bath again and, stirring constantly, cook until the sugar is completely dissolved;
remove the foam with a slotted spoon;
pour the prepared hot jelly into small glass jars and close with a lid;
cool overnight at room temperature.

Keep refrigerated.

Glaze for feijoa meat or fish

To prepare the glaze you will need:

1 cup feijoa jelly;
a quarter glass of cane sugar;
2 tsp chopped garlic;
0.5 tsp ground cinnamon;
2 tsp ground ginger;
chili powder (optional)

Mix all ingredients, generously grease the surface of the fish or meat, and place in the oven.

And for the soul we will listen today GIOVANNI MARRADI - Romantico How beautiful everything is, how romantic. Wonderful music.

This is the information about the beneficial and medicinal properties of feijoa today. I hope you found it useful and interesting.
Feijoa. Useful and medicinal properties. Contraindications.

Not all of us have feijoa as a frequent guest on our table. And all because little is known about this berry and for many it is an overseas curiosity. But it turns out that these wonderful fruits have been grown in Russia for a long time. Therefore, you should not deny yourself the pleasure of getting acquainted with unusual taste. Moreover, the fruits are simply overflowing with vitamins and microelements that will help put the immune system in order. Let's talk about the beneficial properties and contraindications for consuming this green guest from America in more detail.

What is feijoa

In our country, feijoa is still an exotic berry. Many buyers don’t even look to the side where small, inconspicuous fruits are laid out on the counter. green. But if you knew what benefits are hidden in this little guest from another country, you would never pass by.

The discreet appearance of feijoa does not attract attention at all

Where does it grow

Meet with exotic plant let's start from afar. In nature, feijoa is found mainly in the highlands of South America - these are the regions of Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and northern Argentina.

the first European country where seedlings were delivered in 1890 was France;
in 1900, unusual representatives of the flora were planted in Yalta and on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus;
at the beginning of the 20th century, the plant was brought and successfully bred in Mediterranean countries, which are famous for their warm, mild climate.

An evergreen and beautifully flowering bush is often used in landscape design.

A subtropical plant in the tropics feels very bad. High temperatures significantly reduce the overall yield.

What does it look like

Feijoa belongs to the genus Akka and the Myrtaceae family. It is a spreading evergreen shrub, although woody forms are also found in nature. Its height does not exceed 4 meters. The trunk is covered with rough green-brown bark.

Sometimes feijoa can be found in the form of a tree, but its height will never exceed 4 meters

Since feijoa lives in rocky mountainous areas, its roots are located superficially. Feature moisture-loving plants - densely branched, but compact root system, which helps the tree receive moisture directly from the surface of the soil, and not from the depths.

Feijoa leaves have an oval or elliptical shape. The edges are smooth, the surface is slightly pubescent, leathery, and has feathery or reticulate venation. The leaf is dark green above, light green-gray below. The plant, densely covered with foliage, looks beautiful throughout the year.

Leathery leaves look elegant all year round

The tree looks especially charming during flowering. From May to June, and in the Southern Hemisphere from November to December, feijoa is unusually covered beautiful flowers. White-pink petals surround a bunch of red stamens (there can be from 50 to 80 of them). Bisexual flowers can be arranged singly, in pairs, or form a corymbose inflorescence. The flowering process is long; you can admire the lushly blooming and bright bush for almost a month.

Feijoa flowering is an unusually beautiful sight

Despite the fact that the plant is densely strewn with flowers, the percentage of useful ovary is only 17%. The rest just crumbles away.

Feijoa fruits look inconspicuous. These are small, from 2 to 5, less often up to 7 cm, berries of an elongated oval or wide-round shape. Less common are cube-shaped fruits, similar to a child’s top. The apex is crowned with the remains of sepals. The berry is covered with a peel with a slight waxy coating. The skin color can be bright green, like young grass, or dark green. The ripe fruit weighs from 15 to 60 g, but sometimes large specimens are found - 105–120 g.

An interesting fact is that such a seemingly inconspicuous-looking fruit has a pulp of extraordinary taste. The juicy part of the fruit is reminiscent of strawberries, pineapple and kiwi in its aroma and sweet-sour taste.

Ripe pulp should be almost transparent, jelly-like and light cream in color. If it is brown, the fruit is clearly overstayed and unsuitable for consumption. White the fleshy part indicates that the feijoa has not yet matured and there is nothing useful in it.

The ripe fruit has transparent pulp with a creamy tint.

Useful properties

Uninteresting in appearance, the fruits not only have a bright taste, they are also incredibly healthy. Berries easily compete with seafood for iodine content, which is why doctors often recommend this product for the prevention of iodine deficiency. The natural vitamin complex contained in the fruits normalizes metabolism in the body. Easily soluble fiber reduces appetite and improves digestive processes.

Feijoa is the only berry that can compete with seafood in iodine content

If you decide to buy feijoa to increase the iodine content in your body, be sure to ask in which region the fruits were grown. The fact is that berries grown by the sea contain the maximum indicator of the useful element, and in plants cultivated in areas that are more than 50 km away from the sea, the iodine content in the fruits begins to decrease.

Content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates - table

Feijoa is low in calories; 100 g of berries contain only 49 kcal.

Composition of nutrients - table

In addition, the berries contain pectin, tannins, essential oils and enzymes.

Feijoa is a real vitamin bomb

What benefits does it bring to women?

For women who want to maintain a normal figure, feijoa will become a valuable food product, as it contains few calories and fat. By eating just one berry a day, you can increase the effectiveness of any diet by speeding up your metabolism, which helps you lose weight.

The berry helps stabilize and normalize the condition of the following body systems:

nervous;
endocrine;
urogenital;
gastrointestinal.

Thanks to the consumption of this berry, water-alkaline metabolism returns to normal and the immune system is strengthened. Fruits are an excellent prevention of osteoporosis, which affects older women.

Regular consumption of feijoa helps:

slow down the aging process;
improve memory;
restore fat metabolism;
lower cholesterol;
relieve nervous tension;
normalize thyroid function;
improve skin condition.

During pregnancy, feijoa is recommended by many doctors, as it helps to equalize blood pressure, eliminate hormonal imbalances and regulate the production of hormones. But you need to eat it carefully. First, you should make sure that the expectant mother is not allergic to the product.

Due to iodine deficiency in the body of the expectant mother, the fetus may suffer

When breastfeeding, mothers can include berries in their diet if the baby is already 3 months old. To find out whether your baby has a reaction to the product or not, first try eating a quarter of the fruit. The next day, if the child does not have a rash, you can try half the berry. If the baby does not show signs of allergies or stomach upset, eat feijoa, but in moderation.

What is useful for men

Men also benefit from these fruits, and not at all due to the general strengthening of the immune system. A few exotic berries a day can prevent a common urological disease, especially in older men, prostatitis. Feijoa helps maintain reproductive function, therefore it is recommended by urologists as a preventive measure or as an addition to drug treatment for an existing problem.

Can it be given to children?

Acquaintance with exotic berries for a baby should begin after a year. The vitamins and microelements contained in feijoa can correct the child’s immune system and ensure the normal development of a healthy body. To avoid harm, you should start with a very small amount of pulp. Select a small ripe fruit, wash it well and cut it in half. First, try giving your baby half a teaspoon of pulp. Pay attention to the possible reaction of the child’s body to a new product: it can weaken or strengthen, and an allergic reaction in the form of a rash is possible.

If your introduction to the vitamin product was successful, introduce it into your baby’s diet. But remember, excessive passion for berries can be harmful. Too much iodine content will lead to its excess and health problems!

If you do not abuse feijoa, the fruits will only bring benefits

For what diseases is it indicated, what conditions does it help alleviate?

The use of feijoa as a prophylactic agent or an addition to drug treatment has a cumulative effect. To healing properties The product has been able to develop fully, it should be consumed for at least a month. During this period, the accumulated nutrients will begin to take effect, and you will only have to maintain the balance of nutrients by periodically eating feijoa. So what are the indications for use of this vitamin fruit?

Feijoa is an indispensable product for thyroid diseases, as it contains a lot of iodine. For hypothyroidism (decreased gland function), toxic goiter (nodules in the thyroid gland) and euthyroidism (dysfunction of the gland), you need to eat 2-3 berries a day. This amount is sufficient to normalize the functioning of the thyroid gland. In addition, metabolism will return to normal and mental activity will be activated. But if you are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (increased activity of the thyroid gland), then you should stop taking feijoa.
Thanks to its rich vitamin composition, especially vitamin C, it improves immunity, therefore it perfectly alleviates the general condition of colds and pneumonia.
Due to its mild diuretic and disinfectant effect, feijoa berries are recommended for existing inflammatory diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract (urolithiasis, renal failure, cystitis, pyelonephritis).
The product is indicated for high cholesterol. Pectin and amino acids help cleanse blood vessels, allowing them to regain flexibility and elasticity. This will help keep blood pressure under control, which means hypotension and high blood pressure feijoa will be useful. The same as with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.
Feijoa contains a large amount of antioxidants, which help cleanse the blood and prevent the spread of cancer cells. Eating fruits reduces the risk of oncology (cancer).
A natural combination of essential oils, antiseptics, tannins and other beneficial elements have a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Taking berries alleviates the condition of gastritis, cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis (but not during an exacerbation), mononucleosis. Helps with constipation, gallstones, colitis, cholecystitis.
Vanga advised women to include berries in their diet for fibroids, and men for adenoma.
For hepatitis and hepatitis C, feijoa is included in a special diet that alleviates the patient’s condition during the rehabilitation process. A decoction of ground peel (boil 1 part peel and 4 parts water for 5–7 minutes) cleanses the liver and normalizes its function.
Doctors advise including this healthy product in the diet for psoriasis. The berry acts as an antioxidant, purifying the blood and removing poisons and toxins. Iodine helps improve the functioning of the thyroid gland and regulate metabolic processes in the body, which has a positive effect in the treatment of the disease.
Fruits are irreplaceable for anemia, as they have a beneficial effect on blood cells due to the iron they contain.
The antiseptic effect of feijoa helps alleviate the condition of gout, osteochondrosis and arthrosis.

It would be useful to remind you that you cannot self-medicate. If you have health problems, berries alone will not help. A visit to the doctor will clarify the situation. If everything is fine with you, eat the berries for your health, but when problems already exist, then feijoa will be an addition to the prescribed treatment and will help alleviate the condition during the treatment and rehabilitation process.

Feijoa as a source of iodine - video

How to eat: with or without peel

Remember what you used to do with the peels of fruits or vegetables? That's right, they clean it off and throw it away. Many people are even accustomed to cutting the skin off apples. But few people thought that this protective layer sometimes contains more useful substances than the fruit itself. The peel of feijoa is incredibly healthy, so it is advisable to eat the fruit along with the peel. It contains many catechins and leukoanthocyanins, which act as antioxidants. But since these beneficial substances give the top layer of the berry a tart taste (this is especially evident in unripe fruits), few of us decide to consume it, especially since it is also somewhat harsh.

Even if you don't like the peel, you shouldn't throw it away, as it contains antioxidants.

So that the beneficial substances do not go to waste, but are beneficial, do not throw away the feijoa skin. Dry it and then prepare decoctions or teas from it. For future use, harvest peels that have no signs of damage or rot.

To feel the unique taste of the overseas fruit, you need to eat it without the skin. From washed and cut feijoa in half, the pulp is extracted using a teaspoon or dessert spoon.

To experience all the flavors of feijoa, it is recommended to eat only the middle of the fruit.

How to select and store

The time for feijoa to ripen in Russia is November. The fruits reach the retail chain in November-December. This is the most favorable time for buying valuable berries.

if you see a green stalk, it means that the fruits were collected while still unripe, they are of little use;
a slightly wrinkled peel with a bluish coating and an even green color are signs of a high-quality fruit. Brown spots on the skin indicate signs of spoilage, and a light green color indicates an unripe fruit;
try to choose larger fruits, they are considered the healthiest;
You can press on the fruit - if it is hard, it means it is not yet ripe and can be left for several days at room temperature. Moderately soft - ripe, ready to eat;

When purchasing, do not hesitate to ask the seller to cut the fruit, this is the only way to assess its degree of ripening.

High-quality fruits can be stored for no more than 3 weeks in a special fruit compartment in the refrigerator. At room temperature, feijoas can last for several days, provided that they are not yet ripe. More long-term storage possible thanks to recycling. Another way to extend the shelf life of a product is to freeze it. Moreover, you can freeze both whole fruits and purees from them.

If you have defrosted feijoa, then it should no longer be subject to reverse freezing, so defrost exactly as much as necessary.

Beneficial properties of feijoa - video

What can you cook from feijoa?

If you want to diversify your diet and fill it with vitamins, then feijoa will help in solving this problem. After all, the fruits are eaten not only raw, but also canned. So what can you cook from berries and what dishes should you include them in:

vitamin salads;
compotes;
jam;
fresh fruits, ground with sugar or honey;
filling for desserts.

Excellent flavor combinations are obtained by mixing feijoa with apples, citrus fruits, carrots and beets. Salad dressing is best made from yogurt or sour cream.

Feijoa is incredibly good in salads

Popular recipes for preserving vitamins

Since the season for eating feijoa is short, it is worth preparing several jars with useful and delicious treats, which will appeal not only to adults, but also to children.

Feijoa with honey and walnuts (raw jam)

The necessary ingredients can be purchased at a supermarket or market. You will need:

750 g feijoa;
half a lemon;
450 g honey;
150 g nuts;
50 g dried apricots.

It is very easy to prepare this delicious mixture.

Roast the nuts in a dry frying pan, cool and peel off the husks. Then chop using a rolling pin.
Pour dried apricots boiled water for 5 minutes, then place in a sieve. After the water has drained, finely chop the dried fruit.
Wash feijoa and lemon thoroughly and dry. Trim the sepals of the feijoa. Without peeling, grind them using a blender.
Combine with nuts, dried apricots and honey. Mix thoroughly and place in airtight containers.
Store in the refrigerator.

The basis of the recipe is feijoa, nuts and honey

The recipe may have cooking options. You don’t have to use dried apricots, but try hazelnuts instead of walnuts.

Raw jam with honey and lemon

The combination of healthy products will come in handy during the period of colds, when only a strong immune system can cope with diseases. For this vitamin bomb you will need:

500 g feijoa;
1 lemon;
100 g honey.

Preparing a healthy and tasty product will not take much time.

Wash feijoa and lemon thoroughly.
Peel the lemon and remove the sepals from the feijoa.
Pass feijoas cut in half through a meat grinder or grind in a blender.
Do the same with lemon.
Combine all ingredients together and mix thoroughly.
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Vitamin charge in every spoon - feijoa with honey and lemon

If someone doesn't like the taste of lemon, you can replace it with orange. The benefits will remain the same, but the taste will change. And lovers of spicy taste should try the combination of feijoa with ginger.

Compote

An unusually tasty drink that invigorates and lifts your spirits, is prepared from the following ingredients:

500 g feijoa;
200 g sugar;
2 liters of water;
citric acid on the tip of a knife.

This is the simplest recipe that even novice housewives can do.

Pour water into a saucepan and place on fire.
Pour thoroughly washed under water into sterilized jars. running water berries from which the sepals have been removed.
As soon as the water boils, add sugar and citric acid to it.
After the water has boiled, reduce the heat and wait until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Pour boiling syrup over the berries, cover with lids and leave for a day to allow the fruits to infuse.
The next day, pour the infused liquid into a saucepan and turn on the heat.
Boil for half an hour, then pour the liquid into the jars again and seal with sterilized lids.
Place the jars upside down and cover with a blanket.
After the contents of the jars have cooled, place the compote in a cool, dark place.

A wonderful invigorating drink made from healing berries

Feijoa in compote can go perfectly with apples and quince. To enrich the taste and aroma, you can add citrus peel, rose petals or mint.

Feijoa and beet salad with nuts

Vitamin salads are a valuable source of nutrients, which is why they are so popular among adherents healthy image life. We advise you to include such salads in your daily menu to keep your figure normal and stay healthy and vigorous. And for those who live far from the sea - maintain the level of iodine in the body at the required level. In addition, preparing such a delicacy is a real creative process, which before eating will allow you to enjoy the bright colors and improve your mood.

For the salad you will need only high-quality products. Feijoa must be ripe, try to choose small beets (they will cook faster and taste sweeter). You can use any nuts: walnuts, almonds, cashews, pine. The beets can be boiled in advance, and the salad itself can be prepared immediately before eating.

Peel the beets and grate on a coarse grater or cut into strips (personally, I really like hand-cutting).
Remove the peel from the well-washed feijoa fruits, cut them, and then lightly sprinkle them with lemon juice.
Chop the nuts, pre-roasted in a dry frying pan (except for pine nuts).
Combine all the salad ingredients together, lightly salt, and season with vegetable oil (preferably olive oil).

An excellent combination of taste and vitamins - feijoa and beetroot salad

A salad in which feijoa will be the main component can be prepared from various vegetables and fruits. Above are the most popular combinations. By changing the ingredients and dressings, you can enjoy unusual, refreshing and healthy salads every day. Use raisins, feta cheese, and sesame as flavor accents.

Feijoa, ground with sugar (honey)

The simplest, but no less effective way save the vitamin set for several months. All you need is feijoa and sugar (or honey). We select the healthiest and ripest fruits. Wash thoroughly, remove sepals and dry. Grind in a meat grinder and add granulated sugar (honey). The ratio of ingredients is 1:1. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, transfer to dry, sterilized containers and place in a cool place.

An excellent recipe to support immunity - feijoa with sugar

This tasty medicine is taken 1 teaspoon 2-3 times a day. The course of treatment will be 10 days, and then you need to take a break for the same amount of time.

Jam "Caramel"

Another unusual recipe gives a healthy berry to all lovers of delicious jam. First, we go to the store, select the ripest fruits and other components:

500 g feijoa;
1 glass of sugar;
500 ml water;
spoon of cognac.

This incredibly tasty and beautiful jam is easy to prepare:

Wash the fruits and peel the skins. To prevent the peeled berry from darkening, place it in water.
Pour half the amount of sugar into a frying pan and put on fire.
Stir the sugar with a wooden spatula until it caramelizes.
When the caramel acquires a pleasant reddish tint, carefully pour in the water and add the peel.
Cook over low heat with vigorous stirring for at least 7 minutes.
Strain the finished syrup through a sieve into a saucepan for making jam. Add chopped berries and remaining sugar.
After boiling, stirring continuously, simmer over low heat for about 40 minutes.
Add cognac, stir and pack into jars.

A wonderful combination of taste and color - feijoa jam “Caramel”

This is not a complete list of useful preparations from this wonderful berry. If you're a lover of Mexican food, be sure to include feijoa in your list of salsa ingredients - it won't disappoint. Sweet lovers can prepare the most delicate dessert from the fruit - jelly or mousse.

Traditional medicine recipes

Feijoa is used not only in pharmacology, where the fruits are included in many dietary supplements, and essential oils are used as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent. Traditional medicine actively uses magic fruits and other parts of the plant to treat many serious diseases:

For hepatitis and urological diseases, tea made from feijoa flowers and leaves is useful. 1 tbsp. l. Add 200 ml of boiling water to the dried mixture. Leave for half an hour and drink with honey;
for atherosclerosis, jam is an excellent addition to medications. It is prepared from 600 g of fruit, 1 kg of sugar and 1 orange;
in Parkinson's disease, taking fresh fruits provides a significant and lasting improvement in the patient's condition;
The thyroid gland is treated with feijoa grated with sugar. In the morning, half an hour before meals, you need to take 2 tbsp. l. healthy mixture;
to heal wounds, compresses with a decoction of the bark and leaves of the plant are used;
A decoction of the leaves helps with bleeding gums.

Traditional medicine actively uses feijoa to treat various diseases.

How it is used in cosmetology

Feijoa consumed internally works wonders for the female body, slowing down the aging process and helping to maintain the figure in the desired proportions. The product will bring no less benefit if it is used as the basis of face masks. Externally acting vitamins and microelements will improve complexion, rejuvenate, moisturize and protect from external influences.

The basis for any mask is feijoa puree, and various components are added to it, depending on what effect you want to achieve:

composition for rejuvenation: to 2 tbsp. l. puree add 1 tsp. honey and 1 tbsp. l. vegetable oil;
For moisturizing, additional ingredients include cottage cheese and cream. We take everything in equal proportions;
For oily skin mix 1 tbsp. l puree, 1 chicken protein and 1 tsp. honey;
You can also wipe your face, neck, chest and hands with a piece of feijoa pulp. The effect will be excellent.

In cosmetology, feijoa shows an incredible anti-aging effect

Contraindications for eating feijoa

This incredibly healthy fruit still has contraindications. It is recommended to completely refuse or limit consumption if:

diabetes;
allergies;
hyperthyroidism;
obesity.

Everything ingenious is simple. You are once again convinced of this by looking at the inconspicuous-looking feijoa fruit. But what a valuable treasure is hidden inside. But remember, everything is good in moderation. The desire to quickly saturate the body with vitamins will not lead to anything good; on the contrary, it can do harm.

Today, many of us have access to exotic berries and fruits from different parts of the world.

Juicy and fleshy berries with dark green sepals, the taste and aroma reminiscent of a combination of kiwi, strawberries, wild strawberries and pineapple, delight us with a fruit crop common in regions with a subtropical climate, under the extravagant name of feijoa. Today we will consider the beneficial properties and contraindications of fruits.

The benefits of feijoa for the body lie in the biochemical composition of the juicy green fruit. The tender green pulp contains natural sugars, organic acids, dietary fiber, phytosterols, antioxidants, pectins, bioflavonoids, unsaturated (oleic, linoleic, linolenic) and saturated (palmitic, stearic) fatty acids, a whole complex of vitamins, macro- and microelements.

Berries are the leader among plant products in terms of iodine content (0.2–0.39 mg per 100 g). Even seafood can compete with them. Only 3-4 ripe fruits satisfy the daily requirement of a healthy adult for this chemical element.

Feijoa is also valued for its high content of ascorbic acid. The amount of vitamin C is approximately the same as in citrus fruits. The berries also contain other vitamins that are no less important for the body - groups B and PP (in small doses), as well as rare elements - silicon, potassium, molybdenum, chromium, cobalt, boron, rubidium.

Thanks to the iodine present in the fruit, which is in a form bioavailable to the body and is completely absorbed in the intestines, feijoa must be included in the diet of people with problems with the thyroid gland, for example, with Graves' disease.

According to experienced nutritionists, feijoa is recommended for inclusion in a therapeutic and preventive diet; it is useful for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Gastroenterologists advise anyone who suffers from chronic constipation to regularly enjoy feijoa.

The product has a beneficial effect on the immune system and protects us from viruses and bacteria, stress and depression, vitamin deficiency and mineral imbalance.

Regular inclusion of aromatic berries in the menu is beneficial for nervous system, as well as for everyone experiencing mental and emotional overload, for example, students during a session, responsible employees, businessmen or people engaged in intellectual work.

In some countries, the beneficial properties of feijoa for men are highly valued - daily inclusion of feijoa in the diet helps prevent inflammation in the prostate. The product also normalizes hormonal levels and enhances sexual activity in men.

The benefits of exotics are also invaluable for women. By replacing traditional desserts with delicious sweet and sour berries, you not only minimize the consumption of sugar, which negatively affects your figure, but also activate your metabolism.

Feijoa has been used in home cosmetology for centuries to improve the condition of facial skin. Systematic procedures (masks with fruit pulp) are a proven method of slowing down the aging process and reducing the depth of age-related wrinkles.

The use of feijoa in cooking

The product is low-calorie (50 kcal/100 g) and can be used in various diets. Since the berry itself has an exceptional taste, it is replaced traditional dishes with sugar. Most often, feijoa is added to desserts: fruit salads with whipped cream and ice cream; preserves, confitures, compotes, and lemonades are prepared from the product.

Very often, confectioners use green pulp for filling cakes, pastries, and sweets.

The beneficial properties of feijoa are actively used in dietary nutrition. How to prepare and properly consume delicious fruits? Cut the ripe fruit in half and scoop out the pulp with a teaspoon, leaving the skin intact.

The high concentration of organic acids allows the product to be prepared without subsequent preservation, for example, by simply grinding the berries with sugar or honey. This delicacy will help eliminate iodine deficiency in the body.

Traditional medicine recipes with feijoa

Pulp ground with sugar - excellent remedy to reduce blood pressure, cleaning blood vessels, improving blood composition. Pass through a meat grinder or puree the peeled berries in a blender along with granulated sugar (2:1), transfer the tasty mixture into a clean glass jar and take a tablespoon three times a day as a healthy dessert. The medicine should be stored in the refrigerator.

Fresh fruit juice, diluted with water (15 ml per glass of drinking water), helps improve the condition of the myocardium and blood vessels, eliminate iodine deficiency, and say goodbye to constipation. Take one glass of healing drink per day. To enhance the effect, you can add natural honey (a teaspoon) to the elixir.

Fresh feijoa fruits are an ideal remedy for gout, constipation, colds, diseases of the bronchopulmonary system and hypovitaminosis. The maximum benefit from exotic fruits can be obtained by consuming 3-5 medium fruits per day (the weight of the berries varies from 30 to 120 grams).

Healing jam will help in the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis. The composition is also recommended in the winter-autumn period to strengthen the immune system and prevent spring vitamin deficiency. 1/2 kg of unpeeled fruits are blanched, crushed and covered with 1 kg of sugar.

After the juice has been extracted, cook the mixture over low heat for 10 minutes, add the freshly squeezed juice of 1 large orange and continue to simmer on the stove until cooked (about 5-7 minutes). The jam is rolled into sterile jars or stored under a plastic lid in the refrigerator.

Can feijoa be harmful to health? Like any fruit, this exotic has a number of limitations.

Firstly, the product is contraindicated for anyone with individual intolerance, which is often observed in people to overseas fruits.

Be careful when including berries on your menu if you have never tried them before. You should not feed the fruit to small children.

Secondly, you should not exceed the dosage recommended by nutritionists (5 pieces per day for an adult or approximately 0.3 kg), since you can get an allergic reaction to the product and an overdose of iodine, which is expressed in increased nervous excitability, restlessness, causeless irritability, arrhythmia, fluctuations in body temperature.

Strictly prohibited consumption of fruits by people suffering from hyperfunction of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), due to the high concentration of easily digestible forms of iodine. If you have endocrine diseases, you should definitely consult with a supervising specialist.

Use feijoa with caution if you have diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis, or gastritis with high acidity.

Avoid the combination of feijoa and whole milk as it may cause stomach upset. Exotic drinks are best combined with fermented milk drinks and products - natural yogurt om, kefir, sour cream, cottage cheese.

Do not eat berries that show signs of rotting. Purchased fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for no longer than 1 week. Failure to follow this advice may result in food poisoning waste products of pathogenic microorganisms.

Having carefully studied the composition of feijoa, its benefits and harm to health, you can consciously improve the condition of the body by including this product in your daily menu. The therapeutic effects of an exotic berry can only be truly appreciated if its use is systematic. A single dose will not bring the desired result.

Be healthy!

The beneficial properties and contraindications of feijoa are due to its unusually rich vitamin composition. This exotic fruit, originally from Brazil, is not only included in various types of dietary dishes, but is also used in the treatment and prevention of many diseases: diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis, gout, chronic colitis and pyelonephritis. In addition, the benefits of the pulp and peel of the fruit have been proven in cosmetology.

Feijoa: fruit or berry

(also Akka Sellova or Akka Feijoa) is a type of evergreen shrub cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates. In Russia, this fruit is grown in the Transcaucasus, Crimea and Krasnodar Territory.

These are large, fleshy berries with a lumpy skin. Their weight varies from 20 to 120 g depending on the variety. The diameter of the fruit is 2-5 cm, the length is 2-7 cm. Despite their rather large size, feijoa fruits are considered berries.

These berries are shaped like kiwi. The taste of the pulp is soft, sour, with notes of strawberry and pineapple. The seeds are small and practically unnoticeable. The color of the peel varies depending on the subspecies of the fruit: it can be colored in either light yellow-green tones or dark green shades. Sometimes the surface of the berry is covered with a thin anthocyanin coating.

The fruits are recommended to be consumed in fresh, however, they do not lose their beneficial properties even during heat treatment. This quality of the berry explains such a variety of feijoa recipes. They are used to prepare:

compotes and juices;
sour or sweet and sour sauces;
preserves, jam, jam and marmalade;
minced fruit for stuffing fish;
marshmallows;
liqueurs, liqueurs and wine.

How to eat feijoa: with or without peel

The benefits of fruits are best preserved when consumed fresh. To do this, the fruit is cut in half and the soft pulp is eaten out with a spoon, but the peel of the fruit can also be eaten - it is no less useful than the pulp of this fruit, since it contains many biologically active components. In particular, due to the high concentration of antioxidants in the peel of the berries, feijoa is used in the treatment and prevention of cancer.

However, the skin of the berries is rarely eaten fresh, because it tastes quite unpleasant. It is usually dried and used to make tea. In addition, the tart, astringent taste of the fruit can be softened by dressing when adding berries to fruit salads. In other words, whether to eat feijoa with or without peel is up to everyone to decide for themselves.

The fruits remain fresh for 7 to 20 days, depending on how they are stored.

How to clean feijoa

In the traditional sense of the word, this fruit is not peeled. When feijoa ripens, the fruit becomes soft. It is carefully cut in the middle and the pulp is eaten with a teaspoon without touching the peel.

Nutritional value and composition of feijoa

Feijoa is the only fruit in the world whose iodine content is higher than that of any seafood. This high concentration makes it useful in treating thyroid problems. Moreover, iodine is found in fruits in a water-soluble state, which is why the body quickly absorbs this element. Fresh berries are a rich source of vitamin C and fiber, but the vitamin composition of fruits is not limited to these elements. They contain:

B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic and folic acids, pyridoxine);
proteins, fats, carbohydrates;
sucrose;
pectin substances;
essential oils;
flavonoids – plant polyphenols that have an antitumor effect;
saponins - biologically active components that regulate water-salt metabolism in the body;
antioxidants (biologically active components kakhetin and leukoanthocin);
micro- and macroelements (calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus).

The calorie content of feijoa is 49 kcal.

What are the benefits of feijoa for the body?

The high concentration of vitamins B and C determines the widespread use of this fruit in the treatment and prevention of vitamin deficiency. In terms of the amount of iodine contained in its fruits, feijoa surpasses even red fish, so including the fruit in the daily diet brings considerable benefits in restoring pancreatic function.

Regular moderate consumption of these berries has the following effects on the human body:

the function of nerve endings improves;
the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease is reduced;
the functioning of the thyroid gland is restored;
goiter growth is prevented;
wounds heal better;
the risk of developing osteoporosis is reduced;
memory improves;
blood quality improves;
general irritability and weakness, depression decreases;
prevention of tumor and colds occurs;
the functioning of the lungs and brain improves.

Feijoa: beneficial properties for men

The benefits of feijoa fruit for men include the prevention and treatment of prostatitis. It has been scientifically proven that eating 2-3 fruits a day prevents re-inflammation of the prostate gland. In addition, since the list of beneficial properties of the berry includes normalizing the activity of the endocrine gland, small portions of the fruit are recommended for consumption during hormonal therapy.

What are the benefits of feijoa for women?

The benefits of feijoa for a woman’s body lie, first of all, in the dietary properties of its fruits. Feijoa is recommended to be consumed during a diet by women who want to lose weight. These berries contain substances that have a stimulating effect on metabolism, which has a positive effect on a woman’s figure.

Important! When eating fresh fruits instead of confectionery, the first results will be noticeable within a week.

The fruits of the berries have also found their use in cosmetology - their benefits in stimulating the regenerative processes of the upper layers of the skin are incredible. Masks made from feijoa pulp have a rejuvenating effect on the skin and smooth out deep wrinkles. The crushed peel is used to create local applications to reduce redness and irritation on the skin.

Feijoa during pregnancy

The diet of pregnant women should be rich and balanced, so during this period doctors recommend diversifying it with feijoa. Eating at least one fruit daily has a beneficial effect on a child’s growing body:

Folates contained in fruit pulp stimulate hematopoietic processes.
The plant fibers that these berries are rich in help prevent frequent constipation during pregnancy and after childbirth.
During pregnancy, it is recommended to include iodine-containing foods in the diet, and feijoa is even superior to seafood in this parameter.

Feijoa can be consumed by pregnant women either fresh or after processing.

Important! Feijoa is especially useful to eat during the 11-12th week of pregnancy, when the baby's thyroid gland is intensively developing.

Feijoa during breastfeeding

The high iron content in the fruit makes these berries closer to pomegranates. This element is necessary to strengthen the immune system of nursing mothers and their children, so consuming feijoa in moderation is mandatory when breastfeeding, but this should be approached with caution. Berries are included in the diet only a month after birth. Intensive consumption of fruit during pregnancy will do more harm than good.

Is feijoa ok for children?

Feijoa extremely rarely causes an allergic reaction in the body, but it is given to young children with great caution. Despite the extensive list of beneficial properties, its benefits are most fully revealed when consumed by adults. The fact is that the child’s body is not able to well absorb some of the elements that make up this fruit, so problems with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract are possible if the berries are consumed excessively.

The use of feijoa in medicine

IN folk medicine The pulp and peel of the fruit are used to prepare a variety of infusions, decoctions and solutions. The variety of remedies is due to the extensive list of beneficial properties of the berry, but eating fresh berries also brings no less benefits.

Decoctions from the leaves, bark and fruits of the plant are used as an antiseptic disinfectant, which is used to treat small wounds, abrasions and rinse the mouth when gums are bleeding. Such decoctions also relieve acute toothache.

Fresh berries act as a useful dietary supplement for gastritis and pyelonephritis. In addition, these exotic fruits strengthen the immune system, increase the body's resistance to colds, and have pronounced antidepressant properties. To treat influenza, a squeeze of essential oils from berries and a variety of jams are used.

The benefits of the fruit are undeniable when overworked - with increased mental stress, the fruit reduces chronic fatigue, drowsiness and irritability. Berries are also prescribed for thyroid dysfunction.

Regular consumption of feijoa is an effective medicinal and preventive remedy for normalizing blood pressure, as these berries are rich in potassium. Finally, the fruits relieve symptoms of toxicosis.

Beneficial properties of feijoa for the thyroid gland

Feijoa accumulates iodine well, so the fruit is extremely useful food supplement in case of violation proper operation thyroid gland. To treat goiter, prepare the following infusion:

crushed 1 tbsp. l. fresh berry leaves;
the crushed leaves are poured into a glass container and poured with 1 cup of boiling water;
the mixture is infused for half an hour, after which the infusion is ready for use.

Dosage: 1 glass 2 times a day. If desired, you can add honey to the infusion.

Important! Not all varieties are rich in iodine. There is practically no it in berries from Batumi, so using such fruits to normalize the function of the thyroid gland is completely pointless - their benefit in this case is minimal.

Feijoa for diabetes

Consumption of feijoa for diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2 is not prohibited. Moreover, recent scientific studies have confirmed the benefits of the berry for pancreatic dysfunction, but take the fruit in small quantities. They are rich in sucrose, therefore, in order to avoid increased blood sugar levels in diabetes, feijoa is consumed fresh or as part of tea. Thus, the potential of all beneficial properties will be fully revealed.

Beneficial properties of feijoa jam

The benefit of feijoa jam is that this dessert not only retains many beneficial substances during heat treatment, but is also recommended for use for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, cancer and inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract. Also, when the product is included in the daily diet, the human body’s immune system is generally strengthened. Finally, its benefits have long been confirmed in the treatment of colds and viral diseases.

Prepare jam as follows:

Squeeze juice from 1 orange;
500 g of berries are crushed without removing the peel;
the crushed mass is boiled for 10 minutes;
after this time, sugar and orange juice are added to the water;
Then the fruits are boiled until the mass thickens, after which the jam can be poured into jars.

The benefits of feijoa jam are due to the rich composition of fresh fruits that are used to prepare this dessert. In particular, the beneficial properties of berries are explained by the high concentration of vitamin C, fiber, sucrose, pectin and malic acid.

For more information on making jam, watch the video below:

Contraindications for taking feijoa

Including feijoa in the diet can bring both benefits and considerable harm. They are contraindicated in case of individual intolerance and diabetes mellitus due to the high sucrose content.

Also, the high concentration of iodine in this fruit poses a health hazard for people with hyperthyroidism. High-calorie fruits will be especially harmful to people who are overweight. In addition, an overdose of iodine is dangerous for the functioning of the thyroid gland.

Important! You cannot combine berries with milk, since the pectin substances contained in the fruits do not combine with lactose and therefore neutralize all the beneficial properties of the product. Combining any dairy products with this fruit can negatively affect the functioning of the digestive system.

Conclusion

The beneficial properties and contraindications of feijoa require some caution when consuming its fruits. The pulp and peel of fruits are rich in vitamins, nutrients and, undoubtedly, bring great benefits to the body, but an oversaturation with them is just as harmful as their deficiency. In addition, the place where the berries grow is of considerable importance - fruits grown in areas with iodine-poor soil, for example, are practically useless for stimulating the thyroid gland.

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This oblong green fruit appeared on the shelves quite a long time ago, but still not everyone knows that feijoa product is tasty, healthy, nutritious and can be a good addition to the daily diet. What is feijoa, where does the strange fruit grow and what is it eaten with - in the literal sense of the word?

An evergreen plant - a shrub or tree up to 4 meters in height - belongs to the myrtle family. Feijoa is used as a fruit and ornamental plant, since its flowers are also very attractive - white and pink, with long scarlet stamens.

Initially, the plant was found only in Brazil, where it was discovered in the 19th century and received the name of its discoverer, the Portuguese naturalist Joao da Silva Feijo. Then it became popular in Europe, and later came to America, Australia, and New Zealand.
The benefits and harms of feijoa for the body have been studied thoroughly. The fruits taste like pineapple, banana and strawberries and contain a lot of useful microelements and vitamins.

To enhance certain qualities, selection began, and soon new and diverse varieties of feijoa appeared. The length of the fruit can be from 2 to 7 centimeters, and the weight can be from 50 to 120 g, depending on the variety and growing conditions.

The most popular varieties are:

Andrea;
Allegro;
Coolidge;
Superba;
Choisena;
Besson;
Mammoth;
Robert;
Magnifica.

How do feijoa varieties differ and which one to choose?

Andre is a variety that was brought from Brazil to Europe and became the first that could be tried in the Old World. The fruits are medium or large, the peel is quite thick, light green, lumpy and knobby. The pulp is very aromatic and tasty, with a small amount of seeds.

Coolidge is one of the most popular varieties in the United States and is grown in California. The fruits are medium in size, with a skin with fine wrinkles, reminiscent of corrugated paper. The pulp is not very aromatic, but sweet. Mammoth is very similar to this variety, but the skin is more wrinkled and the fruits are larger on average.

Besson has small or medium-sized fruits, very aromatic and juicy, with a large number of seeds. They are easily recognized by the reddish or burgundy tint of the peel. The peel is thin.
Small round or oval fruits with a strong, pleasant aroma are Choiseana. The Superba variety is similar to it - their aroma literally makes your mouth water. They are distinguished by the absence of a red tint and smooth skin.

David is a late variety. It is characterized by a rough peel, a reddish tint and a pleasant strawberry aroma.
Magnifica variety is one of the largest.

In cooking, the fruits are used both raw and after heat treatment. You can use them to prepare salads, desserts, sauces, snacks, compotes, jams and even pickle.

Composition and beneficial properties of feijoa

Let us immediately note that feijoa is a dietary product. Calorie content of 100 g of product is 50-55 kcal. Those who care about their health and watch their weight should pay special attention to this fruit. After all, there are many useful substances and microelements in fruits:

vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, B9;
potassium;
vitamin PP;
sodium;
potassium;
vitamin C;
phosphorus;
zinc;
copper;
calcium;
magnesium.

What else is feijoa fruit good for?

The pulp of the oval “green vitamins” contains a large amount of iodine in a special, easily digestible form. In terms of the content of this element, the fruits are not inferior to fish and other seafood and are widely used in the treatment of the thyroid gland and the endocrine system as a whole. They should also be included in the menu of older people and those who live in areas characterized by iodine deficiency.

The fruit also contains 5 amino acids important for health: alanine, asparagine, arginine, glutamine and tyrosine.

The astringent tart taste of feijoa comes from phenols contained in the peel along with other beneficial substances. Therefore, nutritionists recommend eating fruits with the skin, and if you don’t want to spoil the delicate taste of the pulp, the peel can be cut off, dried and added to tea. By the way, the leaves of the plant are used to make tea, which contain a large amount of essential oils, minerals and have a pleasant aroma. Teas and infusions of leaves are used in the treatment of diseases of the stomach, pancreas, intestines, digestive disorders, and pyelonephritis.

In winter and spring, when we feel an acute lack of vitamins, the benefits of the fruit are invaluable. Feijoa fruit for the body is an excellent source of vitamin C, a powerful immunomodulator and antioxidant. It is recommended to include the fruit in the menu to strengthen the immune system, prevent and treat colds, flu, sore throats and other viral diseases, as well as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

The beneficial properties of feijoa are not limited to this. It has an antifungal effect; infusion of the fruit can disinfect wounds, scratches, cuts, make compresses for skin inflammation, and rinse the mouth for gum disease.

Scientists and doctors, after much research, have found that regular use of the product reduces the risk of cancer, and if the disease has already been detected, then in combination with other drugs it allows the disease to be transferred to the stage of long-term and stable remission.

Feijoa for women is a storehouse of beneficial substances for the skin. Due to its antioxidant properties, the fruit is widely used in cosmetology. With it:

relieve inflammation and eliminate redness;
soften the skin;
improve blood circulation;
treat rosacea, acne, eliminate pigment spots;
refresh, rejuvenate, increase skin elasticity.

A healing mask can be easily prepared at home from chopped feijoa halves, olive oil, low-fat cottage cheese and egg yolk.

A 15-minute lotion made from freshly cut fruit peel will help remove dark circles and bags under the eyes, smooth the skin and make it fresh and radiant.

Please note that feijoa does not cause allergies, so it can be consumed by everyone without exception, the main thing is in reasonable quantities. The watery jelly-like pulp can be added to appetizers, sauces, seasonings and salads, main courses and desserts, compotes and jelly, and baked goods.

However, only a high-quality product will benefit you. Whitish pulp is a sign of insufficient ripeness of the fruit, they need to be allowed to ripen, and if it is brownish, they should not be eaten, they are hopelessly spoiled.

Harm and contraindications of the fruit

Even the healthiest foods, consumed in excessive quantities, can cause health problems. Green Vitamins are no exception. The main contraindications for feijoa: an allergic reaction to the product and its excessive consumption.

The fruits can be harmful if a person has hypersensitivity to iodine. Such a reaction of the body is extremely rare, but if after a slice of pulp you feel unwell, it is better to refrain from further experiments. Keep in mind that irritation can be caused not by the fruit itself, but by the substances with which they were treated so that they do not spoil during transportation and storage. Therefore, the fruits must be washed very thoroughly before use.

People who are seen by an endocrinologist with a diagnosis of “hyperfunction of the thyroid gland” with feijoa also need to be very careful. With an overdose of iodine, extremely unpleasant symptoms can be observed: temperature fluctuations, rapid heartbeat, hyperexcitability, turning into a hysterical state, general weakness and depression. If you still want to include fruit in the menu, be sure to consult your doctor.

Choose only whole fruits without damage - pathogenic bacteria can multiply in affected areas, causing disorder digestion and poisoning.
Feijoa dishes can be harmful if washed down with milk. To prepare salads, dressings and desserts, it is better to use fermented milk products - natural yogurt, sour cream, cheese, cottage cheese.

Due to the high sucrose content, there are contraindications for the consumption of feijoa for diabetics and overweight people.

The overseas fruit should be given to children with caution, like any other new product.

You should not store feijoa in the refrigerator for more than 7 days - spoiled fruit can do more harm than good.
Considering that feijoa has a lot of useful properties, use them to the fullest, feel free to include the fruit in your daily diet and be healthy and beautiful.