Today we will talk about how feijoa is useful. Feijoa is home to America. Feijoa is grown in regions with tropical and subtropical climates including Crimea. Feijoa I mainly buy on the market, we sell it in October-November. Feijoa fruits are harvested not yet ripe, they ripen in the process of transportation, and without losing their useful properties. But, you should know that ripe fruits spoil very quickly. The peel of ripe fruits is dark green, the flesh is jelly-like inside, the taste of feijoa, for me, is a mixture of flavors: pineapple, kiwi, green strawberry.

The calorie content of feijoa is 52 kcal per 100 grams.

Feijoa composition: fats, carbohydrates, fiber, essential oils, glucose, iodine, potassium, zinc, sodium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium. Vitamin: C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9.

How to choose, store and eat feijoa correctly

We can buy feijoa only at the beginning of winter, I try to buy feijoa in the market, not in a supermarket or store. When buying a feijoa, ask the seller to cut the fruit for you, the flesh should be transparent.

If the pulp is white it means that the fruit is not yet ripe, but you can buy feijoa. In a couple of days, the fruits will ripen. If the flesh of the feijoa is brown, it means that the fruit has deteriorated.

From the feijoa sellers, I learned that it is better to take larger feijoa fruits. Fruits should have a uniform dark green color.

Choose fruits carefully, buy feijoa without visible damage. And if one of the fruits has rotted at home, then it is better to throw it away. Eat only quality foods. After all, the beneficial properties of feijoa will depend on the freshness and quality of the product.

Feijoa fruits are stored in the refrigerator for about one week. In the feijoa season, you can buy it at 0.5-1 kg. and eat fresh. And for the winter, prepare raw feijoa jam. This is an excellent "medicine" for strengthening health and immunity.

Feijoa pulp can be eaten with a teaspoon by cutting the fruit in half. You can eat straight with the skin, but personally I don't like it, although it is rich in amino acids and biologically active substances. Feijoa fruits are used for making desserts, used for baking, making sauces, compote and jam.

How is feijoa useful?

Feijoa fruits are very tasty, fragrant, beneficial for our health. Fruits are very useful for weakness, seasonal vitamin deficiency. Plus, it is a source of cheerfulness, as well as a good memory.

• Feijoa is very useful for vitamin deficiency.
• It is useful to use feijoa for colds, since the fruits contain vitamin C.
• Good for the intestines, as it contains a lot of fiber.
• Feijoa contains 36 mg of iodine per 100 grams. It is simply irreplaceable with a lack of iodine in the body.
• Feijoa helps lower blood cholesterol levels.
• Improves blood composition.
• It is useful to eat feijoa with low hemoglobin in the blood. What other foods help to increase hemoglobin in the blood can be found in my article "What foods increase hemoglobin in the blood."
• It is useful to eat feijoa for people suffering from atherosclerosis.
• Feijoa fruits strengthen the immune system.
• Feijoa helps improve memory and focus.
• Fruits inhibit the development of cancer.

Feijoa contraindications

As a rule, allergic reactions to fruits are extremely rare. But if you have a serious illness, consult your doctor before using feijoa. To take into account for you all the beneficial properties and contraindications of feijoa.

• Feijoa is contraindicated in case of individual fruit intolerance.
• If you are allergic to feijoa fruits.
• Do not overuse fruits if you are obese.
• With diabetes mellitus.

You can also eat one fruit and see the body's reaction, if there are no unpleasant symptoms, then you can safely use the fruit. But you must agree that everything is good in moderation.

Feijoa treatment

Feijoa is very useful for constipation, due to the fact that the fruits contain a lot of fiber. They need to be included in your diet, and you need to eat them for a long time.

Feijoa is very useful for thyroid diseases that are associated with a lack of iodine in the body. It is useful to eat 2-3 fruits a day. In terms of iodine content, feijoa fruits can only be compared with seafood.

For the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, you need to add 1 tablespoon of feijoa juice to 50 grams of water and drink. Drink once a day.

The fruits of feijoa are useful for atherosclerosis. In case of hypertension, they need to be twisted in a meat grinder and mixed with sugar (2: 1). Store the mixture in the refrigerator and take a tablespoon 2 times a day.

Feijoa fruits are very useful for depression and stress.

Eat 3-4 fruits a day. Fruits improve memory, attention. They are a good vitamin remedy. Strengthens the immune system.

Feijoa flowers, like fruits, have medicinal properties. They are dried and then added to tea or jam. And from the fruits you can make delicious and aromatic jam.

Feijoa is a seasonal fruit, so you can save it only by making jam from it. Since the shelf life of feijoa is one week in the refrigerator. But raw feijoa jam is very tasty and healthy.

Very tasty for tea, plus all the beneficial properties of feijoa are preserved in this jam. I only cook raw jam, because there is no arguing about its benefits and taste. I don't make a lot of jam. I take 1-2 kg. feijoa. Since I also have raw raspberry and black currant jam in my refrigerator. But if you have not tried such a jam yet, I highly recommend making it. I think you will not regret it.

First you need to choose beautiful and ripe feijoa fruits. We sell them on the market in the fall. I approach the choice of fruits responsibly. I take only high quality ones.

At home, I wash them under running water. I remove the remnants of flowers. The peel does not need to be peeled off. I tried to cook the jam by peeling off and not peeling off the peel. When you peel off the peel, the raw feijoa jam is more tender and tastier. But that's for my taste. In general, it is very useful to twist the feijoa with the skin, as it contains many vitamins.

I cut the fruits in half, if large, then into four parts. Then they need to be crushed. You can do this with a meat grinder, I grind using a blender. Grind feijoa in pieces in a blender and put in a bowl.

The finished chopped mixture must be mixed with sugar. The proportions are 1: 1 (that is, for 1 kg of feijoa, I add 1 kg of sugar). Therefore, if 2-3 kg of feijoa, then more sugar will be needed.

After mixing chopped feijoa and sugar, I put the raw jam in sterile jars. I usually take jars with a twist. You can leave the jam on the table in jars until the sugar dissolves. I keep raw feijoa jam in the refrigerator.

Now you know how feijoa is useful, its beneficial properties, its use in treatment and contraindications.

There are few fruit crops in the myrtle family. An honorable place among them is feijoa - an evergreen shrub or a short tree with edible green fruits.

If you are not yet familiar with the exotic, it will be useful for you to find out: a fruit or a feijoa berry? According to the botanical classification, the fruit is called a berry.

And since it is mainly used for making desserts, it is considered a fruit in cooking and everyday life. Feijoa is eaten raw or used to make jams, compotes and even marinades.

How and where does feijoa grow

The homeland of the plant is the subtropics. The first specimens were found in Brazil. Now trees are grown in the Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, on the Pacific coast of the United States.

They feel good in the Mediterranean and in Australia, and are found in Russia. Where feijoa grows, residents of the Krasnodar Territory, the Caucasus and Abkhazia know well.

The exotic trees in these regions are common garden plants. They are not so delicate, they can withstand frosts up to 11 degrees.

Residents of the south appreciate not only the excellent taste of the fruit, they know how feijoa is useful, and with what diseases it helps.

Useful properties and contraindications of feijoa, composition, calorie content

Biologists compare the fruits of a plant with seafood: they have a lot in common in chemical composition.

How is feijoa useful for the body, and how to use it? It is known that it is a storehouse of vitamins, minerals, useful organic acids.

Wherein caloric content of the product low - about 50 kcal/ 100 g. Glycemic index feijoa - 40 units.

Feijoa composition

1. In fruits and ascorbic acid.
2. Feijoa vitamins (C, PP, gr. B) make it a good antioxidant.
3. There are many pectins in the pulp. This allows you to cook marmalade, jelly, soufflé and marshmallows from the fruit.
4. Of the minerals, there is a lot of potassium, iron, phosphorus and sodium.
5. The peel contains phenols - natural antiseptics. They kill germs, make the immune system strong.
6. Tannins and essential oils suppress pathogenic microflora.
7. Fruits contain a lot of fiber - an essential element of proper digestion.

The benefits of feijoa for the body

• High blood pressure normalizes, lowers cholesterol levels.
• Effective for bronchitis and diarrhea.
• Delays the growth of cancer cells.
• It has a positive effect on hematopoietic processes.
• Strengthens the body. Recommended for stress and fatigue.

Use of peels, leaves, flowers

1. Compresses from the bark and leaves of the plant are used as an antiseptic. It is an excellent disinfectant for wound healing.
2. A decoction of the leaves relieves toothache, helps to fight bleeding gums.
3. The flowers of the plant are edible and can be added to salads.
4. The peel of the fruit is dried and added to the tea as a flavoring agent.

Useful properties of feijoa for men

Men appreciate the plant as a preventive measure against urological diseases. But that's not all that feijoa is capable of. Useful properties for men consist in a positive effect on the reproductive and genitourinary systems.

Daily use of 2-3 fruits in the season prevents inflammation of the prostate, helps with erectile dysfunction.

Contraindications and warnings

• The fruit does not go well with and. It's better not to eat them together. There is a risk of diarrhea.
• With hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism), you can eat very in moderation. After all, an excess of iodine can harm.
• Do not give to children under one year old. Toddlers do not yet have enzymes that break down exotic fruits.
• Feijoa for type 2 diabetes is allowed, but you need to choose savory fruits. This also applies to patients with type 1 diabetes.
• No cases of allergy to this product have yet been reported. But still, no one is immune from individual intolerance.

Feijoa weakens or strengthens the stool

A sufficient amount of fiber in fruits helps to normalize digestion. The pulp has a mild laxative effect, and the rind is astringent, since it contains a lot of tannins. Dry peel is brewed and drunk for diarrhea and food poisoning.

The right way to eat feijoa - with or without peel

Having learned how feijoa is useful and what it treats, you need to figure out how to eat it correctly. The taste of the peel is specific, tart. More often the fruit is eaten without it. But the medicinal properties of feijoa with peel are much higher.

People on different continents decide for themselves how to eat feijoa. Some people clean them, others eat poultry, cutting off only the tail. If this is your first time trying the fruit, eat the skin and flesh separately.

How much can you eat feijoa per day

For the product to be of maximum benefit, 5 fruits per day will be enough.... But in the off-season there are no fresh fruits, they are replaced with jams and mashed potatoes, grated with sugar or. The daily allowance for such a product is no more than 4 tbsp. l.

How to clean feijoa

Looking at exotics, it is difficult to understand how to use feijoa. If you come across unripe hard fruits, put them next to them - they will ripen.

Feijoa, when ripe, becomes soft. The fruit is cut, and the pulp is taken out with a spoon. If the peel is green, without spots, it is either eaten or dried for later use.

When the feijoa ripens

Deep autumn is the feijoa season in Russia. November is the traditional time for tropical fruit picking. The most useful and delicious are ripe fruits.

It is better to buy them when the feijoa season is in full swing. This is November - December. Ripe fruits fall to the ground, where they are harvested. If you see a feijoa with a green stalk, then the fruit is definitely immature, it was cut off green.

How to choose ripe feijoa

Glossy shine, noble wrinkles are signs of a ripe fruit. A matte bluish bloom is also good. This is the natural protection of the fruit from spoilage. Brown spots are signs of rot, bright green skin is immaturity.

But the size depends on the variety. The biggest fruits come from New Zealand. To deliver them, they are plucked unripe.

Medium size - originally from Azerbaijan. The chances that they will be ripe are much higher. Those that are smaller come to us from the Krasnodar Territory. Their path is even shorter.

How to determine the ripeness of a feijoa

If you cut the fruit, and it has a white center, then you have an unripe feijoa in front of you. Ideally, the fruit pulp should be clear, beige or pale pink in color.

Rotten fruits have a brown center. The aroma depends on the variety. The taste of feijoa of an oblong shape resembles with sourness, round - it smells of strawberries.

How to store feijoa at home

In growing areas, the fruit can be stored for no more than a month. They put it in paper bags or boxes and put it in a cool place. Fruits that hit the shelves of the Middle Lane have come a long way, their shelf life is reduced.

Usually, fruits bought in a store are not stored for more than a week. But their medicinal properties are preserved even after processing. For this, ripe feijoa is ground with sugar (1: 1) directly with the skin. Keep refrigerated.

Growing feijoa at home

If you are interested in the beneficial properties (and contraindications) of feijoa, but climatic conditions do not allow you to have this tree in the garden, you can grow the culture indoors.

Please note that only self-pollinated feijoa varieties bear fruit. Growing other varieties at home is a way to decorate the interior.

You can get a beautiful tree by sowing its seeds. You will see the first fruits in 7 years. Plants grown from cuttings enter fruiting in 3-4 years.

Cuttings are taken semi-lignified, "with a heel." They are treated with heteroauxin and rooted in wet sand. As they grow, the cuttings are planted in appropriately sized pots. Plants need to be placed in a bright place and ensure timely watering.

Feijoa recipes in traditional medicine

For medicinal purposes, ripe fruits, fresh and dried, are used, their peel, bark and leaves of trees. You do not need to take your medicine with meals. This will reduce its effectiveness. Typically, it is taken half an hour before or after a meal.

Feijoa recipes for thyroid treatment

• An aqueous infusion of leaves - pour a glass of boiling water over 1 tbsp. l. raw materials. Insist half an hour. Drink a glass with honey twice a day before meals (20 minutes).
• Raw jam - mince the fruits and combine with an equal amount of sugar. In the morning and in the evening (preferably half an hour before meals), take 1 tbsp. l. funds. After 10 days, take a break. After 10 days, the reception is resumed.

How to cook feijoa for immunity

For the prevention of viral diseases, take in the morning a tablespoon of feijoa, rubbed with sugar. There is another old recipe.

1. When ripe, the fruits are placed in jars and poured with honey.
2. In 2 weeks, they wrinkle slightly and let the juice go.
3. The liquid is drained, and the feijoa is poured with a new portion of honey.
4. This is done several times until the fruits decrease in size.
5. Drained honey is used to make drinks, and fruits dried in this way are eaten 2-3 times a day to improve immunity and prevent goiter.

For the prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Feijoa juice (1 tablespoon) is diluted with 50 g of water and drunk once in the morning on an empty stomach. This recipe will help normalize blood pressure for hypertensive patients.

For the treatment of nephritis

Crushed dry leaves and flowers (they are taken in half) are brewed with a glass of boiling water. After half an hour, add a spoonful of honey. Drink after meals twice a day for a glass.

With atherosclerosis

Jam is made from 600 g of feijoa, 1 and 1 kg of sugar. Grind fruits with peel in a blender, cover with sugar, put on fire and bring to a boil, cool. For treatment, take 1 tbsp. l. in the morning. Keep refrigerated.

Feijoa tinctures

Easy-to-prepare tinctures can be used in desserts and to strengthen the immune system. One tablespoon a day is enough to increase the body's resistance to dangerous viruses.

Tincture preparation technology

• Ripe fruits are washed, the tail is removed and cut into slices.
• Loosely placed in a glass jar.
• Pour the fruit with vodka (it should completely cover the contents of the jar).
• Add a little honey and insist in a dark place for 2 weeks.
• The liquid is drained, bottled.

And about the wine from feijoa in the video:

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 dietary meals of various kinds, 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 species of evergreen shrub cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates. On the territory of Russia, this fruit is grown in the Transcaucasia, the Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory.

These are large fleshy berries with a bumpy 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 the rather large size, the fruits of feijoa are considered berries.

These berries resemble kiwi in shape. The taste of the pulp is soft, sour, with hints of strawberry and pineapple. The seeds are small and hardly noticeable. The color of the peel differs depending on the subspecies of the fruit: it can be colored both in light yellow-green tones and in dark green shades. Sometimes the surface of the berry is covered with a thin layer of anthocyanin.

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

• compotes and juices;
• sour or sweet and sour sauces;
• preserves, marmalades, jam and marmalade;
• minced fruit for filling fish;
• pastilles;
• liqueurs, liqueurs and wines.

How to eat feijoa: with or without peel

The benefits of the fruit are best preserved when eaten fresh. To do this, the fruit is cut in half and the soft pulp is eaten 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 berries, feijoa is used in the treatment and prevention of cancer.

However, fresh berry skins are rarely eaten, because the taste is rather unpleasant. It is usually dried and used to make tea. In addition, the tart, astringent flavor of the fruit can be softened by dressing when adding berries to fruit salads. In other words, there is a feijoa with or without peel - everyone decides for himself.

Fruits retain their fresh appearance from 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 the feijoa is ripe, the fruit becomes soft. It is carefully cut in the middle and the pulp is eaten with a teaspoon, without touching the peel.

Feijoa nutritional value and composition

Feijoa is the only fruit in the world with a higher iodine content than any seafood. This high concentration makes it useful in treating thyroid problems. Moreover, iodine is found in fruits in a water-soluble state, due to which the body quickly assimilates this element. Fresh berries are a rich source of vitamin C and fiber, but the vitamin content 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 with an antitumor effect;
• saponins - biologically active components that regulate water-salt metabolism in the body;
• antioxidants (biologically active components of kakhetin and leukoanthocin);
• micro and macro elements (calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus).

The calorie content of feijoa is 49 kcal.

Why is feijoa useful 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 the inclusion of the fruit in the daily diet brings considerable benefits in restoring the function of the pancreas.

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 decreases;
• the work of the thyroid gland is restored;
• the growth of goiter is prevented;
• wounds heal better;
• the risk of developing osteoporosis is reduced;
• improves memory;
• the quality of the blood rises;
• general irritability and weakness, depression decreases;
• prevention of tumors and colds occurs;
• improves the functioning of the lungs and brain.

Feijoa: beneficial properties for men

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

Why feijoa is useful 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 for women who want to lose weight while dieting. These berries contain in their composition substances that have a stimulating effect on metabolism, which has a positive effect on a woman's figure.

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

Berry fruits have also found their application 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 deep wrinkles. The crushed rind is used in topical applications to reduce redness and irritation on the skin.

Feijoa during pregnancy

The diet of pregnant women should be rich and balanced, therefore, during this period, doctors recommend diversifying it with feijoa. Daily consumption of at least one fruit has a beneficial effect on the growing body of a child:

1. Folates contained in the pulp of the fruit stimulate the processes of hematopoiesis.
2. The plant fiber that these berries are rich in helps prevent frequent constipation during pregnancy and after childbirth.
3. During pregnancy, it is recommended to include iodine-containing foods in the diet, and feijoa surpasses even seafood in this parameter.

Feijoa for pregnant women can be consumed both fresh and after processing.

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

Feijoa while breastfeeding

The high iron content in the fruit brings these berries closer to the pomegranate. This element is necessary to strengthen the immune system of nursing mothers and their children, so eating feijoa in moderation is mandatory when breastfeeding, but you need to approach this with caution. Berries are included in the diet only a month after childbirth. Intense consumption of the fruit during pregnancy will do more harm than good.

Is it possible for feijoa for children

Feijoa rarely causes an allergic reaction in the body, but it is given to young children with great care. Despite the extensive list of beneficial properties, its benefits are most fully revealed when eaten by adults. The fact is that the child's body is not able to assimilate well some of the elements that make up this fruit, so there may be problems with the work of the gastrointestinal tract with excessive consumption of berries.

The use of feijoa in medicine

In folk medicine, the pulp and peel of the fruit is used to prepare a variety of infusions, decoctions and solutions. The variety of remedies is due to the extensive list of useful properties of the berry, but the use of fresh berries is no less beneficial.

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 with bleeding gums. Such decoctions also relieve acute toothache.

Fresh berries act as a useful nutritional 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. For the treatment of influenza, squeeze from essential oils of berries and a variety of jams are used.

The benefits of the fruit are undeniable in case of overwork - with increased mental stress, the fruits reduce chronic fatigue, drowsiness and irritability. Also, berries are prescribed for thyroid dysfunction.

Regular consumption of feijoa is an effective drug and prophylactic agent for normalizing blood pressure, since these berries are rich in potassium. Finally, the fruits stop the symptoms of toxicosis.

Useful properties of feijoa for the thyroid gland

Feijoa accumulates iodine well, so the fruit is an extremely useful nutritional supplement in case of malfunctioning of the thyroid gland. For the treatment of goiter, the following infusion is prepared:

• grind 1 tbsp. l. fresh berry leaves;
• crushed leaves are poured into a glass container and poured with 1 glass 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. In berries from Batumi, it is practically absent, therefore, it is completely pointless to use such fruits to normalize the function of the thyroid gland - their benefit in this case is minimal.

Feijoa for diabetes

The use of feijoa for type 1 and type 2 diabetes is not prohibited. Moreover, recent scientific studies have confirmed the benefits of the berry for dysfunction of the pancreas, but the fruit is taken in small quantities. They are rich in sucrose, therefore, in order to avoid an increase in blood sugar levels in diabetes, feijoa is consumed fresh or as part of tea. Thus, the potential of all useful properties will be fully revealed.

Useful properties of feijoa jam

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

Prepare jam as follows:

• juice is squeezed out of 1 orange;
• 500 g of berries are crushed without peeling;
• the chopped 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 make this dessert. In particular, the beneficial properties of berries are due to the high concentration of vitamin C, fiber, sucrose, pectin and malic acid.

Additional information on making jam is described in the video below:

Contraindications to taking feijoa

The inclusion of 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 content of sucrose.

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

Important! You cannot combine berries with milk, since the pectin substances contained in the fruits are not combined with lactose and therefore neutralize all the useful properties of the product. The combination of 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 eating its fruits. The pulp and rind of fruits are rich in vitamins, nutrients and, undoubtedly, bring great benefits to the body, but oversaturation with them is just as harmful as their lack. In addition, the growth of berries is of considerable importance - fruits grown in areas with poor iodine soil, for example, are practically useless for stimulating the thyroid gland.

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This oblong green fruit appeared on the shelves for a long time, but still not everyone knows that feijoa is a tasty, healthy, nutritious product and can be a good addition to the daily diet. What is feijoa, where the outlandish fruit grows 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 an ornamental fruit plant, because its flowers are also very attractive - white-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 the discoverer - the Portuguese naturalist scientist João da Silva Feijo. Then it became popular in Europe, and later came to America, Australia, New Zealand.
The benefits and harms of feijoa for the body have been thoroughly studied. The fruit tastes like pineapple, banana and strawberry at the same time, contains a lot of useful trace elements and vitamins.

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

The most popular varieties are:

• Andrea;
• Allegro;
• Coolidge;
• Superba;
• Choisen;
• Besson;
• Mammoth;
• Robert;
• Magnifica.

What is the difference between feijoa varieties and which one to choose?

André is a variety that was brought from Brazil to Europe and became the first that could be tasted in the Old World. Fruits are medium or large, the peel is rather thick, light green in color, lumpy and knobby. The pulp is very aromatic and tasty, with few seeds.

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

Besson has small to medium-sized fruits, very aromatic and juicy, with a lot of seeds. They are easily recognizable by their reddish or burgundy peel. The rind is thin.
Small round or oval fruits with a strong pleasant aroma are Choiseana. The Superba variety is similar to her - from their aroma literally drools. They are distinguished by the absence of a red tint and smooth skin.

Late varieties include David. It is characterized by a rough skin, a reddish tint and a pleasant strawberry aroma.
The Magnifica variety is one of the largest.

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

The composition and useful properties of feijoa

Immediately, we note that feijoa is a dietary product. The calorie content of 100 g of the product is 50-55 kcal. Those who care about health and control weight should pay special attention to this fruit. After all, there are many useful substances and trace elements in fruits:

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

What else is the feijoa fruit useful for?

The pulp of 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 in general. They should also be included in the menu of older people and those who live in areas that are characterized by iodine deficiency.

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

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

In winter and spring, when we feel an acute lack of vitamins, the benefits of the fruit are invaluable. The feijoa fruit for the body is an excellent source of vitamin C, a powerful immunomodulator and antioxidant. The fruit is recommended to be included in the menu to strengthen immunity, prevent and treat colds, flu, tonsillitis and other viral diseases, as well as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases.

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

Scientists and doctors, after long studies, have established 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 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 his help:

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

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

Remove dark circles and bags under the eyes, smooth skin and leave it fresh and radiant with 15 minutes of freshly cut fruit skin lotion.

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

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

Harm and contraindications of the fruit

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

Fruits can be harmful if a person has a 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 it is not the fruits themselves that can cause irritation, but the substances with which they were processed so that they do not deteriorate during transportation and storage. Therefore, before use, the fruits must be washed very thoroughly.

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

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

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

With care, overseas fruit should be given to children, like any other new product.

Do 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 fruits in your daily diet and be healthy and beautiful.

Fruits are a storehouse of vitamins, they are simply necessary for every person and feijoa is no exception, its beneficial properties are not known to many. Unlike oranges, bananas and other popular products, which are available on our shelves, feijoa is still considered exotic. Some people don't even know about the existence of such a product. It has an unusual taste, reminiscent of banana, strawberry and even pineapple. This plant grows in the Brazilian subtropics, and was brought to Europe at the beginning of the last century. Although it is low in calories, it has its own contraindications, because a high concentration of iodine can lead to side effects.

Useful qualities of an overseas product

Feijoa is green or emerald in color and can be compared to lemon in shape. It owes its popularity to the optimal concentration of vitamins and other substances in the fruit.

What diseases is feijoa used for?

1. Colds. The product contains essential oils that effectively fight germs and viruses, as well as vitamin C, which serves as a prophylactic agent during a flu epidemic.
2. In stressful situations, depression or chronic arterial disease, the benefits of feijoa are stored in its seeds.
3. Oncology. For the health of men, women, especially pregnant women, antioxidants, which are contained in the peel of the plant, are very important. Although it tastes unpleasant, it is used to prevent cancer.
4. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to the fact that the product helps to absorb food, it cleanses the body of men and women from toxins in a short time.
5. Feijoa has no contraindications for diseases of the cardiovascular system, its regular use with honey reduces blood cholesterol levels.
6. Feijoa, the benefits and harms of which are known, is recommended for people with high blood pressure, but it is advisable to exclude it from the diet for diabetes mellitus.
7. The correct functioning of the thyroid gland can be guaranteed by the iodine contained in the body. Feijoa is great for replenishing it.

Feijoa harm

Despite the beneficial properties of the fruit, in some cases it should be eaten with extreme caution.

• Before buying, you should carefully inspect the fruit for damage during transportation, and of course pay attention to contraindications.
• The peel of the fruit consists of vitamins and minerals, but in its raw form it is inedible. Feijoa, when cooked, does not lose its valuable qualities, so it can be added to compote, salad or sauce.
• The plant is a strong allergen, therefore, first you need to try a small part of it, and only then increase the dose. An allergic reaction as a contraindication manifests itself in the form of skin rashes and redness, although there are cases with burning or itching in the mouth. Especially pregnant women need to be careful.
• Unripe feijoa, which is hard to the touch, can cause stomach upset and even serious food poisoning. The fact is that ripe fruits are very easily damaged, so berries for export are always harvested unripe and in this form they get to us. An unripe berry can ripen perfectly at home for two to three days at room temperature.
• A person will suffer from indigestion if he decides to consume feijoa with honey and dairy products. The fruit is rich in pectins, and they do not go well with milk.

1. Diabetes. With such a disease, it is not advisable to eat fruit, which contains sugar in large doses. The fetus can cause an attack of hyperglycemia (an excess of glucose in the blood), so it is recommended to protect yourself from unnecessary diabetes problems.
2. Limiting the use of feijoa should be those who suffer from hyperthyroidism, when hormones are produced in large quantities.
3. Obesity. Despite the fact that feijoa is not very high in calories, it is still not worth eating in large quantities for those who are overweight. Because the fruit contains a lot of malic acid, which stimulates the production of gastric juice and increases appetite.
4. With chronic constipation, it is better to minimize the use of such a product, because it has a strengthening property.

Interesting! The flower petals of the exotic fruit shrub have an apple flavor and can also be eaten. Deep-fried them make sweet chips.

How to choose a feijoa

Unfortunately, only a few people know how to use the berry or will be able to prepare a tasty and healthy dish. When choosing a product, you should pay attention to its contraindications. If not, then choose a ripe, soft fruit with a juicy and translucent pulp. Got the middle brown? The fruit has already spoiled, and if it is white, it has not yet ripened. The pulp has a strong aroma and sweet taste that resembles pineapple or strawberries. The rind is dense and edible, has a certain astringency. If the berry is damaged or knocked out, there is a chance of being poisoned by the waste products of bacteria. This also applies to rotten feijoa. Some people eat the whole fruit, after cutting off the tail, while others prefer to scoop out the pulp with a teaspoon, combining it with honey.

Feijoa chemical composition

The chemical composition will tell you how feijoa is useful and what advantages it has. Berries have the unique ability to store many water-soluble iodine compounds that are easily absorbed by the body. Also, the fruit consists of phenolic compounds such as tannin, catechin, leukoanthocyanin, etc. In addition to rapidly assimilated substances, the plant contains vitamin C, the concentration of which increases as it ripens. For pregnant women, this is a whole storehouse of fiber, protein, asparagine, alanine, tyrosine, glutamine.

In addition to vitamin C, fruits contain all the B vitamins, sucrose, folic and malic acid, and trace elements. 100 g of the product contains 0.74 ash, 86 ml of water, 0.8 g of fat and 10 g of carbohydrates. Also, 100 g of the plant includes 17 mg of calcium, 9 mg of magnesium, 155 mg of potassium, 70 mcg of iodine, 40 mcg of zinc, 3 mg of sodium, 80 mcg of iron. Exotic berry has a high water content, because 100 g contains about 80% water, 10% sugar and 10% carbohydrates.

How to use feijoa correctly

It is not recommended to abuse the fruit, because its positive properties and contraindications are associated with a high iodine content. In case of an overdose, anxiety and nervousness increase, the heart rate increases, and jumps in body temperature are noticeable. If performance has decreased, memory has worsened and this condition continues for a long time, then it is worth being examined by an endocrinologist. The product is gradually introduced into the diet for children in small portions, because after all, it is an exotic fruit. In order for the child to like the taste of the berry, it can be prepared with honey. This also applies to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Important! Ripe fruit is stored in the refrigerator for no more than seven days.

How to boost immunity with feijoa

Pounded fruits with sugar are used to strengthen the immune system. During cooking, all the beneficial properties of feijoa are preserved. During the cooking process, it does not need to be cooked. The plant (1.5 kg) should be rinsed well, cutting off all the tails. Then the product is cut into small cubes, without peeling off, and twisted with a meat grinder. The fruit contains iron, which can cause them to turn yellow. With constant stirring, granulated sugar (1 kg) is added to the mixture. As soon as the sugar melts, add chopped walnuts (200 g).

Regular use of such jam with honey is an excellent preventive measure during a flu epidemic, which is necessary, first of all, for pregnant women. Let the home remedy sit in the kitchen for about an hour, and then pour it into sterilized jars. Feijoa is kept in the refrigerator.

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