Feijoa is exotic for a Slavic person, and the inhabitants of the tropics are familiar with a fruit that is often eaten. The fruit tree grows in a subtropical climate, it is used not only for food, but also for medicinal purposes. If you know the beneficial properties and contraindications of feijoa, then you can enrich the body with valuable substances. The people of South America, New Zealand, Brazil know this, and they often consume the fruits in their diet.

Today, there are more places where feijoa grows. The tree was cultivated in the southern regions of Russia (Krasnodar Territory), Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Australia. Therefore, these medicinal berries have become more accessible and closer.

The feijoa fruit is an oblong berry with a smooth, dense green hue. The soft juicy pulp resembles a combination of several fruits: strawberries, kiwi, pineapple. The fruit is edible whole and complete with the peel, but not everyone likes the taste. By its color, you can determine its maturity: if the pulp is white, the fruit is not ripe, if it is brown, then it is overripe. A perfectly ripe fruit has a transparent core.

The chemical composition of feijoa fruits

• Microelements and macronutrients necessary to maintain immunity and the normal course of all chemical processes in the human body. Feijoa is especially saturated with iodine elements necessary to maintain the functions of the thyroid gland, as well as iron involved in the transfer of oxygen, magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, phosphorus.
• B vitamins that support the functioning of the nervous system.
• Vitamins C and A, which strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
• Amino acids (arginic, tyrosine, aspartic, glutamic) involved in the formation of proteins in the human body.
• Essential oils and tannins.

Beneficial properties for women and men

For women, the fruit is especially useful during pregnancy, when the body of the expectant mother needs a lot of iron, folic acid, calcium, magnesium. All trace elements are found in feijoa. In addition, for the development of a healthy fetus, a sufficient amount of iodine is needed, which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland and the formation of the child's nervous system. With its lack in the body of a pregnant woman and a newborn baby, congenital hypothyroidism (decreased thyroid function) may develop. A complication of this disease is dementia. At the same time, the fruit is low-calorie and does not add excess weight to the expectant mother.

For men, feijoa is useful for prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland). Due to its healing properties, feijoa fruits are able to prevent inflammation of the prostate, so they are used to prevent male problems. At the same time, erectile function in men also improves.

Healing properties of feijoa

• Replenishes the deficiencies of iodine in the human body, which is especially necessary in diseases of the thyroid gland, to maintain its function.
• Improves the functioning of the nervous system.
• Normalizes sleep.
• Strengthens the immune system. Thanks to the vitamins and microelements included in the composition, the fruit stimulates the formation of immune cells - leukocytes.
• Fights anemia. Due to the large amount of iron, feijoa is effective for iron deficiency anemia, strengthens the immune system.
• Lowers blood cholesterol, so the fruit is useful for people suffering from atherosclerosis.
• Improves the functioning of the digestive tract: the content of an increased amount of plant fiber helps to increase peristalsis and cleanse the intestines.
• Natural antiseptic. The bark of the tree, leaves and peel of the fruit have a disinfecting effect. A decoction of them is used for inflammatory diseases of the mucous membranes - periodontal disease, cuts, inflammation of the kidneys.

How to choose a mature feijoa?

Its benefits depend on the degree of ripeness of the fruit. The more ripe the feijoa, the more nutrients it contains. For transportation, unripe fruits are collected, therefore, when buying, you should pay attention to the following nuances:

1. Set aside the hard fruit for several days. This will give him the opportunity to mature and become softer. The most useful feijoa, which has a jelly-like flesh.
2. Overripe fruits are not worth buying. It is difficult to control the onset of fermentation processes, and the purchased feijoa will be unusable.
3. The skin of the fruit must not show any visible damage. They indicate that the beneficial qualities of the fruit are reduced. The reason may be mechanical damage during transportation. Better to put aside the fruit, even with small dents, so as not to doubt its freshness.
4. Large fruit is always preferred. It contains more sugars and vitamins. But, this is not the main criterion. Depending on the variety, feijoa have different fruit sizes.
5. If you need to purchase a ripe fruit, then lightly press on it. It should be soft and the rind not quite smooth. Slice open the feijoa and examine the pulp. Unripe fruit has a white flesh, overripe - brown. Unripe fruit can be put on ripening, overripe - not suitable for use.
6. The fruit should not have a stalk. It indicates that the feijoa was cut from the branch without waiting for the harvest time.
7. The aroma of ripe feijoa is reminiscent of the scent of pineapple. It is used to judge the ripeness of the fruit.

Sales season in Russia. Prices

The ripening time for feijoa fruits is late October-early November. Fruits are imported to Russia from Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, they are grown in Sochi and the Krasnodar Territory. The price of the fruit is not high - it fluctuates around 50-100 rubles per kilogram. Therefore, you can and should afford to eat at least a few feijoa fruits a day during the cold season.

Feijoa calories

100 grams of fruit contains a small amount of calories - 50-55. This fruit is a dietary one. Most of all in its composition are carbohydrates, namely sucrose. The fruit is quickly digested and absorbed.

How to store it correctly?

By keeping the feijoa for a long time, we provide a supply of vitamins for the body. Healthy fruit is stored in different ways.

The most famous options are storage:

• fresh;
• in the form of jam (with and without heat treatment).

Which method to choose should be decided depending on the desired shelf life. On average, feijoa fruits retain their freshness for 10 days after harvest. Taking into account the period of transportation, packaging, preparation for sale, then mature feijoa is best consumed immediately or kept in the refrigerator for several days. An unripe fruit lies until spring with proper observance of storage parameters - temperature and high-quality ventilation. It is enough to place it in the fruit compartment of the refrigerator.

How to eat feijoa? Recipes

This fruit can be eaten both raw and thermally processed. Raw feijoa fruits have a specific flavor reminiscent of pineapple, kiwi and strawberries at the same time. Only the pulp is tasty, the skin is dense and not very pleasant to the taste. But it is in the skin that most of the nutrients are contained. Therefore, in order not to lose them, they prepare jam or jam from the fruits together with the peel.

Recipe for making raw feijoa jam

Many housewives prefer jam - a reliable way to enjoy the taste of feijoa for a long time. The minimum loss of the vitamin value of the fruit is provided by the "live" feijoa jam. It is prepared according to the classic recipe for berries. Sugar and fruits are taken in a 1: 1 ratio and ground into one mass. The amount of sugar can be increased - this will extend the shelf life of the jam, but deprive it of the specific taste of feijoa.

The cooking steps are simple:

1. The fruits are washed, tails and stalks are removed.
2. Grind in a convenient way - in a blender, meat grinder.
3. Spread the mass into an enamel bowl and sprinkle with sugar.
4. Stir until the sugar crystals dissolve.
5. Put the sweetness into a pre-prepared glass container. Lids and jars are thoroughly washed with soda solution, rinsed and poured over with boiling water.
6. Store the jam in the refrigerator for no more than 2.5 - 3 months.

There is a recipe in which sugar is replaced by honey. It is a natural preservative and should not be heat treated. Therefore, it can also be used for "live" jam.

If the composition (with sugar) is thermally treated, then the shelf life is increased to 1 year. In this case, 1 glass of water is added to the above components, which is poured into an enamel container and brought to a boil. Then sugar is added in portions and dissolved. Fruit puree is transferred to syrup and mixed with a wooden spoon. Boil the mixture for 10 minutes, regularly removing the foam. Jam containers are thoroughly washed and sterilized. They lay out the finished jam in jars, roll up and send it to storage in a cool place. The jam is used throughout the year.

Many housewives like to add a twist to the classic composition. For feijoa jam, this will be lemon juice, cranberry, pear, orange pulp with peel, or ginger root.

Jam from feijoa

For cooking, take 600 grams of raw feijoa fruits, wash them, remove dry tails, cut the fruits in half. Grind in a blender, add 0.5 kilograms of sugar, juice and zest of one lemon, 3 tablespoons of grated ginger. After that, add half a liter of drinking water, put it in an aluminum bowl and cook until it becomes a thick jam. Ready feijoa jam is transferred to sterilized jars, rolled up with lids.

Medical uses of feijoa. What do we treat and how?

The main areas of application of feijoa fruits in medicine are endocrinology (treatment of diseases of the thyroid and pancreas), cardiology (treatment of hypertension and purification of blood from cholesterol) and immunology (treatment of reduced immunity and vitamin deficiencies).

Treating the thyroid gland with feijoa

Use raw feijoa jam or mashed potatoes. You need to take a tablespoon 30 minutes before meals 2-3 times a day. The course of treatment is at least a month. It should be remembered that only ripe fruits are used for medicinal purposes.

An infusion of dry feijoa fruits is also used. To do this, pour 3 tablespoons of fruits with two glasses of boiling water, insist overnight. The next day, drink in 3 divided doses. Continue this every day for a month.

Feijoa for diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a disease of the pancreas in which there is a violation of glucose uptake by cells. At the same time, the blood sugar level is increased. Violation of the diet and the use of foods containing a large amount of sugar aggravates the course of the disease, leading to an even greater increase in blood glucose. Therefore, for the treatment of diabetes, feijoa is not used, given the sugar content in its composition, but it is permissible to use it in minimal quantities.

What else

Feijoa is also used in the treatment of the cardiovascular system. It cleans the blood from cholesterol, stimulates the formation of blood cells, prevents the formation of blood clots, pure juice from feijoa fruits. A tablespoon of juice is mixed with 50 grams of water and taken once a day.

To strengthen the walls of blood vessels, you can use jam with oranges. For cooking, take a kilogram of feijoa fruits, 2 kilograms of sugar and the juice of two oranges. Cook jam and take 1 tablespoon 2 times a day. The combination of a large amount of vitamin C in an orange and a complex of trace elements and vitamins in feijoa strengthens blood vessels.

Feijoa in cosmetology

The fruit is anti-inflammatory, which is why it is used to combat acne. Rejuvenating, softening and nourishing properties help aging and aging skin to look healthy. The easiest recipe is to apply the crushed fruit pulp to your face and leave it on for a few minutes.

Before using any mask, you need to carry out a skin test: place a small amount on the inner surface of the forearm and wait 10-15 minutes. If there is no reaction, you can safely apply the mask to your face.

There are several feijoa face masks:

• Thanks to its high content of essential oils and antioxidants, the fruit is used to strengthen skin and hair. Cosmetologists recommend using the following face mask every 3 days. Prepare a decoction of chamomile (1 teaspoon of herbs in a glass of boiling water), cool, add a tablespoon of oatmeal and two tablespoons of feijoa pulp. The mixture should be infused until the flakes swell. Then add a teaspoon of almond oil and apply to cleansed skin.
• The pulp from several feijoa fruits is ground in a blender until smooth. To it add 2 tablespoons of fat cottage cheese, one egg yolk and a tablespoon of olive oil. Before applying, cleanse the skin from cosmetics and sebum. Apply the mask on the face, rinse off with warm water after 20 minutes.

Growing feijoa at home

Growing feijoa at home is possible and is becoming more common in Russia. This tree is loved not only for its useful fruits, but also for its beautiful flowers. The plant is grown in two ways.

1. Growing from seeds. For harvesting, they take ripe fruits (important - not overripe!), Extract the pulp from them along with the seeds. The pulp is washed in a weak solution of manganese, the separated seeds are dried and sown into the soil. Small pots can be used first, and then transplant the sprouted seedlings into larger containers.
2. Growing from cuttings. Take cuttings 8-10 cm long, leave one pair of upper leaves on them. Deepen them by 2/3 of the length at a slope into the soil. The soil is spilled with a warm, weak solution of manganese. To keep moisture in the soil (feijoa loves this), you can cover with plastic. The lighting should be intense, but the light should be scattered. Rooting of cuttings occurs in 1.5-2 months. After that, they can be planted in the ground.

Contraindications

Abuse of any of the products can cause irreparable harm. Therefore, you should always be attentive to the properties of food products. Feijoa fruits are no exception. The benefits and harms of the fruit should be taken into account in the presence of certain diseases in humans.

• Hyperthyroidism. This is a thyroid disorder in which the hormone levels are high. Due to the high iodine content in feijoa fruits, they should not be used for hyperthyroidism.
• Allergic reactions. People who are prone to allergies need to use feijoa with caution. Due to the high amount of essential oils, the fruit can cause allergies.
• Diabetes. Feijoa contains a lot of carbohydrates, which can affect the blood sugar level of a diabetic patient.

It should be remembered that any healthy fruit can be dangerous. For example, an overdose of feijoa can lead to anxiety, increased body temperature, increased heart rate, or, conversely, depression, weakness and lethargy. Therefore, before using the fruit for medicinal purposes, it is imperative to consult a doctor.

Many diseases arise from a lack of certain substances in the body. Observation and attention to your health prevent serious pathologies, you just need to consult a doctor at the first alarming symptoms and get tested. Often in the early stages, the development of the disease is stopped by simple methods. Instead of using pills, you should try to change the menu: exclude harmful foods and liquids that remove the necessary substances from the body, but add useful ones. For example, with iodine deficiency, it makes sense to stop eating cabbage and indulge in coffee and pay attention to seafood and feijoa. This tropical berry is indispensable for the deterioration of the thyroid gland.

Chemical composition and benefits

By absorbing the energy of the sun, feijoa synthesizes substances such as:

• minerals: iodine, silicon, boron, cobalt, chromium, rubidium, molybdenum, potassium;
• ascorbic acid;
• B vitamins;
• phytosterols;
• mono - and disaccharides;
• amino acids;
• organic acids;
• phenolic compounds;
• tannins;
• fiber;
• pectin;
• essential oil.

Always green feijoa appears on the shelves since October. Recently, it has been cultivated in the Caucasus, Crimea and Krasnodar Territory. The exotic berry is not yet as popular as it deserves, although it has a lot of advantages:

• replenishes the lack of iodine in the body;
• thanks to ascorbic acid, it delivers antioxidants to the body and improves immunity;
• contains phytosterols, which have a beneficial effect on blood vessels, controlling cholesterol levels, lowering blood pressure;
• increases appetite and relieves nausea;
• contains fiber and pectins that stimulate the digestive tract;
• includes oil that destroys germs, fungi, relieves inflammation and skin irritation;
• prevents the development of tumors;
• improves mental performance;
• normalizes metabolism.

This subtropical fruit is prized for its highly absorbable, water-soluble iodine. Feijoa is a champion in the plant world for its content. It is very useful for thyroid disorders caused by iodine deficiency. The lack of this substance leads to a decrease in pressure and immunity, to fatigue, edema, anemia, memory and mood impairment. It is easier to prevent iodine deficiency than to treat it, so it is worth including a fragrant berry in the diet.

If a program is being prepared for a patient with influenza, in addition to lemons, it is advisable to put feijoa in the basket, it also contains a lot of vitamin C, which will start immune processes and accelerate recovery. In addition, berry pectins will do general cleaning in the body: they will remove drug toxins, waste products of pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

B vitamins in feijoa prevent aging, improve metabolism and treat depression

A diet with the inclusion of feijoa and with a decrease in the secretion of gastric juice - hypoacid gastritis is welcomed. Organic acids of the fetus activate the stomach. And thanks to the astringent and enveloping properties of the tannins of the berry, inflammation of the mucous membrane will be removed. Fiber and feijoa pectins also have a beneficial effect on the intestines: they eliminate constipation, remove heavy metals.

Feijoa phytosterols reduce the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the digestive tract, therefore they are indispensable for the prevention of atherosclerosis and rosacea. Phenols and anthocyanins form compounds with antioxidant activity that help prevent cancer. Feijoa peel is especially useful in this regard.

Feijoa owes its scientific name to the director of the Museum of Natural History of Brazil, Juan da Silva Feijo. The specific name (feijoa Sellova) is given in honor of the German naturalist Friedrich Sellow.

The bark, flowers and leaves of this shrub contain tannins, catechins, anthocyanins and are known for wound healing, antiseptic and anti-cancer properties. A decoction of the leaves is used to treat pyelonephritis, rinse your mouth with infusion for toothache and periodontal disease.

The bark, flowers and leaves of the feijoa shrub are known for wound healing, antiseptic and anti-cancer properties.

Three fruits a day will help under the following circumstances:

• regular constipation;
• stress;
• avitaminosis;
• bouts of pain during menstruation;
• rheumatism;
• persistent colds;
• high cholesterol levels.

Feijoa species

The homeland of Feijoa is South America, the mountains of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia. This genus from the myrtle family includes three species, of which only one is edible - the Feijoa sellowiana. Botanists describe the species as a large evergreen shrub, a typical representative of subtropical vegetation. Loves moisture. On the territory of Russia, it is grown in the south and in the subtropics of the Caucasus. The trunk of the tree is green-brown, rough, the foliage is green on top and silvery on the bottom.

The fruits of the bush are eaten - oval fleshy berries with a bumpy surface. Both ripe and unripe fruits are always the same green color. Feijoa grown on soils rich in iodine contain more of this element, therefore they are used in dietary nutrition. Ideally, when buying berries, you should find out where they were grown and whether they are suitable for your purposes.

The larger the feijoa, the more useful it is.

South American Indians call the fragrant Quechua berry. Legend has it that the outlandish fruit is a gift from the gods, which gives a person incredible strength.

Quechua reaches 4-6 m in height. Up to 30 kg of berries are harvested from one bush.

High-quality feijoa is slightly soft to the touch, of an even green color, without a glossy sheen. Hard fruits will have to ripen (bring to maturity). In a ripe fruit, the pulp resembles a creamy transparent jelly. The unripe fruit is white on the cut. Such berries are ripened in a dark place at room temperature for 3 days. If the fruit is brown on the cut, it means that it has rotted. When buying, pay attention to the skin. If brown spots are visible, the berries are already overripe and not suitable for eating.

How to choose the right feijoa - video

Application

Quechua is eaten fresh. A bite off of the peel is deeply disappointing. The berry itself is prized for its fresh strawberry-pineapple flavor, but the skin is tart and knits the tongue. It is dried and added to tea for aroma or an infusion is made and rinsed in the mouth for bleeding gums, wounds after medical intervention, sore throat. To enjoy the taste of the fruit, cut it into two parts, pick the creamy pulp with a spoon. For medicinal purposes, feijoa is eaten whole, with the skin, especially for atherosclerosis and gastritis with low acidity.

Thyroid treatment

The thyroid hormones synthesized by the thyroid gland consist of more than 65% iodine. Endocrine disorders caused by iodine deficiency are corrected by introducing iodine-containing products into the diet, such as feijoa. Berries are eaten twice a day for 150 g. But such therapy will be beneficial only after consulting a doctor, because the basic treatment of hypothyroidism is based on hormones, food supplements are of an auxiliary nature.

With a lack of iodine, it is useful to include feijoa in the diet.

For the prevention of endemic goiter, 3 large berries are consumed per day. Make sure the fruits are grown in iodine-rich soils before starting treatment.

The closest relatives of feijoa are myrtle, eucalyptus, guava, tea and clove trees.

Prevention of atherosclerosis

The southern berry is used as an adjunct in the treatment of arterial disease. Usually 2-3 fruits are consumed before meals. Feijoa phytosterols lower cholesterol, which is beneficial for high blood pressure. For the prevention of atherosclerosis, the following recipes are suitable.

Feijoa, ground with sugar

Quechua is harvested green, ripening occurs during transportation and storage. Perishable fruit is unlikely to last longer than a week, even in the refrigerator. Therefore, the hostesses go to various tricks to preserve the fragrant berries. You can do it this way:

1. Cut the flower stalks and grind the fruits with sugar in a 1: 1 ratio.
2. Packaged in sterile containers, closed with lids, refrigerate.

Quichua grated with sugar are ideal for tea with pancakes

For the prevention of influenza, colds and the treatment of vitamin deficiency, grated berries are consumed in 1 tbsp. spoon on an empty stomach. This remedy increases the body's defenses. In addition, the mixture is also suitable for the prevention of iodine deficiency. In this case, take 2 tbsp. spoons.

Quechua and orange jam

Armed with such a jam, it is pleasant and tasty to deal with vascular problems. After all, it is not at all necessary to take only dull bitter medicines. For cooking take:

• feijoa berries - 500 g;
• sugar - 1 kg;
• freshly squeezed juice of one orange;
• walnuts - 1 glass.

Preparation:

1. Dip a colander with berries for 3 minutes in boiling water.
2. Without peeling the peel, grind in a blender.
3. Pour in sugar and wait until the fruits let out juice.
4. Bring to a boil, pour in orange juice, add nuts.
5. Protomit for another quarter of an hour, preserve.

Jam is not as healthy as fresh berries, but effective against vascular problems

Unfortunately, heat treatment destroys vitamins. Feijoa jam will not be as healthy as berries grated with sugar. When heated, the content of vitamin C in fruits drops by 7 times. Such a product is unlikely to raise immunity or help heal mucous membranes with hypoacid gastritis, but is still effective against vascular problems.

Quechua fruits contain more potassium than sodium. As a result, the blood vessels relax and the blood pressure decreases.

Feijoa juice

The juice is squeezed out of the berries in an electric juicer. It is undesirable to peel the peel from the fruit, it contains essential oils, anthocyanins and phenols. The daily allowance for an adult is 1 glass, for a child - half. Store the drink in the refrigerator for no longer than a day. Drink juice half an hour before meals or 2 hours after. This healing drink brings relief from depression, intellectual overload and restores the body after surgery or prolonged illness.

For the prevention of heart and vascular diseases, drink a quarter of a glass of water, in which 1 tbsp is diluted. a spoonful of feijoa juice, before each meal.

Feijoa leaf therapy

Little information is available on the use of the leaves of this shrub. However, in trusted sources, there is a recipe for jaundice tea.

Preparation:

1. Mix the flowers and the Quechua leaf in equal proportions.
2. Take 1 tbsp. spoon the mixture and pour boiling water, leave for half an hour, drain.

Half a glass is taken 2 times a day before meals. With periodontal disease and toothache, rinse your mouth with this infusion. Traditional medicine also recommends leaf tea for hypothyroidism. If you add honey to a drink, it can also be used for kidney inflammation - pyelonephritis.

Europeans discovered Quechua only at the end of the 19th century.

Feijoa during pregnancy and lactation

The main way to give birth to a healthy baby is to eat right during the gestation period. Feijoa is included in the list of recommended foods by doctors due to its high iodine content, which is necessary for the normal development of the embryo. From the first weeks, hormones are required from the mother's thyroid gland for herself and the unborn baby, therefore, an increased intake of iodine into the body is necessary. In addition, a large amount of this element during gestation is excreted in the urine.

Iodine deficiency in the body of the expectant mother leads to mental retardation, deafness and goiter in the baby.

It is useful for an expectant mother to include feijoa in the diet: the berry is rich in iodine, which is necessary for the intrauterine development of the baby

To avoid iodine deficiency in herself and pathologies in the unborn child, a pregnant woman needs to eat 20 g of feijoa per day. Such a norm is acceptable if the attending physician has not prescribed medications with iodine. Otherwise, you should consult a doctor and adjust the daily rate.

Feijoa helps expectant mothers in the following ways:

• relieves the usual difficulties - constipation;
• eliminates nausea with toxicosis;
• increases appetite;
• replenishes depleted mineral reserves;
• contains folic acid, which contributes to the development of the fetal nervous system.

However, if gestational diabetes is detected, in which a woman's cells receptive to her insulin decreases, it is impossible to eat a delicacy because of the sucrose in its composition. After childbirth, when pregnancy hormones no longer affect the body, blood sugar levels most often return to normal. Then the berry is again included in the menu.

What the mother eats, the baby gets with milk. It is noteworthy that during transportation and storage, feijoa is not treated with chemicals, it is a safe product. Vitamins, iodine of these berries will come in handy for a nursing woman. It is especially good that there is vitamin C in Quechua, because the baby's immunity is being formed. Therefore, 3-4 fruits per day will only be beneficial.

If mom or child gets sick in the car, let them use feijoa. This berry will eliminate nausea.

When and how to give to children

Feijoa does not usually cause allergies in children. However, caution does not hurt, so the berry is not introduced into the diet for up to a year. Peel off the peel before use, the fruit itself is crushed. They teach slowly, starting with 1 teaspoon. If there are no problems, the volume is gradually increased and brought up to 1 fruit per day. This norm is observed for up to three years. Upon reaching this age, the baby can be pampered with jam or feijoa compote.

Feijoa puree with peel is given to children from the age of three for colds, skin irritation and diarrhea

It happens that feijoa bring trouble:

• fruits consumed with dairy products cause intestinal upset;
• the skin of the berry is not suitable for food for a child, since it is hardly digested by a young body;
• unripe fruits lead to poisoning.

For hyperthyroidism and diabetes, Quechua is prohibited.

The versatility of feijoa is that it helps children with both constipation and diarrhea. With stool retention, fiber and pectins stimulate the intestines. And with diarrhea, tannins stop pathogenic processes and restore a healthy microflora. However, these organic substances are contained in the skin of the fruit, which is given to children from only three years old.

Feijoa for diabetes

The menu of each diabetic is strictly individual and is compiled taking into account the opinion of the doctor. Feijoa is not recommended for severe diabetes and obesity. In mild forms, berries are eaten in small quantities to control blood sugar levels. There are a few simple rules. On the day when they enjoy sweet fruits:

• eat fewer simple carbohydrates;
• do not eat a lot of fat;
• ideally combine Quechua with protein foods;
• eat berries in several doses, and not all at once.

Feijoa pectins have a beneficial effect on diabetic digestion: they reduce inflammation of the mucous membranes, reduce the intake of cholesterol and remove toxins. In moderate doses, berries will only benefit patients: they will improve mood and increase immunity.

Feijoa is used to prepare savory sauces for meat and fish.

Weight control with feijoa

Unfortunately, this berry does not provide an opportunity to lose weight. Quechua does not remove accumulated fat, but it helps not to store it in the future. This is due to the feijoa phytosterols, which reduce the absorption of fats from the intestines. It is useful to consume 2 fruits before lunch, then digestion will improve, and the intestines will work like a clock. To control weight, it is worth replacing your usual dinner with a light exotic salad 2-3 times a week. For cooking you will need: Salad from beets and feijoa contains a scanty amount of calories and perfectly cleanses the intestines

To make this tasty and healthy dish, you need:

1. Grate medium-sized pre-boiled beets.
2. Cut the berries into cubes, chop the nuts.
3. Mix everything, add salt and oil to taste.

The maximum daily rate of feijoa is 400 g.

External use: mask and scrub

Due to the anti-inflammatory properties of essential oils, feijoa has a positive effect on the condition of the skin. Masks from it relieve irritation, smooth wrinkles and nourish the skin. The mask is also suitable for those who have just done facial cleansing. For the cosmetic procedure you will need:

• small feijoa - 1 pc .;
• yolk - 1 pc.;
• cottage cheese - 2 tbsp. spoons;
• vegetable oil - 1 tbsp. spoon.

Chop the berry, mix with the rest of the ingredients and gently apply on the neck and face for 20 minutes. Lie down, keeping the muscles of the face motionless. Then rinse everything off with warm water.

For the treatment and prevention of rosacea, in addition to masks, an infusion of feijoa peel is used: 1 tbsp. a spoonful of skins is poured with boiling water and kept for 20 minutes. The remedy is drunk in several approaches, before each meal.

If your skin becomes dry and flabby, you should use a toning coffee and Quechua body scrub. For cooking you will need:

• ground coffee - 5 tsp;
• honey - 1 tsp;
• olive oil - 1 tsp;
• chopped feijoa - 1 pc.

You need to do the following:

1. Mix the ingredients and apply to the body in a circular motion.
2. Massage the skin for 5 minutes, then rinse under a warm shower.

Coffee exfoliates dead cells, honey nourishes, and feijoa removes inflammation and tones. This natural scrub refreshes and smoothes the skin and is inexpensive.

Contraindications

Obviously, the green berry is prohibited by doctors for diseases associated with iodine intolerance. It is not advised to abuse feijoa and patients with obesity and diabetes due to the high glucose content. It is harmful to eat these fruits with increased acidity of the stomach, as the production of gastric juice is activated. Allergies are rare, but there are cases of individual intolerance, be careful. Feijoa should not be included in the menu when:

• hyperfunction of the thyroid gland;
• hyperacid gastritis;
• severe form of diabetes mellitus;
• obesity;
• individual intolerance.

Unripe berries cause diarrhea and poisoning. The same reaction occurs when you combine feijoa with dairy products.

Quechua accumulate toxic thallium, this must be taken into account by workers in the chemical industry and other hazardous industries.

What kind of fruit is this - feijoa and why is it eaten? It is probably no coincidence that he appears more and more often on store shelves, settles in our gardens and on window sills. What is the use of inconspicuous green berries, how to choose and use them correctly?

"Hybrid" of strawberries with kiwi and pineapple

In appearance, these strange green fruits look like unripe walnuts - only much larger, they taste their own: strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, and to someone they smell like a tree, or chypre ...

Feijoa is an exotic native to Brazil, where there are so many wonderful things in the forests. There, in the subtropical thickets, less than two hundred years ago, scientists discovered an evergreen, unknown to science, either a bush, or a tree with green fruits-berries. They are also called Indian strawberries - the ancient Incas called the plant "Quechua", a star berry and endowed with magical properties.

Quechua fruits were necessarily given to children so that they grow tall and strong. Pregnant Indian women in local villages to this day are afraid to eat more than one berry per day - so as not to give birth to a giant.

Feijoa is a subtropical plant, but it settles more and more north and north.

The botanical discovery quickly spread all over the world, gaining popularity precisely because of its berries, which turned out to be not only tasty, but also incredibly healthy. However, not only berries, but also leaves, and stunningly beautiful feijoa flowers are used in folk medicine.

Feijoa flowers are edible and rich in medicinal substances

Useful properties of "Indian strawberry"

The uniqueness and main mystery of feijoa is in the high concentration of water-soluble, easily assimilated iodine. No other land plant on the planet contains so much iodine - only seafood. Feijoa fruits contain up to 40 milligrams of iodine per 100 grams of edible mass!

What is the point for feijoa itself - scientists do not yet know the answer to such a question. But it was noticed that the closer the plant settles to the sea or ocean, the higher the concentration of iodine in it, in fact, turns out to be.

Feijoa on the cut takes on a shade of iodine

But the berries of "Indian strawberries" are not only rich and useful in iodine. They have a very high content of ascorbic acid and other vitamins. Feijoa are also valued for the fact that they contain many biologically active substances and trace elements important for the human body, as well as fiber, pectins, sucrose. Such a rich composition of fruits determines their use in folk medicine: feijoa have a healing effect in the treatment of thyroid ailments, atherosclerosis, inflammatory processes of the kidneys, colds and normalization of digestive functions. It is a favorite product of nutritionists and cosmetologists.

Feijoa identification

The genus Feijoa is quite small - it includes only six plant species described by botanists:

• Hare - this Argentine species has large, pear-shaped fruits, sweet, but not very fragrant;
• Andre - a species native to Brazil, has fruits with a rich taste and aroma, especially rich in iodine;
• Besson - the species is cultivated in Uruguay, it is distinguished by thin-crusty, "ruddy", very tasty berries with a relatively low iodine content;
• Coolidge is a favorite species of California gardeners, hardy and prolific;
• Choiseana - the species has almost round fruits with a delicate taste and smell, more than others it is used in folk medicine;
• Superba is a species that is gaining more and more popularity in the world for its taste and good ability to acclimatize.

Feijoa walks the planet - the plant takes root much north of its native subtropics

Green health recipes

Only fully ripe berries should be eaten. They are soft, green-brown on the outside and transparent, jelly-like on the inside. The feijoa should be stored in the refrigerator, as overripe berries can quickly deteriorate, ferment from the inside - the pulp acquires a brownish tint and an unpleasant odor. Neither overripe nor green berries should be eaten.

Feijoa is eaten with a spoon, like a soft-boiled egg

Fresh fruits are the healthiest. They are eaten like kiwi or soft-boiled eggs: cut in half and take out the delicious core with a spoon. The tart and hard peel should not be thrown away, although it is not as tasty as the aromatic jelly pulp. The peel is cut into small strips and dried, so that later you can make a healing tea from it.

For treating thyroid problems

Ingredients:

• feijoa, fruits - 1 kilogram;
• sugar - 1 kilogram.

Green jam retains all the power of feijoa

Preparation:

1. Wash and dry the fruits.
2. Grind feijoa in a meat grinder.
3. Stir in the sugar and let stand for half an hour until the sugar dissolves.
4. Divide into banks. Keep refrigerated.

"Live" jam restores the balance of iodine in the body. You need to take a tablespoon of a delicious treat three times a day.

With jade

Ingredients:

• feijoa leaves, dry or fresh - 1 tablespoon;
• water - 1 glass;
• honey to taste.

Feijoa leaves are almost as rich in iodine as fruits.

Cooking.

1. Chop the leaves.
2. Boil the water.
3. Steam feijoa leaves for half an hour.
4. Strain, add honey.

Drink 4-5 glasses of tea daily, preferably before meals

With Parkinson's disease

Drink at least a glass of fresh feijoa with peel every day. Or there are fresh ripe fruits - no more than 400 grams daily.

Feijoa is not peeled for juicing

With atherosclerosis

Ingredients:

• feijoa berries - 600-700 grams;
• large orange - 1 piece;
• sugar - 1 kilogram.

Feijoa jam with orange is a tasty and healthy winter preparation

Preparation:

1. Wash the orange and feijoa berries thoroughly and pour over with boiling water.
2. Without removing the peel, pass through a meat grinder.
3. Stir in sugar and put the jam on a low heat.
4. Bring to a boil and cook until thickened.
5. Stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved.
6. Cool the prepared jam and pour into jars.

Take 1-2 tablespoons three times a day with hot tea.

With jaundice

Ingredients:

• dried or fresh feijoa flowers - 1 tablespoon;
• boiling water - 0.5 liters;
• honey to taste.

Feijoa flowers can be eaten with sugar and made into tea

Preparation:

1. Cut or grind the flowers.
2. Steam with boiling water, wrap.
3. Leave the tea for 10-15 minutes, you do not need to filter it.
4. Sweeten with honey to taste.

Drink the prepared folk remedy during the day in several doses. Use warmed up.

Slimming

Low-calorie feijoa berries are included in many diets. To get a good weight loss effect, replace your regular dinner with a few feijoa fruits. Within a week, the scales will show a result that will delight you.

Feijoa will give you slimness

Use in cosmetology

During feijoa fruiting season, from autumn to spring, apply the tender pulp of fresh berries for nourishing masks. They will protect the skin of the face and hands from cold and frost, make it fresh, youthful and radiant.

Feijoa pulp is a unique cosmetic raw material

Anti-aging mask

Ingredients:

• feijoa pulp - 2 tablespoons;
• oat flakes - 1 tablespoon;
• chamomile infusion - 0.5 cups;
• almond (or olive) oil - 1 teaspoon.

Cooking.

1. Prepare chamomile infusion: brew a teaspoon of flowers with 0.5 cups of boiling water, strain after 20 minutes.
2. Heat the infusion and steam the oatmeal with it.
3. Cool, drain off excess liquid.
4. Remove the core from the feijoa and mash it with a fork.
5. Mix all components and use immediately.

Apply the mask to face, neck and décolleté. After 20 minutes, wash off with warm water. Repeat the procedure every other day, preferably before bedtime.

Mask for oily skin

Ingredients:

• the pulp of two feijoa berries;
• camphor alcohol - 1 tablespoon;
• lemon juice - 1 tablespoon.

Cooking.

1. Chop the pulp of the berries.
2. Mix all the components of the mask and beat until smooth.
3. Apply to face, avoiding eye contact.

Wash off after a quarter of an hour. Apply the mask once every three days.

Mask for normal to dry skin

Ingredients:

• the pulp of one feijoa berry;
• soft whole cottage cheese - 2 tablespoons;
• the yolk of one chicken egg;
• olive oil - 1 tablespoon.

Cooking.

1. Mix the ingredients of the mask very thoroughly so that no grains and lumps remain.
2. Keep on face and neck for 15–20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Do the mask three times a week.

Hand cream mask

Ingredients:

• feijoa pulp - 1 tablespoon;
• olive oil - 1 tablespoon;
• honey - 1 teaspoon.

Cooking.

1. Mix all components into a homogeneous mass.
2. Apply to hands with massage movements, rinse off after 20 minutes.

The procedure can be done daily.

For children and pregnant women

It is undesirable for children under five to eat feijoa berries - they are too heavy for them. Introduce exotic fruits into your child's diet gradually, starting with small portions. But during the period of intrauterine development, this fruit is simply irreplaceable, its effect on the development of the embryo is very beneficial. For a pregnant woman, feijoa is an invaluable source of folic acid and, of course, iodine. The vegetable fibers of the fruit help to normalize digestion, which is a fairly common problem during the period of gestation. But you should not get carried away, one or two berries a day will be enough.

Video: what kind of fruit is such a feijoa?

Contraindications

Feijoa berries are also unique in that they do not cause allergies in moderate doses. But a sense of proportion must be observed: excessive consumption of berries rich in iodine can lead to its overdose. But this already provokes unwanted reactions: itching, rash, indigestion and nervous system disorders.

Feijoa should be used with caution for diabetics, because these fruits are high in sucrose. It is also important to remember that only ripe berries are suitable for food, green fruits can cause poisoning. In no case should you drink feijoa with milk - these are absolutely incompatible products.

A sense of proportion is the main thing when using feijoa

At the end of the 19th century, Europeans first discovered a small oblong berry in Brazil.

Under the green peel was a juicy pulp that tasted like kiwi, pineapple, and strawberries.

Berries grew on evergreen low trees.

Feijoa: calorie content and composition. Use of beneficial feijoa

The calorie content of 100 grams of berries is only 49 kcal. Feijoa are very beneficial to health. In their composition, they have a whole list of vitamins and elements that are indispensable for the normal functioning of all body systems:

Vitamins: B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, C, PP;

Macronutrients: calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus;

Trace elements: iron, zinc, iodine, copper, manganese.

Feijoa is eaten in its usual fresh form. In addition, berries are used to make jams and jams, they are added to baked goods and various desserts. These delicious exotic fruits are used to prepare compotes, liqueurs and even wine. Salads are often complemented with fresh, wholesome feijoa. Fish are stuffed with these exotic berries, and meat dishes are spiced up.

Medicine and cosmetology have not lost sight of the benefits of berries and use them for healing and medicinal purposes.

Feijoa: what are the benefits for the body?

Feijoa berries do not cause allergic reactions. Due to the low calorie content and rich vitamin composition, the fruits are fully included in the diet.

Feijoa breaks the stereotype that seafood is the most iodine-containing. The increased iodine content in feijoa berries also has a water-soluble state, which allows the beneficial microelement to be completely absorbed by the body. For diseases of the thyroid gland, doctors, in addition to medication, prescribe a diet with a high percentage of iodine. The benefits of feijoa in this case are undeniable. In addition to dysfunction of the thyroid gland, the fruits of an evergreen tree help to cope with diseases such as:

Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract;

Gastritis;

Avitaminosis;

Hypovitaminosis;

Atherosclerosis;

Pyelonephritis;

Gout.

The fruits provoke the body's defenses against viruses. With acute respiratory infections and influenza, feijoa saturates the body with vitamin C, and its essential oils have a beneficial effect on the healing process. It is best, of course, to eat these useful berries for prevention, during the period of seasonal colds. It is noteworthy that feijoa ripens just at the end of autumn, when there are not so many sources of vitamins as in summer.

The peel of the berries is no less useful. It removes toxins from the body and reduces the risk of developing cancer.

The leaves of the feijoa tree are also useful for their essential oils. It is convenient to dry them and then add them when brewing tea. This drink will help in the fight against goiter. Tea from healthy feijoa leaves with the addition of honey will begin the process of curing jade.

Feijoa jam is very healthy. In this state, the fruits retain all their beneficial properties. This delicious dessert will make you forget about rheumatism and atherosclerosis.

Feijoa: what is the harm to health?

In addition to the benefits, feijoa can also harm the body, with the existing contraindications. Due to the high content of sugars in fruits, they are contraindicated in people suffering from diabetes mellitus and prone to obesity.

Feijoa cannot be classified as an allergenic food. But in a number of people, his individual intolerance is revealed. Therefore, when trying a berry for the first time, it is worth stopping at a few things and following the reaction of the body.

Stale fruits can cause poisoning. When choosing feijoa, you need to be careful to ensure that the berries are ripe, but not spoiled. Within a week, feijoa is stored in the refrigerator, retaining all its properties useful to the body.

In the absence of contraindications, you should not overeat these exotic berries. They easily cause overdose symptoms such as:

Anxiety;

Insomnia;

Unstable temperature;

Cardiopalmus;

Weakness;

It is worth completely abandoning feijoa berries for hyperthyroidism. The oversaturation of the body with iodine is also detrimental to it, like iododifecitis. Both the first and the second disrupt the production of vital hormones in the body.

Feijoa for children: useful or harmful?

Useful feijoa should be introduced into the diet of baby food with extreme caution. The child may develop intolerance even after one berry. But if the acquaintance of a growing organism with an exotic fruit was successful, then a useful feijoa will be a good addition to the table of young researchers. The high iodine content in berries makes them a lifesaver for high mental stress. With a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland, feijoa contributes to the harmonious development of a healthy body.

Berries will help strengthen the immune system, increase the body's resistance to fungi and bacteria. Feijoa will be an excellent preventive measure during the quarantine season in educational institutions.

If the child is prone to gaining excess weight, it is better to minimize the consumption of berries. An exotic fruit must be kept under control even when there is a question about the development of diabetes mellitus.

Feijoa in medicine and cosmetology

The beneficial properties of feijoa endow this fruit with antiseptic and disinfecting properties. Decoctions and tinctures of leaves and fruits can be used to treat cuts, skin ulcers and wounds. You can get rid of toothaches and bleeding gums by rinsing your mouth with tincture of the leaves.

The grated fruit mixed with egg yolk will be an excellent face mask. This will nourish the skin with vitamins, which will smooth out wrinkles and restore a fresh, radiant appearance. Acne and age spots can be eliminated by applying a mask of the beneficial feijoa fruits to the face or by rubbing it with a decoction of the leaves.

How do you choose wholesome feijoa berries and keep them healthy?

Only well-ripened feijoa berries have pleasant taste and perfect health benefits. Usually they are harvested still immature, as they tend to deteriorate quickly. If the berry is hard and unpleasant in taste, then the fruit still needs several days to ripen. You can speed up this process by placing the feijoa next to the bananas. After that, the peel will become softer and thinner, and the pulp itself will acquire a liquid structure. It is important to let the berries ripen because when green they can do more harm than good by causing poisoning.

Ripe feijoa retain their beneficial properties in the refrigerator for no more than 7 days. If the reserves during this time did not have time to become eaten, then it is better to use the fruits to prepare some kind of dish. And the easiest way is to simply grind the grated berries with sugar.

Growing feijoa at home

The healthy feijoa berries can be grown at home. To do this, you need to get patience and basic rules in this interesting business.

For a homemade feijoa tree, seeds from a well-ripened fruit are needed. Initially, the seeds extracted from the berries are washed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This is done to remove the pulp from the seeds. Then the seeds are carefully placed in a pot with deciduous, peaty soils and river sand. They should not be buried deeply. It is enough to sow just below the surface. After that, the soil should be moistened with a fine water spray. If you just water, then the soil in the pot will wash away. Water to moisten the sowing is taken warm and clean.

The potted home garden now needs ample watering, warmth, and plenty of sunshine. In a couple of months you will be able to see the sprouts. Sprouted seedlings are planted in separate areas. When the tree reaches a height of about 30 cm, it is pruned a little more than half. After this, the sprout will begin to give lateral shoots, which ultimately will serve to form a good branched crown.

The rhizome of the feijoa tree is located in the ground almost at the very surface. It is possible that new shoots will begin to appear directly from the roots. They must be trimmed immediately.

In such an uncomplicated way, over time, you can grow your own home tree from the subtropics. It will even bear fruit, beneficial to the body, feijoa berries. But this will require two trees. If you achieve mutual flowering from them, then they will be able to pollinate each other, as a result of which ovaries of future fruits will begin to appear from beautiful sweet flowers. The berries can be smaller than the store ones, and the harvest is not so plentiful. But how exciting it is to grow such a useful tree on your own windowsill.

Thanks to the essential oils found in feijoa leaves, one house tree is able to purify and disinfect the air in the room in which it is located. Therefore, home feijoa is not only beautiful and green all year round, it is also extremely useful.

The height of the feijoa tree and the splendor of its crown can be adjusted with your own hands. This is done by trimming the tree. If its top is not touched, then it will stretch upward. But do not forget that the crown should be magnificent. Therefore, it is better to regularly rid the plant of thin branches and slow down its growth in height, in favor of the growth of the crown in volume.

A little time will pass and the first healthy feijoa fruits will ripen on the windowsill. They will certainly be much tastier than foreign berries.

About a month before the New Year holidays, exotic feijoa berries appear on the shelves of our stores. They are rather nondescript in appearance, but very tasty and aromatic. The homeland of this fruit is the tropics of South America, but the plant grows well in the subtropical regions of the Crimea and the Caucasus. Feijoa is grown in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

The fruit tastes like strawberries and kiwi at the same time. But in order to feel the fullness of the taste, you should use only ripe, ripe berries. But, unfortunately, reaching the state of ripeness, they become very soft, quickly lose their presentation, deteriorate. Therefore, unripe fruits are most often sold.

Therefore, you need to let the purchased fruits ripen at home. Let them lie on the windowsill for a few days. The pulp of ripe fruit will look like a thick jelly. In addition to the fact that the ripe pulp is sweet and tasty, it is also very healthy. Let's find out what is the use of feijoa?

Beneficial features

The main advantage of berries is their high iodine content. Here they can compete even with seafood. Only 2-3 eaten berries will provide the body's daily need for iodine. It must be said that this element has a water-soluble form, therefore it is easily, completely absorbed.

Due to this quality, feijoa berries must be present in the diet of people suffering from thyroid diseases. Berries are necessary for those who are engaged in mental work, especially students during the examination sessions.

In addition to the high iodine content, the fruits are valued for the high content of vitamin C. There are about the same ascorbic acid as citrus fruits. Therefore, berries can be an excellent help in the period of winter colds, flu diseases.

In addition, the fruits contain a lot of a rare substance - vitamin PP. Without it, most of the ascorbic acid cannot be fully absorbed by the body.

Feijoa should be used by everyone who has problems with the heart and blood vessels. Due to the high content of pectins, berries help to reduce harmful cholesterol, eliminate cholesterol plaques. Regular consumption of sweet fruits will protect against the development of atherosclerosis.

In addition, they are useful for hypertensive patients, as they reduce blood pressure. The fruits should be regularly consumed in order to prevent diseases of the kidneys, stomach, varicose veins. Also, it should be noted that delicious berries will help you cope with stress more easily, as they have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. They are recognized as an effective antidepressant that can cheer you up as well as dark chocolate.

They contain a large amount of antioxidants, which makes them an irreplaceable food product for residents of large cities, where the environmental situation is often very bad.

Traditional medicine does not ignore the beneficial properties of feijoa. Experts recommend eating ripe berries in case of thyroid disease, vitamin deficiency, kidney disease, atherosclerosis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Feijoa is also used in dermatology. Healing extracts prepared from the bark and leaves of the plant have powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antioxidant and antibacterial effects. A decoction of the bark is used to heal wounds, skin ulcers. Rinsing with infusion, a decoction of the leaves will relieve bleeding gums, relieve toothache.

Traditional medicine uses a decoction of the bark of the plant for health, improving the work of the heart muscle. The fruits are recommended for constipation, gout, Graves' disease. They are also used for dietary nutrition.

The use of feijoa in cooking

Berries are usually eaten fresh. But they can be added to a wide variety of dishes, used when baking pastries or in making desserts. Often compotes are prepared from them, jam is made. In addition to berries, flower petals are used in cooking.

On the shelves of shops you can find canned food, compotes, drinks from ripe feijoa berries. Confectioners use them in the preparation of fillings for sweets and cakes. Ripe chopped fruits will be an excellent decoration for fruit salads. They are often used in the preparation of meat and fish dishes.

If you want to eat feijoa just like that, fresh, cut the berry across, and just eat the ripe pulp with a spoon, leaving the skin intact.

Berries cannot be stored for a long time. After a week of storage in the refrigerator, they become lethargic and lose their excellent taste. Therefore, feijoa is often subjected to industrial processing. This allows them to be stored for a longer time.

The juice of sweet fruits is very useful. It is best to cook it yourself, at home. Freshly squeezed juice should be drunk immediately, not stored for a long time, so as not to lose nutrients, vitamins, trace elements. To squeeze out the juice, it is unnecessary to peel the fruit. It is enough just to wash them thoroughly and squeeze them out using a press or juicer. Then, pure spring or mineral water (without gas) is added to the resulting mass. You can mix with apple juice and add some banana nectar.

Contraindications

Unfortunately, sweet berries are contraindicated in case of individual intolerance. In case of diabetes mellitus, obesity, the use of ripe feijoa fruits should be limited. Be healthy!

Feijoa - useful properties and harm

In autumn, a very interesting fruit called feijoa appears in stores; it belongs to the family of Myrtle evergreen trees. Interestingly, the cultivation of this product began only in the 2nd half of the century before last, after João da Silve Feijo became the discoverer of feijoa. The beneficial properties of feijoa are highly valued by the inhabitants of South America - the historical homeland of this fruit, namely in the mountainous regions of Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Colombia. In the 19th century, feijoa was introduced to Europe, and at the beginning of the 20th century it became known in the Mediterranean, North America and Russia.

Taste and aroma, this green fruit resembles a cross between kiwi and strawberries, and some even mention pineapple. Feijoa is harvested still unripe, since when ripe, the fruit becomes soft and deteriorates very quickly, but it should only be consumed completely ripe. Feijoa arrives on the shelves of shops and markets not yet ripe, so after buying the fruit it is recommended to wait until it is fully ripe. Due to its sweetness, feijoa is used in cooking, as well as for making preserves, juices, jams, and canning.

Chemical composition

Feijoa contains a large number of useful vitamins, micro and macro elements. Feijoa has a high water content, 100 g contains 80% water, as well as a large amount of carbohydrates - 10%, and 5-10% sugar. Feijoa contains about ten different vitamins: thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin, ascorbic, pantothenic and folic acid. A variety of macronutrients will delight adherents of a healthy diet, they contain a lot of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium. Trace elements such as iron, iodine, copper, manganese, zinc also saturate feijoa.

At the same time, the calorie content will delight many lovers of diets, there are only 49 kcal per 100 g of the product.

Useful properties of feijoa

Its benefits have been undeniably proven by many specialists, nutritionists, endocrinologists, and cosmetologists.

Due to the considerable amount of iodine, which is part of the fetus, feijoa is widely used for the prevention of gastritis, pyelonephritis and thyroid disease, as well as for diseases of the esophagus and intestines with low acidity.

It is noteworthy that iodine in feijoa is in a water-soluble form, it is in this form that the body absorbs iodine as much as possible.

Thanks to the essential oils that make up feijoa, the fruit is actively used to prevent viral diseases.

In addition to the pulp, the peel of the fruit is also actively used. Mainly due to the presence of catechins and leukoanthocyanins - active antioxidants, it is used to prevent cancer, and is also used to slow down the aging of the body. Since the peel has a specific tart taste, it is recommended to dry the peel and add it to tea before use.

For cosmetic procedures, the pulp and juice of the fruit are used, they relieve inflammation in the skin areas, as well as increase the elasticity of the skin, and are often used to treat rosacea and many other cosmetic problems. And yet, the benefit of feijoa is that it is not an allergic fruit and is good for children.

Feijoa harm

Its use in large quantities is contraindicated for people who are obese and diabetic. In case of individual intolerance, feijoa should not be eaten.

How to choose the most useful feijoa (video)

A universal recipe for feijoa. Useful and medicinal properties. Contraindications

My dear readers, today we will have a slightly exotic topic. To start, 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 would like to just humor a little: if someone still did not know feijoa, life has passed or is passing by. Today I invite you to talk about this berry, we will talk about the useful and medicinal properties of feijoa and about contraindications.

I first heard about feijoa when my daughter and I were undergoing treatment in onco-hematology. The diagnosis was very serious. And now I remember so often the head nurse. She advised us to buy berries in the season of selling berries and give them to our children. They delay the growth of cancer cells and are good for the blood, strengthen the body. Since then I have always started to buy feijoa during the season. You can buy feijoa in a large supermarket, but I like buying them more in the market, there you can find fresher berries, and there is always more choice.

Feijoa smell and taste

To me, this berry tastes like a mixture of kiwi, strawberry and pineapple aromas. Believe me, this 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 open the fruit and reveal the pulp. There are so many subtleties here. If you see white flesh, then the fruit is immature. There is nothing good in it. If the pulp is brown, it means that the fruit is already unfit for eating. The most ripe feijoa fruit with completely transparent flesh.

It is best eaten by scraping the flesh out with a spoon. I personally do not like the skin. This is not for everybody. You can buy a little unripe fruit and let it lie at home for just a couple of days.

Feijoa. Composition. Calorie content

The unusual appearance of tropical fruits hides a fragrant, 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 the fruits of 100 g of feijoa is 1.24 g of protein, 0.78 g of fat, 10.63 g of carbohydrates.

Feijoa calories

The 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. Benefit and harm

The fruits have gained great popularity due to the content of a highly concentrated organic compound of iodine. Therefore, feijoa is considered an ideal remedy for the prevention of iodine deficiency. Doctors recommend tropical fruits for thyroid patients and knowledge 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 the manufacture of marmalade and jelly. Pectin is a soluble fiber that helps to reduce appetite and improve digestive processes.

Reduces cholesterol levels.

This berry is very useful for the heart.

Natural medicine for all hypertensive patients.

It cleanses the blood, very useful for anemia.

The peel of exotic fruits contains tannins, which give 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 be easily separated from the pulp, then dried and added to tea.

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

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

If it becomes possible to get feijoa leaves, I advise you to dry them and make delicious tea in winter. The leaves contain a lot of essential oils with a myrtle scent.

The prepared infusion and decoction of the fruits, bark and leaves of feijoa has an antiseptic and disinfectant effect. It can be used in the treatment of kidney inflammation, treat wounds, abrasions, cuts, rinse your mouth with 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 want to draw your attention to the fact that the iodine content in fruits depends on the area where feijoa grows. In those areas where the soil contains little iodine or in indoor conditions, the fruits are ineffective for the prevention of iodine deficiency.

Feijoa. Harm. Contraindications

We learned the beneficial properties of feijoa, but I want 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 feijoa on the market, it is better to let them lie down next to the bananas for several days at room temperature. This will speed up the ripening of the fruit and save you from digestive disorders, because an unripe tropical fruit can cause poisoning.

Feijoa should not be mixed with dairy products or washed down with milk, so that there is no disruption of the gastrointestinal tract. The reason is that the pectins contained in the fruit are not compatible with milk.

In advance, you should consult a doctor in case of diabetes mellitus. Large amounts of sugars can do significant harm.

The high iodine content will have a detrimental effect on hyperthyroidism. After all, both an excess and a lack of iodine have a detrimental effect on human health.

Feijoa berries can be consumed in small quantities for lactating and pregnant women. Consider whether iodine preparations were previously prescribed by doctors in order to exclude iodine overdose and feeling unwell.

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

The use of feijoa for medicinal purposes

The most useful recipe, in my opinion, which I prepare myself and strongly advise you to 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.

The universal recipe for feijoa health benefits

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

If you are preparing such a recipe with an orange, it must be peeled and chopped 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 feijoa can be used for health.

With stress, depression eat 5-6 fruits a day. Cheers up, tasty and healthy.

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

For treatment and prevention atherosclerosis make feijoa and orange jam.

Very good at problems with blood vessels use my universal recipe. And here's another recipe. Blanch with 0.5 kg. feijoa. Do not remove the peel from the fruit, then grind with 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 useful substances are still destroyed. But it turns out very tasty.

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

At hypertension grind the 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 proportions). Pour one tablespoon of the mixture with a glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Drink twice a day. Tea from the leaves also helps with goiter.

Several fruits in your diet will help you in the following situations:

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

I suggest you watch an interesting video about the beneficial properties of feijoa. I strongly advise you to watch the video. The market where these berries are sold is shown, advice is given on how to choose feijoa, how it is useful.

And if you did buy a feijoa on the market, I strongly advise you to pamper yourself. Let's prepare something tasty and don't forget about the face with the décolleté area.

The use of feijoa in cosmetology

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

• anti-inflammatory;
• anti-aging;
• nutritious;
• improving blood circulation
• softening
• refreshing action.

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

Feijoa face mask recipe:

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

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

You can also use just the pulp of the berry for a mask. Also a very good effect. I like it myself. Especially when there is no time to mix something there, there is simply no time, but you want a mood and freshness of your face. Just remember to test on your wrist 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, apples to salads. It is better to fill it with yogurt or low-fat sour cream.

Feijoa with beets. Salad

Boil 400 gr. beets, grate. Wash and chop 200 gr. pods of feijoa, mix with beets and add crushed walnut kernels. For such a quantity of products, take about 5-7 pieces of walnuts, salt to taste and season with vegetable oil. You can add feta cheese and sesame seeds.

Salsa with feijoa

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

Jelly (marmalade) from feijoa

To make jelly you need:

• grind in a blender 1.5 kg. feijoa;
• mix with 1 glass of natural apple cider vinegar and 50 gr. pectin for fruits;
• boil in a water bath for 5-6 minutes, avoiding boiling;
• remove from the stove and, stirring quickly, add 5 glasses of sugar;
• again put in a water bath and, constantly stirring, boil until the sugar is completely dissolved;
• remove foam with a slotted spoon;
• pour the finished hot jelly into small glass jars, close the lid;
• cool for 24 hours at room temperature.

Keep refrigerated.

Feijoa glaze for meat or fish

To prepare the glaze you will need:

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

Mix all the ingredients, grease the surface of the fish or meat liberally, put in the oven.

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This is the information about the beneficial and medicinal properties of feijoa for today. I hope you found it useful and interesting.
Feijoa. Useful and medicinal properties. Contraindications
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Feijoa is a fruit that grows on small trees of the myrtle family. The pioneer of this delicacy was the Brazilian naturalist João da Silva Feijo. Actually, the fruit today bears its name in his honor. Brazil remains the homeland of feijoa, but today it is actively cultivated, including in the subtropical part of the Caucasus and Crimea, in Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. It is more likely to enter domestic markets from these regions.

Only the fruit of this evergreen tree is edible. This is a fairly large juicy berry - 2-5 centimeters long (sometimes even 7 centimeters), 1.5-4 centimeters in diameter. The weight of one feijoa can reach 100 grams, but usually ranges from 20-60 grams. The shape of the fruit is oval, sometimes broadly round and even cuboid. Color - from light to dark green, if the feijoa acquires a dark brown hue, then little by little it begins to lose its presentation, becomes unusable. The peel is smooth, and sometimes slightly bumpy, inside there is a pulp with seeds surrounded by a white translucent sourish pulp. The aroma and taste is reminiscent of a mixture of strawberries, pineapple and kiwi. You may have slightly different taste associations.

According to the fruit has qualities, that is. stimulates energy production. Along with, it will nourish and support your body. Ripe, high quality fruit is suitable for all doshas, ​​but it is important not to overuse it while listening to your body.

In cooking, the fruit is used quite often in some countries. Dishes using the taste of the berry are compotes, and lemonades, and all kinds of cocktails, and preserves with jams, and salads, and sauces, dressings for them. You can simply grind and mix with sugar or honey, which can be eaten with a spoon from a jar, and also used as a fragrant filling for baked goods or an addition to cold snacks. Indispensable in the dietary food ration.

It is incredibly valuable for its nutritional and, importantly, healing properties. To understand what qualities nature has put into this exotic fruit, it is necessary to delve into the chemical composition of feijoa.

Feijoa chemical composition

The chemical composition of the berry is a unique balance of various components. It contains both standard vitamins for fruits and unexpectedly high concentrations of minerals.

Vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, PP. In terms of vitamin C content, the small feijoa leaves behind any citrus fruit. It turns out to be a powerful immunomodulator.

Among the high concentrations of minerals are mentioned - iodine, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, manganese. Iodine deserves special attention - its content in feijoa is equivalent to seafood and seaweed. The use of this berry is prescribed for people with thyroid dysfunction, because there are actually not so many natural products with a high iodine content.

The sour taste is due to the content of organic acids - mainly malic and folic.

The berry must be included in the diet of a person striving to get rid of several kilograms, as well as persons prone to excess weight, with impaired metabolism. The secret is that the fruit is a source of easily digestible proteins and fatty acids. Feijoa is a complete snack and an excellent component of main dishes. At the same time, the path to a slender waist and the prevention of hypovitaminosis.

Healing properties of feijoa

It successfully combines such an abundance of useful components that its medicinal properties affect a variety of organs and processes in the body. Among the main ones:

• stimulation of thought processes and activity of the brain - due to the content of iodine, it improves memory, attentiveness, intellectual abilities;
• toning the body - due to the high content of antioxidants;
• normalization of thyroid function - serious disorders cannot be cured with feijoa alone, but it is quite possible to bring the initial deviations of hormones from the norm; which means that there will be a surge of strength, lethargy and apathy will pass;
• treatment and prevention of inflammatory processes of various localizations:
• inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, gastritis,
• atherosclerosis,
• pyelonephritis,
• gout,
• Graves' disease
• normalization of bowel function - due to the high content of dietary fiber, as well as B vitamins, the fetus has a positive effect on digestion, eliminates dyspeptic disorders;
• normalization of blood pressure;
• immunomodulatory properties are provided by the content of shock doses of vitamin C;

The skin of the berry is dense and tart in taste, while the flesh is soft and juicy with few seeds. Of course, the pulp is tastier, and they get rid of the peel, but the whole fruit is usable. Some people prefer to consume only the inner part of the fruit, forgetting that a large amount of nutrients are found in the peel. The peel can also be dried and added to tea for flavoring. Therefore, this berry is very popular in countries of a temperate climatic zone, where cold weather already sets in during this period and fresh fruits begin to leave.

How to prepare feijoa for off-season consumption?

Fruit ripening occurs from mid-October to almost the end of November. It was at this time that he appears on the shelves. Our recommendations:

• taste the fruits to the touch - they should be soft and without visible damage; hard feijoa can still ripen, but it is definitely not worth buying too soft;
• cut the feijoa - the pulp of a ripe berry is transparent; if the pulp is white, then the fruit is not ripe, and if it is brown, then it has deteriorated;
• you need to store feijoa in the refrigerator - in the department for fruits and vegetables, depending on the degree of ripeness of the berry, from 7 to 14 days;
• over time, feijoa loses moisture, which makes it sweeter.
• You can also make a blank out of feijoa, which can be used throughout the winter period:
• wash, cut off the inflorescence,
• grind together with the peel using a meat grinder or blender;
• add an amount of sugar equal to the fruit in the puree;
• initially, the jam will turn out to be green, but over time it will darken due to the natural processes of seed pigmentation;
• you also need to store the jam in the refrigerator or freeze it; if you boil it, then some of the vitamins will evaporate, but you can store the workpiece at room temperature.

With this method of harvesting, all its useful properties of the feijoa will be preserved.

Carefully!

Despite the obvious health benefits, in some cases, you should still refrain from eating this berry.

Ripe fruits due to the high sugar content are contraindicated for people suffering from obesity, diabetes mellitus and having an individual intolerance to the product.

You should not eat these fruits in case of hyperfunction of the thyroid gland (thyrotoxicosis).

If you use feijoa for the first time, be sure to check the body for the tolerance of this fruit. If you notice a tendency to allergies, stop eating the fruit. In addition, they should be given with caution to children.

If you eat too many fruits, this can manifest itself as nervous breakdowns, anxiety, unstable temperature, heart palpitations, or, conversely, a decrease in performance and a depressed state.

A combination of feijoa and cow's milk should be avoided as it can cause gastrointestinal upset.

You can store feijoa in the refrigerator for no more than 7 days.