How is feijoa useful and for what diseases? Feijoa fruit: useful properties, contraindications, photos and recipes. Feijoa jam: useful properties

The green Feijoa berry, with a slight sour taste, was discovered in the 19th century in Brazil. It owes its name to Joa Feijo, director of the Natural History Museum. The first plantings of the plant in Europe were located on the territory of France, it was from there that the feijoa came to the lands of the Caucasus and Crimea. A fruit not large in diameter (about 7 cm) has taken root in heat-loving lands, where maximum frosts reach only -10 ° C. This is the lowest temperature for plant growth and fruiting.

When the leaves have already fallen in the gardens, and the main part of the trees are preparing for the coming winter, the berry is just beginning to ripen. The period of fruit collection falls on October-November, when the time for fresh fruits that are available to us has already passed.

Feijoa fruits are juicy with a small content of seeds, but the peel is tart in taste and dense. Many fruit lovers prefer to eat only the juicy pulp, throwing away the peel, not knowing that it contains no less of the beneficial properties for the body, and dried crusts will become a fragrant addition to a cup of tea.

Useful properties of feijoa are widely used in cooking. Compotes are cooked from it, desserts are prepared, added as a filling to pastries. The inclusion of a fruit rich in useful minerals and trace elements in the diet will have a positive effect on the body.

Feijoa - 9 Health Benefits

1. Useful properties during pregnancy

   Pregnancy is an important period for every woman, because the intrauterine development of the fetus and the woman herself depends on proper, balanced nutrition. An exotic fruit containing high levels of folic acid, which is necessary for a future mother, will have a beneficial effect on the health of a pregnant woman, preventing the risk of pathological conditions. The inclusion of berries in the diet can increase the hemoglobin readings necessary for the full growth and formation of the unborn baby and prevent possible manifestations of anemia associated with a lack of iron.

2. Improve digestion

   Feijoa fruits are filled with fiber fibers and pectins. The properties of vegetable fiber to stimulate digestion processes make the berry useful for preventive purposes in diseases such as hemorrhoids, delayed bowel movements. Possessing a mild laxative effect, the fruits will eliminate constipation, have a healing and cleansing effect on the intestines.

   For this purpose, feijoa juice is prepared at home, well-ripened and juicy berries should be chosen. If desired, honey, apple or banana juice can be added to the finished drink. If neither an apple nor a banana was at hand, you can simply mix the feijoa juice with sugar.

3. Compensates for iodine deficiency

   For optimal functioning and maintenance of tone, our body needs to receive a whole list of essential minerals and trace elements. Among this list, iodine occupies far from the last position. It is involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Lack of iodine provokes various negative symptoms: fatigue, fatigue, susceptibility to stress, and even a decrease in hemoglobin readings in the blood.

   Along with seafood that can accumulate iodine in its composition, feijoa differs among all fruits in high levels of iodine and is quite capable of competing with seafood in terms of its indicators. However, you should be aware that the presence of this element in the berry directly depends on where the berry grew.

   For those who don't like seafood, feijoa fruit can be a nice compromise if you need to replenish your body with iodine.

4. Antioxidant qualities

   Biochemists, studying the chemical composition of an exotic fruit, revealed the presence of phenolic compounds in feijoa, which have pronounced antioxidant properties. Soluble tannin, catechin - biologically active substances, are indispensable in the prevention of malignant neoplasms and they are usually found in the peel of the fetus. That is why you should not throw away the skin when eating a berry.

   Regular introduction of feijoa into the diet will protect the cells of the body from the negative effects of free radicals, and minimize the possibility of the formation of cancerous tumors.

5. Increases immunity

   During the off-season, when the possibility of catching an acute respiratory disease, or ORI, increases several times, and the body's immune forces “require recharge”, feijoa sugar jam will come to the rescue. Scientists have calculated that the berry contains up to 90 useful vitamins, minerals and trace elements that can strengthen our immune defenses.

   Berry jam will be a delicious medicine during the period of colds and colds. Such a drug should be prepared without cooking. It is enough to twist the fruits into a meat grinder and mix them with sugar. One spoonful of vitamin remedy will give strength to the body, protecting it from viruses and bacteria. Such a tasty drug will refuse to be useful not only for adults, but also for children. To improve the taste, children are allowed to add a little honey to the berry.

6. Help in the work of the heart

   Due to the extensive vitamin composition of feijoa, it has the ability to improve the functioning of the heart. Balanced indicators of trace elements of iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc will favorably affect the work of the heart muscle, strengthen blood vessels. As a prophylactic for heart diseases, doctors advise daily to use a tablespoon of berry juice, diluted in half a glass of water.

7. Antiseptic qualities

   Infusions and decoctions from extracts of berries have an antiseptic and disinfectant effect. If necessary, they can treat cuts, abrasions. They will also help with inflammatory processes in the throat. Dentists advise with bleeding gums to rinse your mouth with a decoction of an exotic plant.

   In places where feijoa grows, not only the fruits themselves are used as an antiseptic property. From the leaves, rich in essential oils and reminiscent of the smell of myrtle, drinks and medicinal teas are prepared.

8. Antibacterial qualities

   The presence of essential oils in the plant gives it antibacterial qualities and the ability to prevent the formation of pathogenic microflora. This property can be used at home to solve the problem of bad foot odor, which men often suffer from. It is enough to wipe the previously washed and dried feet twice a day with a decoction of feijoa to get rid of a fungal infection.

9. Use in diabetes

   People suffering from high blood sugar should constantly monitor the list of products that contribute not to harm with such a disease. Feijoa has a low glycemic index and is acceptable in the diet of diabetics in moderation. Compotes, jams are prepared from berries, they are added to fruit salads and even served with meat dishes. Eating a fruit with an exotic name will help reduce cravings for sugary foods and will effectively affect blood sugar readings.

Feijoa - contraindications

Berry recently appeared on store shelves and attracted the attention of many buyers. However, for its use there are a number of contraindications, which should not be ignored.

Purchase only ripe fruits - unripe berries can cause poisoning.

Feeding berries to children under one year is highly undesirable. After all, babies do not yet produce the necessary enzymes for its absorption. Feijoa should be introduced into the diet of babies with caution and in small portions. The fruit is still exotic and its consumption can cause allergic reactions.

High iodine readings in feijoa fruits limit its intake by people who have problems with the thyroid gland and use iodine-compensating drugs. An overdose of iodine will affect the frequent heartbeat, nervousness, temperature fluctuations.

Do not combine fruit with dairy products. Such a "composition" can cause disturbances in the work of the stomach.

In case of individual hypersensitivity, the introduction of berries into the diet should be abandoned.

What else is useful?

When berries similar to gooseberries appeared on store shelves a few years ago, people hesitated to buy them for a long time. But, having figured it out and tried it once, they began to consider them an ordinary fruit, the name of which is feijoa. Over time, it became known what feijoa is useful for. From this article you can find out everything that makes it worth getting to know this beautiful and necessary miracle of nature.

Feijoa: photo, description

Feijoa is a shrub with evergreen foliage that can grow from two to four meters in height. The branches are gray-yellow in color, beautiful large flowers are visible on them during flowering. Blooms from June to July. The flowers are pretty and last a long time.

The fruit is greenish in color, the berries reach a size of about 5 cm in length and from 20 to 120 g in weight. Full ripening occurs in late autumn, in late October - early November, depending on the variety. The harvest from the shrub is plentiful. Even a houseplant can produce about three kilograms of fruit, and on a plantation, 30 kg or more are removed from a tree.

You can enjoy real taste merits only when there is a ripe feijoa. But it is not often possible to buy a fully ripe fruit, because it is not fully ripened. This causes rapid deterioration. There is no spoiled fruit.

Some people unknowingly eat feijoa like kiwi, cutting off the top skin and cutting the flesh into slices. In fact, they need to be eaten with the peel, which contains all the useful substances.

How useful is feijoa? The presence of vitamins and healing properties that are lost if stored improperly. But its shelf life in ripe form is very short. Even in the refrigerator, it can be stored in a usable form for no more than a week. If you want to always have delicious fresh fruits, but you need to buy up to two kilograms at a time.

If the fruit is still unripe, its shelf life is longer. If it is collected in the last autumn days, then, subject to the storage rules, it will be able to lie until spring. The temperature should be 0 degrees. But if you need to make sure that the unripe fruits ripen at home, they should lie in a well-ventilated room at a temperature of about 24 degrees. It will ripen in about two weeks.

The best storage option for feijoa is a special section of the refrigerator, where the desired temperature is maintained.

Feijoa is exactly the fruit that appears in the stores of our country only in early October. The sale of this product ends in December. At the same time, many do not even know how to eat feijoa correctly, what can be cooked from it and what useful qualities it has. Let's figure it out.

Where does this fruit grow?

Initially, an evergreen plant called feijoa appeared in Argentina. Uruguay, Brazil, it is in the subtropics of distant South America. For the first time about this tree in Europe learned only at the end of the 19th century. The plant got its name from the discoverer of the botanist - Joanie da Silvo Feijo. Now this tree is grown in the Crimea, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and the Krasnodar Territory. But large feijoa plantations can only be found in New Zealand. For a long time, this plant was considered decorative. A delightfully tree with silvery leaves spread very quickly in almost all subtropical zones. But in the tropics, the plant did not take root at all. Gradually, the popularity of this tree has increased. But despite this, many still do not know what feijoa is. The beneficial properties of this plant have long been proven.

Useful properties of feijoa

So, what is the use of feijoa. It is worth noting that this fruit contains a huge amount of iodine. According to the content of this trace element, feijoa can only be compared with seafood. Why does the body need iodine? This microelement improves memory and speeds up thought processes. When there is enough iodine in our body, we feel great. We are cheerful and full of energy. If there is a decrease in the amount of an element in our body, we feel severe weakness and get tired very quickly.

In addition, the feijoa fruit contains about 93 substances useful for humans. This fruit is a real piggy bank of vitamins. Feijoa contains fiber, essential sugar, malic acid, macro- and microelements.

The fruits of this plant are recommended for use in diseases of the thyroid gland. Feijoa fruit, the beneficial properties of which have been known for a long time, can be used for pyelonephritis, gastritis, beriberi, as well as in the presence of inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the fruits of the evergreen tree can reduce pressure, calm the heart. Feijoa essential oil helps to eliminate skin problems. This substance has anti-inflammatory properties.

Where can you use feijoa

As for the smell and taste of this fruit, they resemble a combination of pineapple, kiwi and strawberries. Now imagine how many different dishes can be made with such a unique component. Feijoa fruit is used to prepare various sauces, salads, desserts, compotes, jams and marmalades.

It is worth noting that these fruits go well with seafood. Especially with noble varieties of fish, such as sea bass or black cod. They can be stuffed with feijoa or served with fruit with these products as a side dish.

These fruits give a spicy and unique taste to poultry and pork meat. Very often, a side dish with feijoa is made in combination with various vegetables: zucchini, Brussels sprouts, carrots. However, the fruit itself should not be processed, as the boiled fruits become softer.

How to choose the right feijoa

So, what is useful feijoa, you already know. Now you need to understand how to choose the right fruits. When choosing this fruit, you should pay special attention to the color of the pulp. Of course, the feijoa needs to be cut. If the flesh of the fruit is transparent, then it is ripe. Do not buy brown fruits. This indicates that the feijoa has begun to spoil. If the flesh inside turns out to be opaque and white, then the fruit is not ripe.

It is also worth remembering that the fruit retains its beneficial qualities only for a week. Therefore, you should not buy feijoa, the beneficial properties of which have long been known, with a margin. It is better to immediately cook something tasty from the fruits. It is worth noting that the fruits of this plant will not only allow you to diversify your menu, but also become a table decoration.

Feijoa: how to eat

This fruit can be eaten raw. It is worth noting that not only the pulp, but also the peel is suitable for food. Of course, it is not as tasty, but it has much more benefits. To eat the pulp, you need to cut the fruit and carefully cut it out with a spoon. However, it is better to cook various feijoa dishes. At the same time, vitamins are almost completely preserved. What can be cooked?

raw jam

So, feijoa, how is it eaten and in what form? For starters, you can try the jam from this fruit. The fruits should be crushed to a mushy state. This can be done with a blender or a meat grinder. In this case, the peel should not be removed, as it contains a huge amount of vitamins. The resulting mass must be mixed with sugar. It will turn out just amazing jam without cooking. For 1 kilogram of feijoa, 1 kilogram of sugar is needed. When the jam is ready, you can arrange it in jars, previously sterilized. It is better to store the finished product in the refrigerator. You can also add crushed hazelnuts or walnuts to the mixture.

How to make real jam

Feijoa, whose beneficial properties are known to many, can be eaten in the form of jam. To prepare it, you need water, grated ginger, fruits and sugar, the amount of which should be 25% of all fruits. All components should be placed in a refractory container and put on fire. But best of all in a water bath. The delicacy should be cooked for 6 hours. In this case, you need to remove the foam and stir regularly. Do not immediately add grated ginger. It is better to do this at the end of cooking. It is worth noting that such an extraordinary combination will make the jam more delicious. The finished delicacy should be wiped through a sieve. This will separate the ginger fibers and feijoa seeds from the jam.

Feijoa with beets

To prepare this simple salad you will need:

1. Beet medium size.
2. From 100 to 200 grams of feijoa.
3. Walnuts.
4. Salt.
5. Vegetable oil.

Fruit must be peeled and then finely chopped. It is better to boil the beets and grind them on a coarse grater. Peel and crush nuts. Mix all the ingredients in one container, lightly salt and season with vegetable oil. It is worth considering that the calorie content of feijoa is very small. Therefore, the dish is perfect for those who follow their forms. In addition, boiled beets help cleanse the body. Such a diet salad contains a lot of vitamins and fiber.

Pork special

To prepare this dish you will need:

• Pork.
• Feijoa.
• Lime.
• Vegetable oil.
• Salt.
• Cashew nuts.
• Paprika.
• Mix of lettuce leaves.
• Low-fat yogurt or mayonnaise.
• Red wine

The meat must be washed, dried with a paper towel, and then cut into small and thin slices. Lime and feijoa also need to be thoroughly washed and chopped. Fruit is best cut into thin rings. Onions should be peeled and cut into strips. After that, you need to put a frying pan on the fire, pour a little vegetable oil into it and warm it up well. In the heated fat, it is necessary to lower the pork slices and fry them on all sides. After that, put fruits and onions in the pan. You need to fry everything for another three minutes.

In an almost ready dish, you need to add a little red wine, soy sauce and put chopped cashews. All components must be thoroughly mixed and removed from heat. A mix of completely different varieties should be combined with low-fat yogurt or mayonnaise. An extraordinary dish is ready.

Cranberry and feijoa tincture

The calorie content of feijoa is very small, so this fruit can be used to prepare not only delicious, but also dietary dishes and drinks. To prepare cranberry tincture you will need:

Berries should be washed and crushed. Peel the feijoa and chop as desired. After that, you can prepare sugar syrup. To do this, pour 75 milliliters of water into a refractory container and dissolve sugar in it. Put the saucepan on the fire and bring to a boil. Pounded berries and chopped fruits should be transferred to a container with a volume of 700 milliliters. You also need to add sugar syrup. The remaining volume should be filled with water. Then everything needs to be mixed well. The container should be tightly closed and put in a dark place. The tincture will be ready in 7 days.

Finally

Feijoa is a real storehouse of nutrients. You can eat fruit not only in its raw form. Feijoa is great for preparing various salads, sweets and even meat. This product has a simply amazing taste, which makes any dish simply unique.

A heat-loving fruit called feijoa, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which people have not yet fully studied, has the taste and aroma of strawberries and pineapple. For this unsurpassed taste, the berry is simply adored by lovers of eating something unusual. However, not everyone knows how useful feijoa is and who should not buy it, as well as how the fetus affects the male body, the female body, and whether it is useful for children.

Feijoa - useful properties and contraindications

It is interesting that people call feijoa both a fruit and even a vegetable. On our shelves, as a rule, the buyer sees feijoa berries, which are sent unripe. The reason for this is the poor transportability of the ripe fruit. However, experts say that even ripening on the road or in the store, the fruit retains its benefits.

The berry is eaten raw, juice is prepared from it, compote and other aromatic drinks are brewed. Berries are suitable for filling pies, making jams and jams, and are also used to make salads and snacks.

Feijoa has excellent taste qualities and this already has benefits. Tasty and fragrant food cheers up a person and makes him happy - even if only for a few minutes. But feijoa is famous not only for its taste and unusual aroma.

This "strange" berry contains a number of vitamins, without which a person cannot exist normally.

Composition and nutritional value

Vitamins: B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 ​​(pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), C (ascorbic acid), PP.

Macro- and microelements: iodine, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper, sodium, phosphorus, zinc.

Nutritional value (100 gr. Product):

• proteins - 1 gr
• fats - 0.8 gr
• carbohydrates - 10 gr
• calories - 49 kcal

The berry contains a lot of fiber and pectin, as well as useful antioxidants such as kahetin and leucoanthocyanins.

What are the benefits of feijoa for the body

The beneficial properties of feijoa make this plant a good preventive and therapeutic agent for various diseases. The only pity is that the life of the berry is short - its season on the shelves of our supermarkets lasts from October to December.

• The main thing that this green berry is interesting for is a huge amount of iodine, in 100 gr. contains from 8 to 35 mg of iodine, depending on the place where it grows. According to its content, it is considered a record holder - it has surpassed all existing fruits and berries in this. Even sea mollusks can envy the amount of iodine in its composition. One - two berries eaten per day are able to satisfy the daily requirement of iodine in the human body. Given that the problem of the thyroid gland is acute all over the world, feijoa is simply a savior for those suffering from diseases of the endocrine system.
• In addition, the fruits of this plant are recommended to be introduced into the diet for those who are prone to colds or flu, due to the high content of vitamin C. If you suddenly get sick, the essential oils contained in the berry help a quick recovery.
• Vitamins and minerals make it useful for beriberi, which makes a person weak, it is also recommended for weakened immunity;
• It is recommended to include berries in the diet for people suffering from anemia due to such an important trace element as iron, which is part of it.
• Kakhetin and leucoanthocyanin, contained in the skin of the berry, are recognized by physicians as substances that fight the emergence of cancer cells;
• This unsightly green fruit lowers blood cholesterol, which is important for people with cardiovascular disease. The antioxidants included in the composition protect the heart and blood vessels from overload. Also, these substances are important for the prevention of hypertension and atherosclerosis, the berry is useful for poor memory and absent-mindedness.
• The fruits help with depression, nervous and mental overload, therefore they are shown to people engaged in intellectual work, students during exams.
• It is also useful for the kidneys, helps to cope with inflammatory processes.
• The fruits contain a certain amount of fruit acids, which is useful for gastritis;
• The fruits are interesting in that they will help with any problems with digestion. The pulp of the berry contains a lot of pectin, which acts as a laxative, and its peel contains tannins that treat diarrhea.
• But about whether it is possible to eat feijoa with diabetes, there are disputes and there is no consensus on this matter. It is clear that feijoa is not recommended for patients with type 3 diabetes. In other cases, it is better to resolve this issue with your doctor.

Useful properties for men

Feijoa fruits are not only a prophylactic against prostatitis, but also a therapeutic one. Statistics say that most men, reaching middle age, are aware of this insidious disease. And not every man, feeling the symptoms of prostatitis, hurries to the doctor. Doctors note that men who have feijoa in their daily diet do not complain about prostatitis.

With hormonal disorders, feijoa will also help. Therefore, with certain sexual problems, this exotic fruit is also indispensable, both for men and women.

Benefits for Women

Much has been said about the fact that women often experience hormonal disruptions. It can be extremely difficult to set up female hormones in the right way - expensive pills, injections, drops are prescribed for this. Feijoa also comes to the rescue here, helping to normalize the hormonal background of the female body.

Women also use this product for cosmetic purposes, because it can slow down cell aging and rejuvenate the skin.

Do I need a berry during pregnancy

The fetus is also interesting for pregnant women, as it contains the elements necessary for this period of a woman's life - iron, folic acid, vitamin PP and, of course, iodine.

• During pregnancy, there is a natural loss of iron and therefore it is important to replenish it.
• Folic acid is very important for the growth and proper development of the fetus, it affects the development of the brain, the nervous system of the unborn child.
• A lack of vitamin PP can cause pigmentation of the skin, hair loss in a pregnant woman, affect the mental state, and digestive upset may occur.
• And finally, iodine, this element is especially important at the 12th week of pregnancy, when the baby's thyroid gland develops. Iodine is found in fruits in an easily digestible form, which facilitates its intake to the fetus.

But an overabundance of this element is also not needed, so it will not be superfluous to consult a doctor who controls pregnancy.

Feijoa for weight loss

An exotic plant will also help to keep a slim figure and at the same time enjoy delicious food. If you replace sweets and cakes with this fruit, it will be tasty, healthy and the figure will not suffer. After all, sweet-tasting feijoa has a low calorie content.

An important property of this berry for weight loss is that it cleans the intestines well, as it contains a lot of fiber and pectin. Feijoa will cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, free the intestines from feces, which is important for weight loss. Feijoa diets are based on the fact that pectin, like a panicle, cleans the intestines, breaking down food proteins.

At the same time, any dietary dish to which feijoa will be added will give the person who is losing weight everything necessary for a full existence. This mysterious green berry not only nourishes the human body, but also maintains its good mood, good spirits and beauty.

Pectin also helps reduce appetite, which is also important for weight loss.

Salad for losing weight:

chop 5 feijoas, 1 apple, 1 avocado, 1 orange and 1 small beetroot. Mix all this, season with fat-free yogurt and sprinkle with lemon juice.

Is it possible to give feijoa to children

It is better not to give feijoa to children under one year old, since the baby's stomach enzymes are not ready to digest this product.

After the child is one year old, feijoa can be a salvation for mothers whose children suffer from constipation or diarrhea.

Feijoa is also useful for children for the following reasons:

• increases hemoglobin, and in childhood anemia is a real problem;
• inhalation over steam of crushed peel with the addition of soda will serve as the prevention and treatment of the common cold and acute respiratory infections;
• fights depression and calms nerves, so it is advised to give it a couple of times a week to noisy and nervous children.
• children should also be given feijoa because it contains a lot of iodine - even more than in seafood. But children eat sweet treats with more pleasure than seaweed, for example. This is important because iodine is responsible for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland.
• this amazing fruit "spurs" the growth of the child, so it is advisable to include it in the diet of children who are lagging behind the norm.
• the berry helps to get rid of frequent nosebleeds, due to the ability to increase the elasticity of blood vessels.

When the child is one year old, he can get his first serving of feijoa. It should be crushed mashed potatoes made from the pulp of the berry in the amount of one teaspoon, no more. It is worth immediately being careful and following the reaction of the child's body to this product. Although the berry is considered hypoallergenic, some children, and even adults, have an individual intolerance to this fruit. Moreover, an allergy may not appear immediately, but after a day.

The amount of feijoa berries recommended by nutritionists for children from one to three years old is 1 piece per day. This is due to the fact that an excess of iodine will not bring benefits, but even vice versa. But for adults, to get the maximum benefit, it is recommended to eat 4 feijoa per day.

Recipes for health

It would be surprising if such a useful berry as feijoa was not used to maintain health. A common dish made from this berry is jam. In the cold season, it will fill our body with useful substances, which are so lacking in the winter-spring period. Recipes for health are relevant at any time of the year, so take note.

• If the problem with the thyroid gland is due to a lack of iodine, take 1 tbsp half an hour before meals. a spoonful of feijoa puree.
• If you are depressed or constantly stressed, eat 4-6 berries every day. They invigorate, keep nerve cells in order and even cheer up.
• For hepatitis, take tea from the leaves and flowers of feijoa. You need to drink it twice a day. Tea is made like this:

1 st. spoon mixture of flowers and leaves (1:1) pour a glass of boiling water and leave for 30 minutes, then strain and drink.

• It is useful to drink freshly squeezed feijoa juice diluted with water once a day at any time in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Proportion: 3 tbsp. spoons of water for 1 tbsp. a spoonful of juice.
• For therapeutic and prophylactic purposes from atherosclerosis, eat feijoa jam with oranges.
• Raw feijoa jam 1 tbsp. spoon twice a day helps with hypertension.

Feijoa in cosmetology

The beneficial properties of the berry are also applicable in home cosmetology, women actively use it for rejuvenation and beauty.

Rejuvenating mask:

you will need 2 tbsp. l. feijoa pulp puree, add 1 tsp to it. honey and olive oil, mix and apply on face.

After 15 minutes, rinse with water, first warm, then cold. You can do this mask no more than 2 times a week.

Anti-Wrinkle Mask:

beat the egg and mix with the feijoa pulp puree. For dry skin, add a couple more drops of vegetable oil.

Wash off the mask with water after 20 minutes. Finish off with a moisturizer.

The mask is universal:

mix the following ingredients - the yolk of one egg, a teaspoon of feijoa pulp puree, 2 tsp. cottage cheese, 1 tsp any vegetable oil.

Keep the mask on your face for 20 minutes, then rinse with water, first warm, then cool. By making such a mask 2-3 times a week, you will soon notice how fine wrinkles disappear without a trace, and the skin becomes smooth and elastic.

Use in cooking

If you are thinking about how to prepare something that will surprise your guests, make this salad.

Salad with feijoa and beets

To prepare a salad with feijoa and beets you will need:

• 2 medium beets,
• 5 feijoa berries
• a quarter of a red onion
• 5 walnuts,
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• olive oil for dressing

Preparation: bake beets, peel, cut into strips. Feijoa and onion also cut into small pieces, chop the nuts. Pour the prepared products into one bowl, sprinkle with vinegar, season with oil, mix.

The berry season is short, so you can prolong the pleasure by preparing for the winter.

Feijoa ground with sugar

Due to the fact that this recipe uses raw berries that have not undergone heat treatment, this jam retains a maximum of useful properties.

For 1 kg of feijoa you need 1 kg of sugar. Put the berries washed and freed from dry inflorescences into a blender and grind to make a homogeneous puree. Then mix this puree with sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Arrange in sterile jars, cover with lids and put in a cold place.

Feijoa jam

If you do not know how to make feijoa jam, use this simple recipe.

Cut 1 kg of berries into slices, add 1 kg of sugar to them and add 100 grams of water. Cook for 5-7 minutes, skimming and stirring.

Then the jam is laid out in dry sterile jars and rolled up. Such a delicacy can be stored for several years without losing its taste. In such a jam, you can add lemon slices or its zest, as well as an orange.

Feijoa leaf and peel tea

It is difficult to get feijoa leaves, but if such an opportunity arises, be sure to dry them and drink healing tea in winter.

If you do not like eating a berry with a peel, then its beneficial properties can be used to make a healthy drink. They say that tea made from dried rinds is fragrant and tasty.

Contraindications

No matter how useful the product is, there will be contraindications to it, and feijoa is no exception.

• Iodine - this element makes feijoa a very useful berry, but it can also harm the body. This applies to people who have a disease such as hyperthyroidism. They need to be extremely careful with this berry, since an overdose can lead to an exacerbation of hyperthyroidism. Before including it in your diet, consult your doctor.
• It is contraindicated to use the fruits of this plant for people who have hypersensitivity to iodine or individual intolerance to this product.
• The fruits are also contraindicated for people who are allergic to vitamin C, as this berry contains a lot of it.
• The berry in combination with unleavened milk can cause indigestion, but at the same time it is excellent "friends" with fermented milk products and cottage cheese.

In any case, when starting an acquaintance with an exotic berry, you should be careful, because the human body can react differently to each new product. And if you decide to use feijoa for treatment, then in the presence of chronic diseases, get advice from your doctor.

Summing up, I would like to say that with impressive beneficial properties and minimal contraindications, this berry is simply necessary for everyone who cares about beauty and health. Well, and for those who love tasty and fragrant - even more so. And remember that feijoa lovers are always fresh, alert, and full of vitality. If you have not tried this exotic yet, then I wish you a pleasant and useful acquaintance.

Elena Kasatova. See you by the fireplace.

In contact with

Classmates

The name of the fruit comes from the name of a certain scientist Joanie de Silva Feijo, who in the old days headed the Museum of Natural Sciences in Brazil. He made a significant contribution to the selection and distribution of many plants known to the modern world. The history of cultivation of feijoa has a little over a hundred years. In Europe, and more specifically, in the Mediterranean, this fruit appeared only at the beginning of the 20th century. Later, feijoa spread throughout the Caucasus and Central Asia. Initially, feijoa was used exclusively for decorative purposes, because it is very beautiful, especially during the flowering period.

Feijoa. The nutritional value

Feijoa is an evergreen tree from the Akka genus. Such a tree does not exceed 4 meters in height. Feijoa fruits are oval and green in color. They weigh 25-50 grams, and outwardly resemble small zucchini. Ripe fruits should be soft to the touch. The historical homeland of this plant is Brazil. But feijoa is also grown in the countries of Central Asia. And in our country - on the territory of the Krasnodar Territory.

Only over time, people appreciated the amazing taste of feijoa fruits. They are usually eaten raw. But quite often, a variety of drinks, jams are prepared from feijoa. Many people like to add feijoa to all sorts of fruit and vegetable salads, it gives dishes a unique taste and exquisite aroma. Feijoa sauce is good, especially in combination with meat dishes. Ripe berries are tasty on their own, at the same time, they contain an essential oil (consisting of 93 specific substances), the taste of which also resembles strawberries and pineapple together. Ice cream (in the chamber) is stored for up to six months, retaining its beneficial properties, dried feijoa is also very tasty and fragrant, and jam or jam from these berries is generally a gourmet's dream that boosts immunity. Feijoa is also used as a flavoring agent in New Zealand vodka.

How useful is such a product?

Energy value in 100 gr. Feijoa product (lat. Acca sellowiana):

Feijoa fruit pulp contains sucrose. The acidity of the fruit is quite high. They contain quite a lot of pectin substances, fiber. Few proteins. The amino acid composition of the fruit is not rich, it is represented mainly by 5 amino acids (asparagine, arginine, glutamine, alanine, tyrosine).

The fruits also contain catechins and leucoanthocyanins, soluble tannin, which are found mainly in the skin and give the fruits an astringent taste, which affects the "gastronomic indicators" of the product. You can do it simply: remove the peel, dry and brew with tea. In addition, feijoa leaves can also be used in the kitchen, containing essential oils in their numerous glands and emitting the aroma of myrtle when brewed.

Feijoa is also a mandatory component of the diet in violation of the gastrointestinal tract and its inflammatory processes. An interesting fact is the fact that the beneficial properties of feijoa are contained not only in the pulp, but also in the skin of the berry - it is here that a large amount of pectins is concentrated, the content of which the product surpasses most fruits, and various beneficial antioxidant substances that prevent the development of atherosclerosis. The easiest way to harvest berries for the winter is to pass the pulp through a meat grinder and combine with sugar in a 1: 1 ratio. This delicious delicacy perfectly raises the immune system and stops bacterial attacks in the initial stage. For lovers of sweets, this is just a godsend - a combination of tasty and healthy is not so common.

For medicinal purposes, feijoa is used not only for diseases of the thyroid gland, but also for hypoacid gastritis, pyelonephritis. But still, this is not a medicine, but a useful supplement to the diet.

In addition, the composition of feijoa includes unique substances that contribute to the prevention and treatment of cancer. Feijoa peel is especially useful in this regard, but its only drawback is its tart and slightly astringent taste, so many people prefer to use peeled feijoa.

In cosmetology, the anti-inflammatory properties of feijoa have long been known.

Among other things, feijoa is a wonderful prophylactic against viral and colds. Feijoa helps to strengthen the body's immune system. A very valuable property of feijoa is that its fruits do not cause allergic reactions.

Feijoa harm

It is worth remembering that the harm of feijoa can occur with individual intolerance to the product. In addition, due to the presence of easily digestible sugars in feijoa, this fruit may be contraindicated in people suffering from obesity and diabetes. In any case, before using this exotic fruit, you should consult a specialist.

It must be remembered when choosing and buying berries - they can be hard, not quite ripe (after all, imported fruit), but most importantly, the integrity of the fruit, the peel should not be violated. After standing for a while, the fruits will ripen themselves, even if artificially, but their beneficial properties will not suffer.

How to eat feijoa?

Unfortunately, not all people know how to eat feijoa correctly, and not everyone is familiar with the recipes for dishes from these tasty and healthy fruits. First you need to choose the right fruits when buying - mature feijoa fruits are soft to the touch, they are distinguished by transparent and juicy pulp. If the flesh is brown, you are dealing with a spoiled fruit, and if it is white, you are dealing with an unripe one. Feijoa pulp is characterized by a strong aroma and a pleasant, sweet, delicate taste, reminiscent of the taste of strawberries or pineapple. The skin of the fruit is dense and tart, but also edible. Some people eat feijoa whole, cutting off the tails, an equally common way is to scoop out the pulp with a spoon.