Feijoa: useful properties. Feijoa does not cause allergic reactions

Feijoa (another name for Akka Sellova) is an evergreen subtropical tree with edible sweet fruits.

Homeland - Brazil. The plant got its name in honor of the famous Brazilian breeder director of the Museum of Natural History - Joanie de Silva Feijo.

The modern habitat of cultivated species of Feijoa:

Azerbaijan, Sicily, New Zealand, Abkhazia.

On the territory of Russia, a fruit tree is grown in Dagestan and some regions of the Krasnodar Territory.

Unfortunately, feijoa is not a frequent guest on our table. And in vain, because the seemingly nondescript green fruit with the fragrant smell of strawberries, kiwi and pineapple has not only excellent taste, but also a lot of healing properties.

The benefits and harms of feijoa are due to its chemical composition.

100 g of ripe fruits contains:

0.6 fat,
1 g proteins
13 g carbs
0.1 g unsaturated fat,
0.3 g of unsaturated fatty acids,
8 g sugars
6 g of dietary fiber.

Everything else falls on minerals and vitamins:

potassium 172 mg, iron 0.1 mg, phosphorus 20 mg,
zinc 0.04 mg, sodium 30 mg, copper 55 mcg,
magnesium 9 mg, manganese 0.085 mg, calcium 17 mg,
(B1, B2, B5, B6, B9) 0.4 mg,
vitamin C 32.9 mg, vitamin PP 0.289 mg.

Feijoa is unique in that it contains instant iodine compounds, the proportion of which in 100 g of the product reaches 0.5 mg.

The proportion of acids in feijoa is 1.8-2.8% of the total weight of the fruit. Moreover, as the fruit ripens, the amount of acids only increases.

Feijoa contains 5 essential amino acids:

tyrosine, asparagine, alanine, arginine, glutamine.

Pectins account for 2.5-3%, and phenolic compounds (tannin, catechins, leukoanthocyanins) 0.4-0.8% of the total weight of the fruit.

Most of the phenolic compounds are found in the skin of the fruit. It is these substances that give feijoa astringent taste.

The nutritional value of feijoa per 100 g of product is 55 kcal.

Benefit for health

Due to the large amount of vitamins, macro- and microelements, feijoa is recommended to be consumed during beriberi.

Surprisingly, the fruit ripening period falls at the end of autumn - the beginning of winter. It is at this time that our body, after a summer abundance of fruits and vegetables, for the first time feels a lack of vitamins and minerals. So feijoa will come in handy.

The main benefit of feijoa is that its pulp contains easily digestible iodine, the proportion of which is so high that the fleshy berry is not inferior in value to seafood.

This means that the green fruits of Akka Sellova can be used to treat all kinds of endocrine diseases.

However, not all types of feijoa contain the right amount of iodine. For example, only traces of iodine are present in the feijoa from Batumi. It is pointless to use such fruits for the treatment of the thyroid gland.

Thanks to vitamin C, which is an excellent antioxidant, feijoa is used in the fight against diseases of the cardiovascular system, atherosclerosis, hypertension, SARS, influenza, tonsillitis.

It has been scientifically proven that feijoa has immunomodulating properties, so it is useful to eat it during exacerbations of seasonal colds, after serious illnesses and in the postoperative period.

In areas where Akka Sellova grows, not only fruits are used for medicinal purposes, but also the beneficial properties of feijoa leaves, which contain a large amount of essential oils, are used. It is the volatile esters that give the leaves the aroma of myrtle. Feijoa leaves are dried and made into delicious teas in winter.

Nutritionists recommend using feijoa during a therapeutic diet for disorders in the digestive system, as well as diseases of the stomach (for example, with hypoacid gastritis), intestines, liver, pancreas, etc.

Decoctions and infusions of feijoa are often used to treat pyelonephritis of various etiologies.

Interestingly, the feijoa peel contains more nutrients than the pulp. Of course, the astringent peel greatly reduces the palatability of the feijoa if the whole fruit is eaten. But such a berry will be more useful. Although you can do otherwise. It is enough to cut the peel and dry it, and then add it to tea.

Another wonderful beneficial property of the feijoa fruit is its anti-cancer effect. Regular use of feijoa significantly reduces the risk of developing cancer. And with existing cancer, it allows you to achieve stable remission. Of course, one cannot be fanatical about this fruit, because feijoa is only an addition to the main treatment.

Thanks to essential oils, antioxidants and other substances, feijoa has a negative effect on pathogenic microorganisms and has a powerful antifungal and antibacterial effect.

So, decoctions from the bark, leaves and fruits can be used as an antiseptic disinfectant. They can treat deep wounds, ulcers, abrasions, cuts, rinse the mouth with bleeding gums, relieve toothache.

Feijoa does not cause allergic reactions.

The benefits of feijoa in cosmetology

Thanks to the antioxidants that Akki Sellova fruit is rich in, feijoa is often used for cosmetic purposes.

Feijoa-based masks have a beneficial effect on the skin - they relieve inflammation, make it softer, give elasticity and generally improve blood circulation and the appearance of the face. Feijoa decoctions, as well as fruit masks, can be used to treat rosacea, acne, age spots.

To achieve rejuvenation and freshness of the skin, you can prepare a healing mask from feijoa.

Required components:

1 st. a spoonful of olive oil
half a ripe feijoa fruit
2 tbsp. tablespoons of low-fat cottage cheese,
1 yolk.

Grate feijoa or puree in a blender. Mix with the rest of the ingredients. Apply the mask on the skin of the face and neck. Wash off with warm water after 20 minutes.

How to eat feijoa

Only ripe feijoa has excellent taste. However, it is not always possible to acquire ripe fruits. The fact is that feijoa is harvested in an unripe form due to the fact that the fruits are perishable products.

If the feijoa is hard and not very pleasant in taste, then the berry is simply not ripe. In this case, the fruits need to lie down for several days. Ripe feijoa has a watery, jelly-like flesh and thin skin.

Many people prefer to eat feijoa like kiwi, that is, cut off the thick skin and cut the flesh into pieces.

However, ripe fruits can also be eaten with a peel, especially since the main share of feijoa's useful substances is concentrated in it.

In cooking, feijoa is added to salads, main courses, snacks, used to make sauces.

How to store

Unlike apples, pears, plums, and other berries and fruits, feijoa has a fairly short shelf life. Ripe fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. The surest way to always enjoy delicious fruits is to buy 1-2 kg of feijoa.

From feijoa fruits you can make a wonderful dessert that can be stored all winter. It prepares very quickly:

Pass the feijoa through a meat grinder and combine with the same amount of sugar. Store dessert in the refrigerator. Thus, you will not only be able to extend the shelf life of feijoa, but also retain all the beneficial substances of the exotic berry.

Medicinal use

To combat goiter, take a medicinal tea based on feijoa leaves twice a day. Pour a tablespoon of feijoa leaves with a glass of boiling water and leave for 30 minutes. If you add a spoonful of honey to such a drink, then tea can also be used to treat nephritis.

As a preventive measure against hypothyroidism, regularly consume feijoa puree:

Grind a few fruits in a blender and mix with sugar.
Store the finished product in the refrigerator.
Eat according to Art. spoon before every meal.

With jaundice, it is good to drink freshly brewed tea from feijoa flowers and leaves.

Sweet tooth should like medicinal feijoa jam:

Take 0.5 kg of feijoa fruit, 1 orange, 1 kg of sugar.
Boil the berries for 10 minutes in a small amount of water, then discard and cover with sugar. Squeeze juice from an orange.
Next, transfer the feijoa to a saucepan, add the juice and boil until thick.

The benefits of feijoa jam is that this dessert not only retains many useful substances, but is also a medicine for atherosclerosis.

Harm and possible contraindications

Ripe feijoa does not harm the human body. However, more often you can buy unripe berries.

Do not rush to eat an exotic fruit, but let it lie down for several days at room temperature.

Unripe feijoa can adversely affect the digestive system and even cause poisoning. To speed up the ripening of berries, hold them next to bananas for several days.

Due to the high content of iodine, feijoa is contraindicated for hyperthyroidism, because an excess amount of iodine is also detrimental to the body, like its deficiency.

Feijoa should be used with caution in diabetes mellitus, as the exotic berry contains a large amount of sugars. In this regard, it is better to consult with your doctor.

It is not recommended to mix feijoa with milk or drink dairy products. The fact is that pectins, which are rich in feijoa, do not combine well with milk. Feijoa with milk can negatively affect the digestive system.

Despite the fact that feijoa rarely causes allergic reactions, it is not recommended to give it to children under one year old, since babies do not yet have enough enzymes in their bodies to absorb exotic fruits well.

Pregnant and lactating women are advised to consume feijoa only in minimal amounts. It's all about iodine. It's no secret that all pregnant women and nursing mothers are prescribed drugs with a high content of iodine. Eaten feijoa can cause an overdose of iodine, which will adversely affect the health of the mother and child.

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

What is feijoa

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

The inconspicuous appearance of feijoa does not attract attention at all

Where does it grow

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

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

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

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

What does it look like

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

Feijoa can sometimes be found in the form of a tree, but its height will never exceed 4 meters.

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

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

Leathery leaves look elegant all year round.

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

Feijoa bloom - an unusually beautiful sight

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

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

An interesting fact is that, it would seem, such a nondescript-looking fruit has a pulp of an unusual taste. The juicy part of the fruit in aroma and sweet-sour taste simultaneously resembles strawberries, pineapple and kiwi.

When ripe, the flesh should be almost transparent, jelly-like, and light cream in color. If it is brown, the fruit is clearly stale and unfit for consumption. The white color of the fleshy part indicates that the feijoa has not yet matured and there is nothing useful in it.

The ripened fruit has a transparent pulp with a creamy tint.

Beneficial features

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

Feijoa is the only berry that rivals seafood for iodine content.

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

Content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates - table

The calorie content of feijoa is low, 100 g of berries contain only 49 kcal.

Composition of useful substances - table

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

Feijoa is a real vitamin bomb

What are the benefits for women

For women who want to keep their figure in good shape, feijoa will become a valuable food product, as it contains few calories and fats. By eating just one berry a day, you can increase the effectiveness of any diet by speeding up your metabolism, which contributes to weight loss.

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

nervous;
endocrine;
urogenital;
gastrointestinal.

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

Regular use of feijoa helps:

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

During pregnancy, feijoa is recommended by many doctors, as it allows you to equalize pressure, eliminate hormonal imbalances and regulate the production of hormones. But it must be eaten with caution. First, you should make sure that the expectant mother is not allergic to the product.

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

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

What is useful for men

These fruits are also useful for men, and not at all because of the general strengthening of immunity. A few exotic berries a day can prevent a common, especially in older men, urological disease - prostatitis. Feijoa helps to maintain the reproductive function, therefore it is recommended by urologists as a prophylactic or as an addition to the drug treatment of an existing problem.

Is it possible to give to children

Acquaintance with an exotic berry for a baby should begin after a year. The vitamins and microelements contained in feijoa are able to correct the child's immune system and ensure the normal development of a healthy body. In order not to harm, it is worth starting with a very small amount of pulp. Choose a small ripe fruit, wash it well and cut it in half. To begin, try to treat your baby with half a teaspoon of pulp. Be attentive to the possible reaction of the child's body to a new product: it can weaken or strengthen, an allergic reaction in the form of a rash is possible.

If the acquaintance with the vitamin product was successful, introduce it into the baby's diet. But remember, excessive passion for berries can do harm. Too much iodine will lead to its overabundance and health problems!

If you do not abuse feijoa, the fruits will only benefit

What diseases is indicated, what conditions it helps to alleviate

The use of feijoa as a prophylactic or as an addition to medical treatment has a cumulative effect. In order for the healing properties of the product to be fully revealed, it should be eaten for at least a month. During this period, the accumulated beneficial substances will begin to act, and you will only have to maintain the balance of nutrients by periodically eating feijoa. So what are the indications for use of this vitamin fruit?

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

It would be useful to recall that self-medication is impossible. If you have health problems, berries alone will not help. Going to the doctor will clarify the situation. If everything is in order, eat berries for health, but when problems already exist, then feijoa will complement the prescribed treatment and help alleviate the condition in the process of treatment and rehabilitation.

Feijoa as a source of iodine - video

How to eat: with or without peel

Remember how you used to deal with the peel of fruits or vegetables? That's right, clean it up and throw it away. Many people even cut the skin off an apple. But few people thought that it is in this protective layer that sometimes contains more useful substances than in the fruit itself. Feijoa peel is incredibly useful, so it is advisable to eat the fruit along with the skin. It contains a lot of catechins and leucoanthocyanins, which act as antioxidants. But since these beneficial substances give the top layer of the berry a tart taste (especially in unripe fruits), few of us dare to eat it, especially since it is also harsh.

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

So that useful substances do not go to waste, but bring benefits, you should not throw away the feijoa peel. Dry it, and then prepare decoctions or teas from it. For future use, prepare a peel that does not show signs of damage or rot.

To feel the unique taste of the overseas fruit, it must be eaten without the skin. From the washed and cut in half feijoa, the pulp is removed with a teaspoon or dessert spoon.

To feel all the shades of taste of feijoa, it is recommended to eat only the middle of the fruit.

How to choose and store

The time for feijoa ripening in Russia is November. Fruits enter the trading network in November-December. It is this time that is most favorable for buying valuable berries.

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

When buying, do not hesitate to ask the seller to cut the fruit, the only way to assess its degree of ripeness.

Quality fruits can be stored for no more than 3 weeks in a special fruit compartment in the refrigerator. At room temperature, feijoas can lie for several days, provided that they are not yet ripe. Longer storage is possible through recycling. Another way to extend the period of consumption of the product is to freeze it. Moreover, you can freeze both whole fruits and puree from them.

If you thawed feijoa, then it should no longer be frozen back, so thaw just as much as necessary.

Useful properties of feijoa - video

What can be cooked from feijoa

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

vitamin salads;
compotes;
jams;
fresh fruits ground with sugar or honey;
toppings for desserts.

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

Feijoa is incredibly good in salads

Popular Recipes for Preserving Vitamins

Since the season for eating feijoa is short, it is worth preparing several jars of healthy and tasty delicacies that will appeal not only to adults, but also to children.

Feijoa with honey and walnuts (raw jam)

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

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

Preparing a delicious mixture is very easy.

Toast the nuts in a dry frying pan, cool and peel off the husk. Then grind with a rolling pin.
Pour boiled water over dried apricots for 5 minutes, then put them on a sieve. After the water drains, finely chop the dried fruit.
Wash the feijoa and lemon thoroughly and dry. Cut off the sepals of the feijoa. Without peeling the peel, grind them with a blender.
Combine with nuts, dried apricots and honey. Mix thoroughly and place in airtight containers.
Store in refrigerator.

The basis of the recipe is feijoa, nuts and honey

The recipe may have cooking options. Dried apricots can be omitted, but instead of walnuts, try hazelnuts.

Raw jam with honey and lemon

The combination of useful products will come in handy during the period of colds, when only strong immunity is able to cope with diseases. For this vitamin bomb you will need:

500 g feijoa;
1 lemon;
100 g honey.

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

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

Vitamin charge in each spoon - feijoa with honey and lemon

If someone does not like the taste of lemon, it can be replaced with orange. The benefits will remain the same, but the taste will change. And lovers of spicy taste should try the combination of feijoa with ginger.

Compote

An unusually tasty drink that invigorates and uplifts the mood, is prepared from the following components:

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

This is the easiest recipe that even novice housewives can handle.

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

A wonderful invigorating drink is obtained from healing berries

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

Feijoa and beetroot salad with nuts

Vitamin salads are a valuable source of nutrients, which is why they are so popular with adherents of a healthy lifestyle. We advise you to include such salads in your daily menu in order to keep your figure in good shape, stay healthy and cheerful. And for those who live far from the sea - to maintain the level of iodine in the body at the right level. In addition, the preparation of such a delicacy is a real creative process that will allow you to enjoy bright colors and improve your mood before eating.

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

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

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

Salad, in which feijoa will be the main component, can be prepared from various vegetables and fruits. The most popular combinations were given above. By changing the ingredients and dressings, you can enjoy unusual, refreshing and healthy salads every day. As flavor accents, use raisins, feta cheese, sesame seeds.

Feijoa, grated with sugar (honey)

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

A wonderful recipe that allows you to maintain immunity - feijoa with sugar

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

Jam "Caramel"

Another unusual recipe gives a healthy berry to all lovers of delicious jam. To begin with, we go to the store, select the most ripe fruits and other components:

500 g feijoa;
1 cup of sugar;
500 ml of water;
a spoonful of cognac

Preparing this amazingly tasty and beautiful jam is simple:

Wash the fruits, peel the peel. So that the peeled berry does not darken, put it in water.
Pour half the amount of sugar into the pan and put on fire.
While stirring the sugar with a wooden spatula, wait until it caramelizes.
When the caramel has a nice reddish hue, carefully pour in the water and add the rind.
Cook over low heat with vigorous stirring for at least 7 minutes.
Strain the finished syrup through a sieve into a saucepan for cooking jam. Add chopped berries and remaining sugar.
After boiling, stirring constantly, boil over low heat for about 40 minutes.
Add cognac, mix and pack in jars.

A wonderful combination of taste and color - feijoa jam "Caramel"

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

Traditional medicine recipes

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

with hepatitis and urological diseases, tea from feijoa flowers and leaves is useful. 1 st. l. dried mixture pour 200 ml of boiling water. Infuse for half an hour and drink with honey;
with atherosclerosis, jam will be an excellent addition to medicines. It is prepared from 600 g of fruits, 1 kg of sugar and 1 orange;
in Parkinson's disease, taking fresh fruits gives a significant and lasting improvement in the patient's condition;
the thyroid gland is treated with feijoa rubbed with sugar. In the morning, half an hour before meals, you need to take 2 tbsp. l. useful mixture;
for wound healing, compresses with a decoction of the bark and leaves of the plant are used;
a decoction of the leaves helps with bleeding gums.

Traditional medicine actively uses feijoa to treat various diseases.

How is it used in cosmetology

Ingested, feijoa works wonders with the female body, slowing down the aging process and helping to maintain the figure in the desired proportions. The product will bring no less benefit if it is used as the basis for face masks. Vitamins and microelements acting from the outside will improve the complexion, rejuvenate, moisturize and protect against external influences.

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

composition for rejuvenation: to 2 tbsp. l. puree add 1 tsp. honey and 1 tbsp. l. vegetable oil;
for moistening, additional components are cottage cheese and cream. We take everything in equal proportions;
for oily skin, mix 1 tbsp. l puree, 1 chicken protein and 1 tsp. honey;

Good day! My name is Irina. I live in a wonderful place - the Crimea. By education - an educator. I love nature and animals very much. I have been fond of floriculture for a long time, and garden wisdom has just begun to master. My motto is live and learn.

Feijoa was first discovered in Brazil, since then the exotic fruit has gained popularity all over the world. Currently, the berry can be found in the vastness of our country, mainly the product grows in the southern regions. Feijoa has a rich chemical composition, which contains the necessary trace elements for the human body.

Choosing the Right Feijoa

To choose worthy fruits, you need to pay attention to the integrity of the shell. The peel should not have damage and dents. Ripe berries are smooth, firm and firm to the touch.
If you cut an exotic fruit, the flesh should be transparent and fleshy. In this case, the taste of feijoa will be fully revealed.
When choosing a product on the market, ask the seller to cut the berry, so you can make sure it is whole and ripe.
If the flesh is white, the fruit can be considered immature. Do not despair, place the fruits at home in a warm room. After a few days, the feijoa will acquire the proper maturity, it can be consumed.
Exotic fruits are harvested unripe, the berries ripen during transportation. Feijoa also tends to spoil quickly. If, when cutting the fruit, you saw the pulp of a dark color, refrain from buying.

The benefits and composition of feijoa

When studying feijoa, it turned out that the fruits contain a high rate of iodine. The enzyme is easily absorbed by the body, because it is in a water-soluble form. It has been scientifically proven that berries are an order of magnitude superior to red fish and seafood in terms of iodine content.
If you eat only a few fruits a day, in this way you will replenish the daily intake of iodine in the body. It is strongly recommended to use exotic berries for people who have problems with the thyroid gland. It is also worth including feijoa in the diet of children and the elderly.
It is highly recommended to consume fruits if you live in metropolitan areas. Feijoa contains ascorbic acid, which actively prevents colds. Thiamine is involved in the normalization of metabolic processes, maintaining the work of the heart muscle and brain activity.
The presence of riboflavin in the composition of berries is responsible for stabilizing the level of hormones in the body. In addition, the enzyme is involved in the synthesis of red blood cells, the breakdown of fats and the renewal of fibers and tissues. Nicotinic acid normalizes the work of the pancreas and the activity of the digestive tract. The enzyme reduces pressure and prevents the development of cancer cells.
Due to the content of pantothenic acid in feijoa, the work of metabolic processes in the body is restored. The enzyme actively suppresses a number of ailments and is able to cope with pancreatitis, allergies, liver diseases, tuberculosis and bronchitis.
Pyridoxine helps to build enzymes that are necessary for the work of all the muscles of the human body. The chemical substance effectively affects the muscles with cramps, spasms and numbness of the limbs. At the same time, pyridoxine slows down tissue aging at the cellular level.
Feijoa is rich in niacin, an enzyme that is an integral part of the central nervous system. The substance is actively involved in protein metabolism and has a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Due to the easily digestible fats and proteins that feijoa is rich in, it can be classified as a dietary product.
The peel of exotic berries contains leukoanthocin and kahetin, chemical enzymes are recognized as the most powerful antioxidants. Substances resist the harmful effects of the environment. In addition, kahetin and leukoanthocin prevent the formation of cancer cells and pathologies.

Pediatricians strongly recommend introducing feijoa into the baby's daily diet with extreme caution. Otherwise, you run the risk of causing intolerance in the child even after 1 berry.
If complementary foods have passed without harmful consequences, feijoa will bring only invaluable benefits to the child. Due to the high content of iodine in the product, the baby will not feel tired. Also, berries will have a positive effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland.
Feijoa has proven itself as an effective product in strengthening the immune system. Thus, with regular use, the body's resistance increases. The child is not threatened with various diseases of viral infections and fungi. It is strongly recommended to consume fruits in the off-season.
You should also be careful if the child is at risk of developing overweight or diabetes. Berries can be consumed, but it is worth limiting their daily amount and constantly monitoring the body's reaction.

Feijoa benefits for pregnant women

Girls who are in position need to take nutrition with special responsibility. The main criteria remains that the products must be balanced, healthy and varied. During pregnancy, the formation of the fetus and its organs occurs.
Try not to succumb to various temptations in terms of harmful dishes, it is during pregnancy that you want something useless. Experts recommend that girls in position consume various vegetables and fruits that grow in your climate. In the cold season, things are more complicated.
It has been scientifically proven that feijoa, despite its exoticism, is excellent for the fairer sex during gestation. In addition to the above trace elements, ascorbic acid and niacin are of particular benefit. Enzymes are easily absorbed by the body.
Also, tropical berries include a high content of iodine and iron. Minerals are easily absorbed by the blood and form the fetus without signs of disturbance. It is also worth considering the fact that if your doctor has prescribed iodine-containing vitamins for you, you should limit the use of feijoa. An excess of a trace element is just as harmful as its deficiency.

It has been scientifically proven that feijoa has a disinfectant and antiseptic effect. With the help of various infusions, decoctions of fruits and leaves, abrasions on the skin can be healed. Remedies are great for bleeding gums and toothache.
To make a nourishing face mask, it is enough to combine the grated fruit with the yolk of an egg. As a result, the skin will receive a charge of useful microelements, microcracks and creases will be smoothed out. Also, the dermis will acquire an even tone, smoothness and velvety.

Contraindications and possible harm to feijoa

The product is so unique that it has practically no contraindications, except for individual intolerance.
It is necessary to be careful with the fruits of individuals who may have allergies and hypersensitivity to iodine. As practice shows, such phenomena occur in rare cases.
Therefore, if you are allergic, carefully monitor your health. In case of any deviations, immediately stop eating exotic berries.

Rules for the use of feijoa

In order for feijoa not to leave you indifferent and bring maximum benefits to the body, you need to eat only ripe fruits. The snag can only be in the event that the berries did not have time to ripen. As described earlier, feijoas are harvested unripe.
If you purchased fruits in this form, do not despair, the product can be kept in a warm room for several days, after which you can enjoy the pulp of a unique taste. In the process of ripening, feijoa will acquire a jelly-like filling, and the peel will noticeably thinner.
The method of eating feijoa is very similar to kiwi. You can remove the peel from the berries and chop into pieces. Also, the upper part is cut off from the fruit and eaten with a dessert spoon, taking the pulp out of the cavity. Do not forget that if the feijoa is fully ripe, it can be consumed whole. As you know, it is in the peel that almost all the benefits are concentrated.

If you suffer from chronic fatigue, obesity, beriberi or a breakdown, experts strongly recommend including about 6 feijoa berries in your daily diet. After a few days you will feel better. In addition, the fruits are rich in essential oils, which are involved in strengthening the human protective shell.

Video: the benefits and harms of feijoa

Feijoa is a plant of the tropics and subtropics. Against the background of many exotic fruits familiar to us, its fruits look rather inconspicuous, and people often pass them by, but in vain, because they have a number of useful properties, it is not without reason that they are grown on plantations in many countries of the world. Let us consider in more detail what this tropical guest is, what are its benefits and harms, and also how it can be used.

Feijoa has a low calorie content: 100 g of raw product contains only 55 kcal.

The composition of the fruit is represented (in 100 g) by the following substances:

water - 84.94 g;
carbohydrates - 12.9 g;
dietary fiber - 6.4 g;
proteins - 1.0 g;
fats - 0.6 g;
ash - 0.56 g.

Vitamins:

C - 32.9 mg;
PP - 0.295 mg;
B5 - 0.233 mg;
B6 - 0.067 mg;
E (alpha-tocopherol) - 0.16 mg;
E (gamma-tocopherol) - 0.03 mg;
lutein and zeaxanthin - 0.027 mg;
B9 - 0.023 mg;
B2 - 0.018 mg;
B1 - 0.006 mg;
lycopene - 0.005 mg;
K - 0.0035 mg;
beta-cryptoxanthin - 0.003 mg;
beta-carotene - 0.002 mg.

Minerals:

potassium - 172 mg;
phosphorus - 19 mg;
calcium - 17 mg;
magnesium - 9 mg;
iodine - 8.0 mg;
sodium - 3 mg;
iron - 0.14 mg;
manganese - 0.084 mg;
zinc - 0.06 mg;
copper - 0.036 mg.

This exotic fruit also contains 10 essential amino acids and 8 non-essential fatty acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6). This berry is also rich in fruit acids and pectins, contains essential oils.

Did you know? Feijoa is native to the subtropics of Latin America. to Europe (To France)the fruit was introduced in 1890. This evergreen shrub (tree) was named after the Portuguese Juan da Silva Feijo, a naturalist who was the first to tell the world about this plant.

Due to the above saturated composition, this fruit has a number of useful properties for the human body:

100 g contains a 53-day dose of iodine. Even seafood does not contain such an amount of this trace element, which is important for the functioning of the thyroid gland. This iodine content, together with other substances, contributes to the normalization of metabolism;
increases immunity, as it contains a lot of vitamin C;
it is recommended to use it for beriberi, as it contains a wide variety of vitamins;
many substances contained in this fruit have antioxidant properties;
has a preventive effect against cancer;
useful in atherosclerosis, hypertension;
improves blood counts (reduces cholesterol, increases hemoglobin);
has a beneficial effect on digestion:
has an anti-inflammatory effect;
stimulates mental activity.

These fruits bring the following benefits to the female body:

have a rejuvenating effect on the body due to antioxidants;
help to lose extra pounds, as they contain few calories, normalize metabolism and stimulate digestion;
improve hormonal levels, therefore, have a beneficial effect on libido and the reproductive system;
are an excellent cosmetic product in face masks (rejuvenation, whitening).

Feijoa can be eaten by pregnant women. Iodine, a group of B vitamins, iron and other substances contained in the berry have a positive effect on the formation of the fetus. At the twelfth week of development, the thyroid gland begins to form in him, and the use of feijoa will be most beneficial. But do not abuse - everything is good in moderation.

It will also be useful for nursing mothers, but for the first three months after childbirth, it is better to refrain from using it in order to avoid allergies in the baby. Include in the diet should first be in small portions and observe the reactions of the baby. If there are no allergic manifestations, then you can increase the dose to half the fetus per day, no more.

Benefits for men

For men, feijoa will also be useful due to the following properties:

increases libido;
improves the functioning of the reproductive system;
is the prevention of prostatitis, and its oncoprotective properties will be useful in the presence of prostate adenoma.

In order to get the necessary benefits from these exotic fruits, the following should be considered.:

they are usually transported to other countries unripe, but they can ripen at home;
choose fruits without rot, damage and suspicious spots;
good quality berries have a rich green color: if they have darkened, turned yellow or are covered with brown specks or spots, then it is better to refrain from buying;
squeeze the fruit a little in your hand - it should be evenly elastic and not have dents, a slight softness of the whole fruit is acceptable;
if possible, cut the berry and see what color it is inside: fruits with a white inside should ripen, feijoa with transparent pulp can already be eaten, and it is recommended to refuse to eat a fruit with a brownish tone.

Important! Feijoa, when ripening in an apartment, do not lose their beneficial properties. If you bought hard fruits, then you should give them time to ripen in a dark place and become soft. Such a fruit will become tastier and more aromatic, inside it will look like jelly.

The taste and smell of feijoa fruits are found similar to strawberries, pineapple and kiwi. As an independent dish, the fruit is cut in half and the pulp is scraped out with a spoon. Only the pulp is used to make puddings and ice cream.

But a lot of useful substances are concentrated in the tart skin, so it is more expedient to add this fruit to a salad by cutting it into cubes along with the skin or making some kind of vitamin cocktail or puree with it.

A healthy dessert that provides you with vitamins and minerals for a long time will be feijoa grated with sugar, stored in the refrigerator. So many harvest raspberries.

If a cut or scraped skin remains after feijoa, then it can be thrown into compote or added to tea.

Contraindications and harm

In some cases, these berries should not be consumed:

with an excess of iodine in the body;
with diabetes: before using these fruits, you should consult a doctor;
with allergies: individual intolerance to feijoa is quite rare, but it should be borne in mind that these fruits are unusual for residents of our latitudes;
children up to a year;
these berries are not compatible with milk and can cause stomach upset.

You should also not eat too much of this product. It will be useful in moderate doses.

The use of feijoa will benefit from such ailments:

hypothyroidism, Graves' disease;
weak immune system;
anemia;
high cholesterol;
diseases of the cardiovascular system;
constipation;
rheumatism;
pain during menstruation;
avitaminosis;
colds, flu, bronchitis;
acne, pimples;
iodine deficiency.

Important! According to WHO, iodine deficiency diseases are the most common among diseases that are not caused by infection. They are especially dangerous for the mental development of the child (including in the womb). The risk group includes residents of mountains and areas remote from the sea, smokers and alcoholics, people who have undergone radiation exposure, and pregnant women. In 2011, research revealed iodine deficiency in 70% of the British.

Health Recipes

With the help of these berries, you can improve your health. The leaves and flowers of the plant are also used for medicinal purposes.

For heart

To strengthen the muscles of the heart and improve cardiovascular activity, it is recommended to eat fresh juice from the fruits of this plant. To do this, dissolve 1 tbsp in ¼ glass of water. l. berry juice. The prepared medicine is taken once a day.

For joints

In inflammatory processes in the joints, feijoa jam with orange is recommended. To do this, 0.5 kg of feijoa fruit (the peel is not cut off) is crushed with a blender. Then the resulting mass is transferred to a saucepan, 1 kg of sugar is added.

Then boil over low heat for 10 minutes from the moment of boiling. After that, freshly squeezed orange juice from one large fruit is added and brought to a boil. Pour into sterile storage containers. Such jam can be stored for a year even at room conditions.

Jam has not only useful, but also excellent taste. This product is very helpful in atherosclerosis, beriberi and low immunity.

For the thyroid gland

The amount of iodine in these exotic fruits is no less than in seafood. Therefore, they are perfect for thyroid diseases caused by iodine deficiency. For this purpose, puree is made from berries. To prepare it, they take 300 g of fruit, wash it and, without peeling off the skin, grind it through a meat grinder or grind it with a blender. This mass is recommended to use one tablespoon on an empty stomach.

In the treatment of goiter, it is useful to take tea from the leaves of this plant. For this purpose, 1 tbsp. l. fresh leaves are crushed, pour 250 g of boiling water and let it brew for half an hour. Take one glass twice a day, you can add honey.

Normalization of pressure

This mixture is taken 2 times a day (morning and evening) for 30 g.

For hepatitis A

For nephritis and jaundice

With jade and jaundice, tea from the flowers, as well as the leaves of this exotic plant, helps. For this, 1 tsp. raw materials are poured with boiling water and infused for 20 minutes. You can add honey for taste. This tea is taken throughout the day.

To improve immunity

For general strengthening of the body and immunity for the whole family, you can use the following recipe.

Take 1 kg of feijoa, wash and chop with a blender or meat grinder. Then add 1 kg of sugar, mix well and place in clean jars, cork with lids. Take this remedy one teaspoon with meals.

Feijoa is widely used in cooking. It is used to make salads, sauces, jellies, preserves, jams, etc. This berry goes well with meat or fish. Feijoa juice or cocktail is considered useful. Berry can be added to compotes, teas.

Any dishes prepared from feijoa have not only unusual taste, but are also a source of vitamins and useful elements.

Feijoa vitamin puree

Feijoa vitamin puree is very tasty and healthy.

0.5 kg feijoa;
0.25 kg of liquid honey or 0.3 kg of sugar;
1 lime;
mint - a few branches.

The cooking method is as follows:

Wash the feijoa, lime and mint well and then dry.
Twist all the ingredients in a meat grinder or chop with a blender.
Thoroughly grind the resulting mixture with honey (sugar) and transfer to a pre-sterilized jar.

This jam is a storehouse of vitamins, especially vitamin C. To strengthen the immune system, it is recommended to use it every morning for breakfast, one teaspoon.

This product is stored on the shelf of the refrigerator for no more than 3-4 weeks.

Feijoa jam

Tasty and healthy whole feijoa jam with lemon.

Video: how to make feijoa jam

To prepare it, you will need the following ingredients:

0.5 kg feijoa;
1 st. Sahara;
0.5 l of water;
1 tsp cognac.

To make this jam, follow these steps:

Wash the feijoa, peel it and fill it with water (set the cleaning aside).
Ignite and melt 1/2 of all sugar in a pan until brown.
Remove the pan with sugar from the heat and after half a minute add 0.5 liters of boiling water. Mix well, add cleaning, bring to a boil and cook for 7 minutes.
Drain the syrup and add the remaining sugar and peeled berries. Cook for 35 minutes at a gentle boil, stirring occasionally.
At the end, add cognac.
Arrange in pre-sterilized jars, roll up the lids and put in a cool place.

This jam is stored, like any other, in a cool, dry place for a year. A cellar or pantry is perfect, but can also be stored in a kitchen cabinet.

Did you know? In 1900, feijoa were introduced and began to be grown in the Crimea and Abkhazia. Now they are also grown in Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, France and all Mediterranean countries. The fruit has also been distributed on the Pacific coast of the United States, in New Zealand and Australia. Can tolerate temperatures as low as -11°C.

feijoa cocktail

A very large amount of vitamins is found in a feijoa cocktail.

To prepare it, you will need the following ingredients:

2 pcs. feijoa;
2 pcs. kiwi;
150 ml low-fat kefir or yogurt;
1 tsp honey.

Cooking method:

Wash fruits, peel and cut into slices.
Move to a blender and add kefir or yogurt, put honey.
Grind with a blender and pour into glasses.

Such a cocktail should be drunk for breakfast to stock up on vitamins for the whole day.

Feijoa jam

Feijoa fruit jam is made without cooking. Because of this, it contains a large amount of vitamins.

To prepare it, you will need the following ingredients:

1 kg feijoa;
1 kg of sugar.

For the preparation of this dish, you should take only ripe fruits.

Cooking method:

Wash the feijoa well and dry with a towel.
Finely chop with a knife and sprinkle with sugar.
Thoroughly grind this mixture with a wooden spatula.
Place in clean jars, close the lid.

Storage is carried out in the refrigerator for 3-5 months. Sugar can be replaced with honey, then this jam will become even healthier.

Feijoa masks are very beneficial for facial skin due to the content of the following beneficial substances:

vitamins C and B perfectly nourish the skin, improve its color, and also protect it from pollution and negative environmental influences;
sucrose helps to moisturize and nourish the skin;
pectins relieve inflammation, regulate the sebaceous glands;
fiber activates the production of elastin and collagen, which contributes to skin rejuvenation;
essential oil prevents redness and dryness of the skin;
malic acid fights well with oily sheen;
iodine helps to strengthen the skin, it becomes smoother and more elastic.

Feijoa masks are very useful for all skin types. They are applied to previously cleansed skin and kept for no more than 20 minutes.

Rejuvenating mask

A rejuvenating feijoa mask will help smooth out wrinkles and increase skin elasticity.

2 tbsp. l. feijoa pulp;
1 tsp honey;
1 tsp vegetable oil (preferably olive, but you can also sunflower).

How to prepare the mask:

Mix all ingredients.
Distribute the resulting mass evenly over the face, neck and décolleté.
After 10-15 minutes, remove the remnants of the mask with a paper towel and rinse with warm water.

Did you know? You should know that the amount of iodine in feijoa fruits is related to the conditions of their growing area. With a lack of iodine in the soil or growing at home, the berries will not contain a large amount of this trace element. The largest amount of iodine in fruits grown on the sea coast.

Mask for dry skin

For dry skin, a nourishing feijoa mask can help.

To prepare it, you need the following ingredients:

1 st. l. feijoa pulp;
1 tsp castor oil;
1 tsp fat cream.

How to prepare the mask:

Mix all ingredients until puree.
Spread the resulting mass evenly over the face and neck.
After 10-15 minutes, remove the mask with warm water.

Mask for oily skin

Against greasy shine and acne, a mask for oily skin from feijoa helps well.

To prepare it, you need the following ingredients:

1 st. l. feijoa pulp;
1 tsp camphor alcohol;
1 tsp lemon juice.

How to prepare the mask:

Mix all ingredients until a puree mixture is obtained.
Spread the resulting mixture evenly over the face.
After 15-20 minutes, remove the mask by rinsing with warm water.

Universal mask

For all skin types, a universal mask is well suited, which improves complexion, tightens and nourishes the skin.

To prepare it, you need the following ingredients:

1-2 tbsp. l. feijoa pulp;
1 chicken egg;
1 tsp vegetable oil (preferably olive oil).

How to prepare the mask:

Mix all ingredients until a homogeneous mixture is obtained.
Spread the resulting mixture evenly over the skin.
After 20 minutes, remove the mask by rinsing with warm water.

Feijoa is a valuable product for the prevention of iodine deficiency. The concentration of iodine in it is so high that even eating a small amount of these fruits will help to avoid many problems. The use of berries and the use of infusions from leaves and flowers will help in the treatment of many diseases. In addition, from this berry you can cook delicious and healthy dishes. Therefore, do not pass by this useful fruit!

Feijoa, despite its exotic name, is a fairly familiar product for us. The fruits of the feijoa tree are juicy berries from light green to dark emerald green. They taste like a berry fruit mix - you can distinguish notes of strawberry, banana and even pineapple. On sale, fruits can be found at any time of the year, due to the long period of fruiting. This wonderful product comes from southern Brazil. It currently grows in Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia. Feijoa can also be found in Russia - evergreen trees grow in the south, mainly in the Krasnodar Territory, they can also be found in Dagestan. Also, feijoa is not uncommon in Georgia, Abkhazia, Crimea and Armenia.

Speaking of feijoa, the benefits and harms of these fruits are of great importance in human nutrition. We will talk about the nutritional value of fruits, how to choose and cook these berries, and whether there are contraindications for use, we will tell later in our article.

Useful properties of feijoa.

1. First of all, feijoa fruits are rich in iodine. It is completely absorbed by the body, as it is in a water-soluble state. In terms of iodine content, these berries overtook even the champions in its content - seafood and red fish. Just a small handful of feijoa will satisfy the daily requirement for iodine in an adult. So, 1 kg contains 2.06-3.9 mg of iodine. While the daily requirement for it is only 0.15 mg. Due to this high iodine content, feijoa is useful for people with thyroid disorders, children, the elderly, and those who live in areas with iodine deficiency.

2. Feijoa fruits are rich in vitamins:

C (prevention of colds and SARS),
B1 (normalization of metabolism, maintaining the work of the heart, muscles, stimulating the work of the cerebral hemispheres),
B2 (maintaining an optimal level of hormones, the formation of red blood cells, the breakdown of fats, tissue renewal),
B3 (regulates the work of the pancreas, normalizes gastric activity, reduces pressure, inhibits the growth of cancer cells in the body),
B5 (restores the functioning of metabolic processes, the use of the vitamin is indicated for bronchitis, allergies, tuberculosis, liver diseases, pancreatitis, etc.),
B6 (participates in the construction of enzymes necessary for the functioning of the enzymatic systems of the body, is indicated for muscle spasms - convulsions, with numbness of the limbs of the body, slows down the aging process of cells),
PP (necessary for the functioning of the nervous system, for participation in protein metabolism, favorably affects the work of the cardiovascular system of the body).

3. Feijoa contains easily digestible proteins and fats, which makes it a dietary food. With obesity, loss of strength, beriberi, it is recommended to eat 5-6 feijoa fruits daily.

4. Essential oils contained in feijoa help the body resist viruses during the period of increased prevalence of influenza and acute respiratory infections.

5. Feijoa peel is rich in kahetin and leukoanthocin, which are powerful antioxidants. They help fight the negative impact of the environment on the body, preventively protect against the formation of cancer cells.

How to choose feijoa.

When choosing feijoa fruits, you should pay attention to the integrity of the peel, it should be even, smooth, without dents. A good berry is elastic and dense to the touch. The flesh should ideally be transparent when cut - this is a guarantee of a ripe and tasty fruit. Feel free to ask the seller to cut one berry for you. If the flesh is white, it means that the fruit is not ripe enough. It can ripen in your home, in the warmth. The fruits themselves are mostly harvested unripe, as they tend to ripen quickly and spoil. If the flesh is dark, beige or brown, it is a spoiled fruit. Most likely, the entire batch from this seller will be unusable, so if you find such a berry, choose another place to buy feijoa.

The use of feijoa in nutrition.

The benefits and harms of feijoa are determined by its composition, properties and effects on health and the body as a whole. Ideally, feijoa should be present in the human diet every day. An excellent use of this fruit is a mixture of feijoa with sugar, scrolled through a meat grinder. Natural cure for colds, depression, ailments. For 1 kg of feijoa, you need to take 0.5-0.8 kg of sugar. After twisting, mix the berries with sugar and arrange in jars. The mixture is ready to use. Three to four teaspoons a day will be enough to meet the need for iodine and the above vitamins. This is the most common use of fruits by Russian housewives.

Also, a wonderful sweet jam is cooked from feijoa fruits, reminiscent of a mixture of exotic fruits. It will come in handy to add feijoa to light fruit salads, where enough washed feijoa is cut into halves and mixed with banana, canned pineapple, strawberries, peaches, and seasoned with natural yogurt.

Cut feijoa fruits can be added when cooking compote along with apples, cherries, apricots. The taste of the drink will noticeably improve. Children especially love this compote.

Turn on your imagination and add these berries to your favorite sauces, pastries, jellies, jelly and more.

Contraindications to the use of feijoa.

The only contraindication to the use of feijoa is individual intolerance to the product.

Also, in people prone to allergies or hypersensitive to iodine, feijoa can cause allergic reactions. This is a rather rare occurrence, but when eating for the first time, allergy sufferers should pay attention to whether signs of deterioration in well-being or skin reactions to this product appear.

Feijoa is one of the products that contains the maximum amount of nutrients, vitamins and trace elements. It deserves to be included in our diet at least a couple of times a month. The benefits of feijoa are obvious, so eat feijoa fruits with pleasure and be healthy.