Is feijoa good for the heart? Benefits and harms of feijoa: features of use for therapeutic purposes

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

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

The feijoa fruit is an oblong berry with a smooth, dense green rind. The soft juicy pulp resembles a combination of several fruits: strawberries, kiwi, pineapple. The fruit is edible entirely including the peel, but not everyone likes its taste. You can determine its ripeness by color: if the flesh is white, the fruit is not ripe; if it is brown, then it is overripe. An ideally ripe fruit has a transparent core.

Chemical composition of feijoa fruit

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

Beneficial properties for women and men

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

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

Medicinal properties of feijoa

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

How to choose a mature feijoa?

Its benefits depend on the degree of ripeness of the fruit. The riper the feijoa, the more nutritional components it contains. For transportation, unripe fruits are collected, so when purchasing you should pay attention to the following nuances:

1. Set aside hard fruit for several days. This will give it the opportunity to ripen and become softer. Most healthy feijoa, which has jelly-like pulp.
2. You should not buy overripe fruits. It is difficult to control the onset of fermentation processes, and purchased feijoa will be unsuitable for consumption.
3. The skin of the fruit should not have visible damage. They indicate that useful qualities fruits are reduced. The cause may be mechanical damage during transportation. It is better to set aside the fruit, even with small dents, so as not to doubt its freshness.
4. Large fruit is always preferable. It contains more sugars and vitamins. But this is not the main criterion. Depending on the variety, feijoas have different fruit sizes.
5. If you need to purchase a ripe fruit, press it lightly. It should be soft, and the peel should not be completely smooth. Cut the feijoa and examine the flesh. An unripe fruit has a white flesh color, while an overripe fruit has a brown color. Unripe fruit can be ripened; overripe fruit is not suitable for use.
6. The fruits should not have a stalk. It indicates that the feijoa was cut from the branch without waiting for the harvest date.
7. The aroma of mature feijoa is reminiscent of pineapple. It is used to judge the ripeness of the fruit.

Sales season in Russia. Prices

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

Feijoa calories

100 grams of fruit contain a small amount of calories – 50-55. This fruit is considered dietary. Most of it contains carbohydrates, namely sucrose. The fruit is quickly digested and absorbed.

How to store it correctly?

By preserving feijoa for a long time, we provide a supply of vitamins for the body. Store healthy fruit in different ways.

The most famous storage options are:

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

Which method to choose must be decided depending on the desired shelf life. On average, feijoa fruits remain fresh for 10 days after picking. If we take into account the period of transportation, packaging, and preparation for sale, then it is better to consume ripe feijoa immediately or keep it in the refrigerator for several days. Unripe fruit remains until spring if storage parameters are properly observed - temperature conditions and high-quality ventilation. It is enough to place it in the compartment of the refrigerator intended for storing fruit.

How to eat feijoa? Recipes

This fruit can be consumed both raw and thermally processed. Raw feijoa fruits have a specific taste, reminiscent of pineapple, kiwi and strawberry at the same time. Only the flesh is tasty; the skin is dense and not very pleasant to the taste. But it is the skin that contains the majority useful substances. Therefore, in order not to lose them, jam or jam is prepared from the fruits along with the peel.

Recipe for making raw feijoa jam

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

The preparation steps are simple:

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

There is a recipe in which sugar is replaced with honey. This is a natural preservative that is not recommended for heat treatment. Therefore, it can also be used for “live” jam.

If the composition (with sugar) is thermally treated, the shelf life increases to 1 year. In this case, add 1 glass of water to the components listed above, pour it into an enamel container and bring to a boil. Then sugar is added in parts and dissolved. The fruit puree is transferred to the syrup and mixed with a wooden spoon. Boil the mixture for 10 minutes, regularly removing foam. The container for jam is thoroughly washed and sterilized. Place the finished jam in jars, roll it up and store it in a cool place. The jam is used throughout the year.

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

Feijoa jam

To prepare, take 600 grams of raw feijoa fruits, wash them, remove the dry tails, and cut the fruits in half. Grind in a blender, add 0.5 kilograms of sugar, juice and zest of one lemon, 3 tablespoons of grated ginger. After this, add half a liter of drinking water, put it in an aluminum container and cook until it becomes a thick jam. The finished feijoa jam is transferred to sterilized jars and sealed with lids.

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

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

Treatment of the thyroid gland with feijoa

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

An infusion of dried feijoa fruits is also used. To do this, pour 3 tablespoons of fruit into two glasses of boiling water and leave overnight. The next day, drink in 3 doses. Continue this way every day for a month.

Feijoa for diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a disease of the pancreas in which there is a violation of the absorption of glucose by cells. At the same time, the blood sugar level is increased. Violating the diet and consuming foods containing large amounts of sugar aggravates the course of the disease and leads to an even greater increase in blood glucose. Therefore, feijoa is not used to treat diabetes, given the sugar content in its composition, but it is acceptable to consume in minimal quantities.

What else

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

To strengthen the walls of blood vessels, you can use orange jam. To prepare, take a kilogram of feijoa fruit, 2 kilograms of sugar and the juice of two oranges. Make jam and take 1 tablespoon 2 times a day. The combination of a large amount of vitamin C in orange and a complex of microelements and vitamins in feijoa strengthens blood vessels.

Feijoa in cosmetology

The fruit has an anti-inflammatory effect, so it is used to combat acne. Rejuvenating, softening and nourishing properties help fading and aging skin maintain a healthy appearance. The simplest recipe is to apply the crushed pulp of the fruit to the skin of the face and leave for a few minutes.

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

There are several feijoa face masks:

• Thanks to its large amount of essential oils and antioxidants, the fruit is used to strengthen skin and hair. Cosmetologists recommend using the following face mask every 3 days. Prepare a chamomile decoction (1 teaspoon of herb per glass of boiling water), cool, add a tablespoon of oatmeal and two tablespoons of feijoa pulp. The mixture should sit until the flakes swell. After this, add a teaspoon of almond oil and can be applied to cleansed facial skin.
• The pulp from several feijoa fruits is ground in a blender until smooth. To it add 2 tablespoons of full-fat cottage cheese, one chicken egg yolk and a tablespoon of olive oil. Before application, cleanse skin cosmetics and sebum. Apply the mask to your face, rinse with warm water after 20 minutes.

Growing feijoa at home

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

1. Growing from seeds. For harvesting, take ripe fruits (important - not overripe!), extract the pulp from them along with the seeds. The pulp is washed in a weak solution of manganese, the separated seeds are dried and sown in the soil. At first, you can use small pots, and then transplant the sprouted seedlings into larger containers.
2. Growing from cuttings. Take cuttings 8-10 cm long and leave one pair of upper leaves on them. They are deepened by 2/3 of their length at an angle into the soil. The soil is shed with a warm, weak solution of manganese. To retain moisture in the soil (feijoa loves this), you can cover it with polyethylene. The lighting should be intense, but the light should fall diffusely. Rooting of cuttings occurs after 1.5-2 months. After this, they can be planted in the ground.

Contraindications

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

• Hyperthyroidism. This is a disease of the thyroid gland in which the content of hormones is increased. Due to the high iodine content in feijoa fruits, they should not be consumed if you have hyperthyroidism.
• Allergic reactions. People who are prone to allergies should use feijoa with caution. Due to the large amount of essential oils, the fruit can cause allergies.
• Diabetes mellitus. Feijoa contains a lot of carbohydrates, which can affect the blood sugar level of a diabetic patient.

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

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

Choosing the right feijoa

1. To choose worthy fruits, you need to pay attention to the integrity of the shell. The peel should not have any damage or dents. A ripe berry is smooth, dense and elastic to the touch.
2. If you cut an exotic fruit, the flesh should be transparent and fleshy. In this case, the taste of feijoa will be fully revealed.
3. When choosing a product at the market, ask the seller to cut the berry, this way you can ensure its integrity and ripeness.
4. If the flesh is white, the fruit can be considered unripe. Don’t despair, place the fruits at home in a warm room. In a few days, the feijoa will gain proper maturity and can be consumed.
5. Exotic fruits are picked unripe; the berries ripen during transportation. Feijoa also tends to spoil quickly. If, when cutting the fruit, you see dark-colored pulp, refrain from purchasing.

Benefits and composition of feijoa

1. When studying feijoa, it turned out that the fruit contains a high level 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.
2. If you eat just a few fruits a day, you will replenish the daily requirement of iodine in the body. It is highly recommended to consume 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.
3. It is highly recommended to consume the fruits if you live in big cities. Feijoa contains ascorbic acid, which actively prevents colds. Thiamine is involved in the normalization of metabolic processes, maintaining the functioning of the heart muscle and brain activity.
4. The presence of riboflavin in 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 functioning of the pancreas and the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. The enzyme reduces blood pressure and prevents the development of cancer cells.
5. Thanks to the content pantothenic acid in feijoa, the functioning 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.
6. Pyridoxine helps build enzymes that are necessary for the functioning of all muscles of the human body. chemical substance effectively affects muscles during cramps, spasms and numbness of the limbs. At the same time, pyridoxine slows down tissue aging at the cellular level.
7. Feijoa is rich in niacin, an enzyme that is an integral part of the central nervous system. The substance actively participates in protein metabolism and has a positive effect on work cardiovascular system. Thanks to the easily digestible fats and proteins that feijoa is rich in, it can be classified as a dietary product.
8. The peel of exotic berries contains leukoanthocin and kakhetin; chemical enzymes are recognized as powerful antioxidants. Substances resist harmful effects environment. In addition, kakhetin and leukoanthocin prevent the formation of cancer cells and pathologies.

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

Benefits of feijoa for pregnant women

1. Girls who are pregnant need to treat nutrition with special responsibility. The main criteria remain that products must be balanced, healthy and varied. During pregnancy, the formation of the fetus and its organs occurs.
2. Try not to give in to various temptations in terms of unhealthy foods; it is during pregnancy that you want something useless. Experts recommend that pregnant girls eat various vegetables and fruits that grow in your climate. During the cold season, things are more complicated.
3. It has been scientifically proven that feijoa, despite its exotic nature, is excellent for the fairer sex during pregnancy. In addition to the above microelements, ascorbic acid and niacin are of particular benefit. Enzymes are easily absorbed by the body.
4. Tropical berries also contain high levels of iodine and iron. Minerals are easily absorbed by the blood and form the fetus without signs of damage. It is also worth considering the fact that if your doctor has prescribed iodine-containing vitamins to you, you should limit your consumption of feijoa. An excess of a microelement is just as harmful as its deficiency.

1. It has been scientifically proven that feijoa has a disinfectant and antiseptic effect. With the help of various infusions, decoctions of fruits and leaves, you can heal skin abrasions. The products are excellent for bleeding gums and toothache.
2. To make a nourishing face mask, just 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. The dermis will also gain an even tone, smoothness and velvety feel.

Contraindications and possible harm of feijoa

1. The product is so unique that it has virtually no contraindications, except for individual intolerance.
2. Individuals who may have allergies or hypersensitivity to iodine should be wary of the fruit. As practice shows, similar phenomena occur in in rare cases.
3. Therefore, if you are allergic, carefully monitor your health. If there are any deviations, immediately stop eating exotic berries.

Rules for eating feijoa

1. So that feijoa does not leave you indifferent and brings maximum benefit for the body, you need to eat only ripe fruits. There can only be a snag if the berries have not had time to ripen. As described earlier, feijoas are harvested unripe.
2. If you purchased the 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 its unique taste. During the process of ripening, feijoa will acquire a filling similar to jelly, and the peel will noticeably become thinner.
3. The method of eating feijoa is very similar to kiwi. You can remove the peel from the berries and chop them into pieces. Also, the upper part of the fruit is cut off and eaten with a dessert spoon, removing the pulp from the cavity. Do not forget that if 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 are suffering chronic fatigue, obesity, vitamin deficiency or loss of strength, 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: benefits and harms of feijoa

Feijoa (lat. Acca sellowiana) is an evergreen plant belonging to the Myrtaceae family and the genus Acca. This name applies both to the fruits themselves and to the feijoa bush, which can often reach a height of four meters. Cultivation of this plant only started in late XIX century after its discovery by the Brazilian João de Silve Feijó. The species was named in honor of the mentioned researcher and the Natural History Museum.

The natural habitat of feijoa is some regions of the South American continent: the mountainous areas of Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina. Soon after its appearance in the diet of Western peoples, feijoa became widely known in California and even in Eurasia. France began importing the fruit in 1890, after 10 years the fruit reached Black Sea coast, then the berries (feijoa is sometimes defined as such) won the attention of Italy and the entire Mediterranean. Currently, the plant is actively distributed in countries with subtropical and tropical climates. It has taken root well in Crimea, the Caucasus Mountains and the Krasnodar Territory. The world export of feijoa is primarily associated with the following regions: France, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Sicily, New Zealand, Australia and the US Pacific Coast. Experimental studies have shown that these flowering trees are able to withstand temperatures down to -11 C without damage to their condition. Feijoa ripening occurs in the autumn months (usually October-November).

As mentioned above, Feijoa is often called a fruit, but from the point of view of biological description, the fruits are classified as berries, having a shape from wide-round to oval. The size of the fruit varies from 2 to 5 cm in length and from 1.5 to 5 cm in diameter. The weight of the berry ranges from 15 to 70 grams, in rare cases the weight can reach 110 grams. The seeds of the fruit are enclosed in a translucent white pulp. The berries can be called large, fleshy and juicy, and in terms of taste, feijoa, as a rule, evokes associations with kiwi, pineapple and strawberries. The skin of exotic fruits can be smooth or lumpy; the first most often corresponds to the yellow-green color, and the second is characteristic of dark green.

The presence of a rich vitamin and mineral composition and unique properties led to the widespread consumption of feijoa both raw and cooked gourmet dishes(jams, salads, drinks, canned foods, compotes, lemonades). Feijoa fruits are also very actively used in cosmetology, especially in the manufacture of face creams. When harvesting trees, they try to select the unripe fruits so that they reach ripeness during transportation and storage. Otherwise, too soft ripe berries will very quickly lose their beneficial properties and rot. Given tropical look also sometimes serves in landscape design, as its beautiful long flowering is highly valued by gardeners in Japan.

Vitamin complexes, macro- and microelements in feijoa

The incredible abundance of chemical compounds beneficial to the body is the reason that nutritionists actively recommend feijoa for general consumption. Like many tropical plants, the basis of feijoa berries is water. If you make a calculation per 100 g of feijoa fruit, then it will contain:

• 86 g water
• 1.2 g protein
• 0.8 g fat
• 10.5 g carbohydrates
• and even 0.7 g of ash.

By content vitamin complexes This berry of the Myrtaceae family is an absolute champion among similar products. B vitamins, always necessary for the nervous and cardiovascular systems, for energy generation processes and normalization of digestion, as well as many other vital processes, are contained in feijoa. The quantities reach very respectable values:

• 0.008 mg thiamine (B1)
• 0.032 mg riboflavin (B2)
• 0.289 mg niacin acid (B3 or PP)
• 0.228 mg pantothenic acid (B5)
• 0.05 mg pyridoxine (B6)
• 38 mcg folic acid (B9)
• and 20.3 mg ascorbic acid (C).

The fruits are incredibly rich in organic acids and sugars. From macro- and microelements, significant quantities of the following components can be distinguished:

• 155 mg potassium (K)
• 55 mg copper (Cu)
• 8 to 35 mg iodine (I)
• 17 mg calcium (Ca)
• 9 mg magnesium (Mg)
• 3 mg sodium (Na)
• 0.085 mg manganese (Mn)
• and 0.04 mg zinc (Zn).

If we do not calculate the dry weight of the fruit, then 1 kg of feijoa berries contains from 2.05 to 3.8 mg of iodine. It should be remembered that the average daily iodine requirement of a middle-aged person is 0.15 mg. Thanks to a number of studies, a pattern in the content of this important microelement depending on the area of ​​fruit growth has been revealed. For coastal trees, the iodine content in berries reaches highest values, and at a distance of 40–90 km from the sea, the indicators are about 8–9 mg per 100 g of fruit. The iodine contained in feijoa is water-soluble and is absorbed very quickly.

Calorie content and beneficial properties of feijoa

Fresh feijoa has significant energy value. It contains approximately 50 kilocalories per 100 grams of berries.

• The highest content of pure iodine in feijoa is comparable only to this value for seafood. Therefore, the fruits are recommended to be used for the treatment and prevention of anemia, thyroid disorders, inflammation of the kidneys and gastric mucosa.
• Rich reserves of B vitamins make feijoa an amazing natural medicine. Vitamins B1 and B2 take part in metabolism and growth stimulation, and vitamin B2 catalyzes the production of corticosteroids. These components also favor hematopoiesis, and in conjunction with ascorbic acid They cope well with fatigue and eye diseases.
• Feijoa fruits can also be useful for treating neuralgia and lumbago. This is due to the high content of vitamin B5, which is responsible for lipid metabolism, redox balance processes, as well as the functioning of the immune system. Vitamin B6 is extremely important for the central and peripheral nervous system.
• The presence of vitamin C in the fruit makes the berries an effective antioxidant, so feijoa helps overcome stress and protect against infections. This product also increases the permeability of blood vessels, protecting them from fragility.
• Thanks to its powerful anti-carcinogenic effect, feijoa fruits can lower blood cholesterol levels, so it is useful to finish eating fried foods with such berries to minimize the harm from them. Some nutritionists recommend feijoa for type 2 diabetes, since treatment requires lowering sugar levels. Feijoa fruits contain relatively few sugars (most of them are fructose) and a low amount of calories.
• The skin of the berries contains a lot of tannins, which is why the fruits have a tart taste, and biologically active catechins and leukoanthocyanites were also found in it. The combination of these antioxidant properties makes feijoa an important tool in the prevention of cancer.
• To prevent colds, the aroma of essential oils is very useful, neutralizing the effects of viruses and pathogens. The pleasant smell of feijoa, according to psychologists, actively dispels melancholy.
• Feijoa fruits have also found application in the cosmetics industry. Berries become the basis for masks that provide skin elasticity and relieve inflammation.

Contraindications for use

As a rule, feijoa is not capable of causing an allergic reaction, but you should discard the product if you are individually intolerant to its components. For example, this applies to those people for whom seafood is contraindicated. Due to the high iodine content, you should not eat feijoa if you have thyrotoxicosis (hyperfunction of the thyroid gland).

We can find a large number of exotic fruits in stores and markets.

Among them there are specimens that require special attention.

These include, undoubtedly, feijoa. What is feijoa, where does it come from, what does it look like?

What kind of fruit?

Feijoa is a shrub or low fruit. The fruit's homeland is South America, where it was discovered by Europeans during a scientific expedition at the end of the 19th century. Soon feijoa appeared in France. Then this tropical plant began to be bred on the coasts of the Mediterranean and Black Seas, as well as in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

Did you know? Feijoa is named after the Portuguese Joao da Silva Feijo, who first described this tropical plant and its edible fruits.

The feijoa fruit is a greenish, sometimes blushing, oval-shaped berry, comparable in size to a chicken egg. Under the dense peel there is translucent pulp with several. The peel is quite dense and tastes tart, and the flesh is juicy and tastes like a mixture of kiwi, . All fruits, without exception, are considered edible.

Nutritional value and calorie content

Since feijoa has a pleasant taste, you may lose control over the amount of fruit you eat. Therefore, for people who are watching their figure, information about the nutritional value and calorie content of this product is very important.
100 g of product contains 1.24 g of protein, 0.78 g of fat, 10.63 g of carbohydrates and 49 kcal (205 kJ). You also need to know that per 100 g of fruit there are 86 g of water and 0.74 g of ash. It should be borne in mind that these are average indicators. Depending on the place of growth and variety, these numbers may vary.

Chemical composition

The feijoa fruit is a real storehouse of nutrients. It contains a record number of them - 93.

The most significant:

• vitamin C;
• B vitamins - B1, B2, niacin, B5, B6, folic acid;
• microelements - iodine, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, etc.;
• kakhetin, leukoanthocin - biologically active substances;
• malic acid;
• essential oils;
• sucrose;
• fiber.

Did you know? The amount of iodine in 100 g of feijoa berries can be up to 35 mg. Only seafood has such indicators.

What's the benefit?

There is no doubt that the large amount of vitamins, minerals and other substances that are present in the fruits will bring us great benefits. Let's consider how feijoa is useful for the human body.

First of all, due to the record iodine content, this fruit is able to saturate us with this essential element in a short time. After all, a lack of iodine leads to deterioration of memory and attention; a person will be lethargic, as if lacking energy.

Important! Since fruits are saturated with iodine due to its content in the sea air, the maximum benefit comes from fruits grown in close proximity to the sea.

Also contains a large amount of vitamin C, biologically active compounds and essential oils makes this exotic fruit a powerful antioxidant and preventative against colds and ARVI.
In addition, sucrose and fiber, which are present in this berry, saturate the stomach well. Therefore, it is considered a dietary product.

Feijoa uses

In order for our amazing fruit to bring maximum benefits, you need to know where and how it is used. And the scope of application of the fruit is quite wide and varied.

Treatment

Feijoa is an exotic fruit that doctors recommend in complex therapy for a number of diseases, because they know well how it is useful.

In its raw form, the fruit is used to treat and prevent the following diseases:

• diseases of the thyroid gland (with a lack of iodine in the body);
• gastritis;
• pyelonephritis;
• atherosclerosis;
• avitaminosis;
• rheumatism;
• high cholesterol levels;
• high blood pressure.

In the form of jam, the fruit is used with warm tea for colds and flu, as an immune booster.

In dermatology, essential oils contained in the fruit are used. They are an excellent anti-inflammatory agent and are effective against fungus and a wide range of microbes.

Cosmetology

Such useful product cosmetologists couldn’t help but appreciate it. They include it in face masks. Such masks rejuvenate, nourish, relieve various inflammations, are especially good in the cold season.

Feijoa fruits can be successfully used in home cosmetology, as there are many of them healing properties will bring you benefit and pleasure, not harm.
Here are some mask recipes.

• For dry, normal skin: mix a third of a glass of fruit pulp, a little cottage cheese, an egg yolk and a spoonful of olive oil into a homogeneous mass. Apply to prepared skin of the face and neck, wait 20 minutes, rinse. You can repeat this mask up to three times a week.

• For oily skin: take half a glass of fruit pulp, a spoonful camphor alcohol And lemon juice, mix well. Apply for 15 minutes, rinse. The effect of the application will be visible when using a similar mixture twice a week.

If you don’t have time to prepare a mask, you can simply wipe the pulp on your face and neck, as well as your chest and arms.

Cooking

A fruit with such a pleasant taste and incomparable aroma was appreciated by culinary specialists. Feijoa can be eaten raw, or can be used in preparing various dishes.
Chopped fresh feijoa fruit will be good for fruit salads. As an addition, it can be served with fish and even meat. You can make jam from raw fruit.

To do this, add 700 g of granulated sugar per kilogram of whole berries twisted in a meat grinder and mix well. Place the fruit mixture in small jars and place in the refrigerator.

Important! If the jam is made from raw fruits without heat treatment, then all the beneficial substances, and therefore the properties, will be retained.

Culinary enthusiasts successfully use this exotic fruit in the preparation of compotes, jams, and desserts. Also recommended for use as a filling for baked goods.

Harm and contraindications

Like any food product, feijoa has beneficial properties and contraindications.
This fruit should not be consumed by people who have health problems associated with increased content iodine in the body. Such diseases include hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease, and the thyroid gland is under attack.

Due to its high sugar content, the fruit is contraindicated for overweight people. If a person is sick diabetes mellitus, then its use is most likely prohibited, although this depends on the degree of the disease and requires consultation with a specialist.

There may also be a banal intolerance to this product. And if its use causes discomfort in the stomach, intestines or an allergic reaction, then you will have to give up this sweet miracle.
Children and nursing mothers should eat feijoa with caution.

How to choose, eat, store

In order for a food product to bring maximum benefit to the body, you must first choose it correctly. And feijoa is no exception here. The recommendations are as follows.

First, inspect the fruit externally. The peel should be dense, without dark spots and wrinkles. It is better to choose larger specimens, they are more ripe. You can ask to cut one fruit in half lengthwise.

The pulp should be translucent. If it is brown, then the fruit is overripe; if it is white and opaque, then it is not ripe. In such cases, there is no need to buy it; it is not suitable for use.
Ripe feijoa fruit exudes a delicate aroma. You can taste fruits ripened on a tree only by the sea, but for transportation the fruits are removed unripe, so there may be no aroma.

Important! Feijoa appears on our shelves at the end of September and pleases us until January. But the peak is November. It is at this time that it is most delicious and healthy.

Another important point is how to use it. We must not forget that feijoa is a fairly expensive exotic fruit, so how to eat it is up to everyone to decide for themselves.

If you eat a fresh fruit, you can eat it completely without peeling it. This type of consumption is the most useful, since it is the peel of this valuable product that contains useful substances.

But some people don’t like the thick enough peel, and even the tart taste. Then it is recommended to cut the fruit into two parts and scoop out the pulp with a small spoon. The seeds that are in the middle are very small, so they are also eaten and will not cause any discomfort.
To prepare healthy fruit for future use, you can use the following tips:

• Grind the feijoa, mix with a small amount of sugar, place in containers and place in the freezer.
• If you add more sugar (700 g per 1 kg of berries), you will get raw jam, which is placed in small glass jars and simply stored in the refrigerator

Feijoa preparations can be added anywhere, following your tastes and preferences.

But you won’t be able to store feijoa fresh for long. You can put fresh fruit of good quality in the refrigerator. During storage, it will partially lose moisture and become sweeter. But you don’t need to keep it for more than a week, it will simply become overripe. Overripe fruits should not be eaten because of the risk of allergic reactions and poisoning.

So we met an exotic guest from the south and were convinced that our nature can feed us, heal us and give us pleasure. So, stop by the fruit stalls in the fall, choose feijoas and eat to your health.

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There are fruits that have a pronounced seasonal demand. These include feijoa fruits, the benefits and harms of which are discussed today. They begin to appear on store shelves with the beginning of autumn. Although they say that nature does not have bad weather, autumn slush and winter frosts make you think about getting as many useful substances into your body as possible. And everyone who guards their health is reviewing the menu, trying to include more vitamins in it.

According to one legend, people received a wonderful fruit as a gift from the gods for their obedience. But the fruit’s history of conquering Europe began quite late, compared to other exotic fruits, in the 19th century. It was then that it was discovered by the Brazilian naturalist Joao da Silva Feijo to the inhabitants of the Old World. We owe it to him for the awkwardly pronounced name of the fruit.

In its homeland, South America, feijoa fruits are better known as acca. It grows on a tree of the myrtle family, sometimes reaching 4 meters in height. In our country, fruits ripen in the south of Russia, the Caucasus, and Crimea.

Feijoa - benefits and harm

Some people seriously consider feijoa a hybrid of strawberry, pineapple and kiwi (I wrote about it recently, you can follow the link and read). Ripe feijoa actually tastes like them. The impression can be spoiled by the dense skin of the fruit, but I will tell you about proper eating of the fruit below.

Although... the feijoa skin itself is also useful, it contains substances valuable to health. Therefore, it is unwise to throw it away; it is better to dry it and then add it when brewing tea.

If we talk about the benefits and harms of feijoa to our body, then, first of all, we should start with the natural substances that make up its composition.

• First: feijoa is one of the fruits that are considered champions in iodine content. The compounds of the most important element are easily absorbed, since they are quickly soluble, which is especially important for those living in areas disadvantaged in terms of iodine content.
• The list of substances can be supplemented with potassium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, iron, phosphorus, sodium, copper and calcium.
• The vitamin range is also very impressive: these are vitamins C, PP, group B - 9, 6, 5, 2, 1. The fruit contains fats, proteins, carbohydrates, unsaturated fats, unsaturated acids, dietary fiber, sugars. Add amino acids, there are only 5 of them, and among them are alanine, asparagine, tyrosine, arginine, glutamine, the proportion of which increases as the fruit ripens.

It is important to know that most of the phenolic compounds are found in the skin of the fruit, which is why the fruit has an astringent taste.

What are the benefits of feijoa?

Let's answer the question, why should you eat feijoa and how is it useful?

1. For the treatment and prevention of almost all endocrine diseases, except hypothyroidism (more details in contraindications to the use of the fruit).
2. Useful for vitamin deficiency.
3. Strengthens the immune system, helps treat colds and viral diseases. Helps to quickly recover after surgery and serious illness.
4. Extremely beneficial for the intestines due to the presence of large amounts of fiber. Recommended for patients with gastritis, diseases of the pancreas, and liver.
5. Hypertension, heart and vascular diseases.
6. Berries are an excellent source of iron; it is recommended to take them with low hemoglobin.
7. It has antifungal and antibacterial effects and has a negative effect on pathogenic organisms.
8. There is an opinion: the plant has an anti-cancer effect. Whether this is true is unknown, but for prevention and for this disease, it is useful to take berries as a tasty medicine.
9. Wound, ulcers, abrasions. Prepare a decoction of bark and leaves and apply lotions to the sore spot.
10. Inflammation of the gums, toothache- A decoction of tree leaves and bark will help.

Feijoa for diabetes

There is no categorical ban on the consumption of feijoa for diabetics. It is worth noting: in some diets designed for people suffering from high blood sugar, the healthy fruit is present.

But doctors strictly warn: your sense of proportion should not change. Overeating fruit is strictly prohibited, since the fruit contains quite a lot of different sugars, which affect the level of indicators to varying degrees.

• The fruit is useful for patients, in addition to diabetes, suffering from depression, vitamin deficiency, inflammation in the digestive tract, and arterial disease.
• For obesity and hyperthyroidism (the thyroid gland produces too many hormones), feijoa fruits are harmful.

Important! Do not consume other sources at the same time as feijoa. simple sugars. Make sure that the fruit is ripe, and even slightly overripe.

The benefits and harms of feijoa for pregnant women

Women treat nutrition during pregnancy very responsibly. The main condition is balance, variety and benefits, since the baby is now actively growing, developing, and developing all organs.

But... unfortunately, it is at this time that there is an unimaginable pull towards various harms. Usually, doctors recommend eating more fruits and vegetables to support the body, preferably those growing in the climate zone where you live. In winter, you must admit, this is unlikely to happen.

Feijoa is excellent for pregnant women, despite its exotic nature. What are the benefits of feijoa during pregnancy?

• Vitamins. Most important women are PP, in the company of which vitamin C is absorbed much better.
• Iron and iodine will become invaluable natural substances during this period. The latter is easily digestible and quickly reaches the fetus. Pay attention to feijoa at 12 weeks of pregnancy - the baby’s thyroid gland begins to form.

Important! If you are prescribed medications with added iodine, which doctors often do while pregnant, fruit consumption should be limited, since an excess of iodine is just as harmful as a deficiency.

Benefits of feijoa for women

We women are most interested in whether feijoa can be adapted for self-care. The benefits of natural cosmetics are undeniable, and fruits meet all the requirements. Masks made from fruits perfectly rejuvenate the skin, give elasticity, and improve complexion.

Have a beneficial effect on inflamed, acne-prone skin. It will help with, reducing the appearance of spider veins, and getting rid of pigmentation.

Preparing a rejuvenating mask:

• Mix cottage cheese, olive oil, yolk and chopped feijoa berries. Apply for 20 minutes and be beautiful!

The use of feijoa in the treatment of diseases - recipes

Feijoa berries are used in the treatment of various ailments, and if you live where the tree grows, then leaves, flowers and bark.

1. Jaundice. Brew tea from the leaves of the plant, adding dried flowers.
2. For the prevention and treatment of thyroid disease. Use tree leaves. Prepares from them medicinal tea: a tablespoon is brewed with a glass of boiling water and infused for half an hour.
3. Nephritis. Tea with a spoonful of honey will help.
4. Atherosclerosis. Make raw jam from the fruit and eat it by the spoonful for treatment, prevention and pleasure.
5. Thyroid gland. Don't miss feijoa season, friends, and you will forget about thyroid problems. Raw berry jam will help, to which, to enhance the effect, add honey instead of sugar.

Feijoa jam:

Everyone will love raw fruit jam: grind the feijoa in a meat grinder and add sugar. Take berries and sweets in equal quantities.

Feijoa - photo

Feijoa calories

IN dietary nutrition feijoa fruit is respected for its low nutritional value– she’s not tall. If you are concerned about excess weight and are trying to lose weight, feel free to include healthy fruit in your menu.

Calorie content of feijoa per 100 g. – 52 — kcal.

How to choose and eat feijoa correctly

For timely delivery to the buyer, fruit picking begins in advance, not yet ripened enough. The fruits do not lose their benefits during long-term transportation. But if you choose an already ripe specimen, then eat it immediately, it spoils quite quickly.

The ripe fruit has a thin skin of dark green color, the flesh is jelly-like, light pink with a slight yellowish tint. The unripe fruit should lie down for a while so that it ripens faster; place a ripe banana nearby.

How to eat fruit? Cut into small pieces and eat without the peel, cutting it off with a knife. Since it contains the lion's share of beneficial properties, it would be more advisable to eat the whole fruit. Most people cut the akka in half and then scoop out the flesh with a spoon.

Add fruits to salads, use them in making appetizers, sauces, sandwiches, desserts, and smoothies. Read the recipe for making feijoa jam just above.

Harm and contraindications for use

If you want to get maximum benefits and minimum harm from the fruit, carefully read about contraindications for consuming feijoa.

Ripe fruit extremely rarely causes an allergic reaction, but when trying it for the first time, first try a small piece and monitor the body’s reaction. This must be done without fail, especially for those who know first-hand about allergies.

• Among the recommendations, there is one caveat: do not mix feijoa with milk and products made from it - intestinal upset is guaranteed.
• Do not offer fruits to children under one year of age; their bodies do not have enough enzymes to digest the fruits.
• The fruit contains almost a record amount of iodine. Avoid using it if you have hyperthyroidism, it will have a detrimental effect on the body.
• If you have diabetes, you should not completely give up feijoa, but since it contains a high sugar content, do not get carried away and consume the fruit only with your doctor’s permission.

Impressive, isn't it? In addition to the information, I have selected a video about the benefits and harms of feijoa to the health of the body. Be healthy! With love... Galina Nekrasova.