Feijoa - useful properties and contraindications for the use of exotic berries. Useful and medicinal properties of feijoa berries

These exotic berries from South America are slowly starting to gain space in European markets and Asian bazaars. Indeed, in the homeland of feijoa, entire plantations are occupied under it. And when harvesting, there is so much of it that it is enough to feed your people and send it for export.

Feijoa is a truly unique berry. No matter how many people try it, everyone finds similarities with different fruits. Some believe that it tastes like pineapple, others associate it with strawberries, and still others find something in common with kiwi. Apparently, because of the appearance, since feijoa really resembles kiwi, however, in a reduced form and without villi.

Feijoa has a smooth green rind, which makes many people skeptical when buying. After all, it is very difficult to determine the ripeness of a berry by appearance, without knowing the characteristics of its growth and stages of ripening. But connoisseurs easily choose ripe feijoa among the mass of green fruits, and of different sizes.

How to choose the right feijoa

If the feijoa has a smooth green peel with a glossy surface that does not have wrinkles, and the berry itself is dense and strong, then such a fruit, apparently, has not yet matured enough. If it is cut in half, then inside there will be white pulp, which occurs only in unripe fruits. Such feijoas are tasteless, and if a person tries an unripe fruit for the first time, he will decide that they are all with such a taste. But you should not immediately turn away from the stalls with unripe berries, because unripe feijoa ripen quickly enough and become ripe in 2-3 days.

And if the fruit is soft, but there are dark spots on the skin, then such a feijoa, most likely, has already overripe. Although some sellers, in order to sell the goods that have begun to deteriorate, claim that these spots are nothing more than iodine acting on the surface. Indeed, there is a lot of iodine in feijoa, and more than in seafood. But it has nothing to do with dark spots on the peel. If you cut such a fruit, then inside you can see a brownish pulp, which indicates that the feijoa is overripe, which means that its taste has deteriorated.

Ripe feijoa has a green peel, on which there are no spots, suspicious dents. The skin may be slightly wrinkled. The fruit itself will be soft to the touch. If you cut it, inside will be a jelly-like pulp, almost transparent. It is these feijoas that are the most delicious, sweet and fragrant. They must be eaten.

What is prepared from feijoa

Feijoa is a very delicate berry. It is not customary to subject it to heat treatment, so it is most often eaten fresh.

Feijoa is tasty on its own, but it can be added to salads. And not only in desserts, but also with white meat (chicken, pork) or boneless fish.

But still, most often fruit mixes are made from feijoa with orange, pineapple, kiwi, apple or other fruits and berries. This fruit is combined with beets and carrots. Feijoa is delicious not only with fruits, but also with nuts.

Jam is made from feijoa, but it is not boiled, but ground with sugar in a ratio of 1: 1. Although some consider it unnecessary to add such an amount of sugar, because these berries are already sweet. This jam is stored in the refrigerator. If you eat it one spoonful three times a day, then with the help of this useful delicacy you can improve immunity.

Feijoa is added to ice cream, puddings, biscuits, soufflés. These berries give baked goods and desserts a pleasant refreshing taste.

Many are concerned about the question: do i need to remove the skin with a berry or you can eat with it.

If feijoa is added to the salad, then it is cut into circles or cubes along with the peel. But this is the case if the berry is ripe, because the skin has a specific tart taste, especially in an unripe fruit.

For jam feijoa is ground together with the skin. And if the berries are added to pudding or ice cream, then the peel is usually removed.

If feijoa is served as a dessert independent dish, then it is cut in half and eaten with a spoon, scraping out the pulp.

Some simply bite on the top of the berry and suck the contents out of it. But this is considered not very good form.

Helpful information

Feijoa is a good prophylactic for atherosclerosis, thyroid problems, and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This berry improves metabolism.
If it is peeled, then the skin is not thrown away. The peel has a specific taste, but if dried, it can serve as an excellent flavoring agent when brewing tea.
Despite the low calorie content, feijoa should not be carried away because of the large amount of iodine, the excess of which is just as harmful as its deficiency.
Feijoa is not subject to long-term storage, so it is bought in small quantities. You can store this berry in the refrigerator for no more than a week.
Despite its exotic origin, feijoa practically does not cause allergic reactions. Therefore, it can be given even to small children. Especially if you have digestive problems.

Feijoa is not often seen in our country. This exotic guest hails from the Brazilian subtropics. In Europe, where the overseas plant came at the beginning of the last century, it was used as an ornamental shrub. But soon they tasted the taste of feijoa fruits. The benefits and harms of this fruit are contained in its composition. And although feijoa is low in calories (only about 50 kcal per 100 grams), frequent use of it can lead to an overdose of iodine. Therefore, it is better to study the properties of this product so as not to harm the body. Our article will help you with this.

Source of vigor and good memory

Compound

Feijoa is the richest natural source of iodine. This element has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland, in case of its dysfunction. Moreover, water-soluble iodine in the composition of feijoa is perfectly absorbed by the human body.

The mineral composition of feijoa is also very rich. Potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc - this plant is just a piggy bank of substances necessary for the body.

Feijoa fruits contain almost all the vitamins so necessary for the human body, pectin and essential oils. Their content is high, so the fruits are a great helper during periods of influenza and acute respiratory infections. Eat feijoa - strengthen the immune system.

There are amino acids in this exotic product.

Useful properties of feijoa for men

It cannot be said that this is some kind of miracle cure for men's health, such as, for example, or, but it can well be used to prevent prostatitis and strengthen male strength. In addition, feijoa helps to fight depression and fatigue, which is very important for modern men who are tormented by work and stress.

Feijoa benefits for women

What can women do that men can never do? One of the correct and not the most witty answers is to give birth. And here the green guest from the subtropics also comes to the rescue: during pregnancy, he can provide the body of the expectant mother with folic acid (about why it is needed during this period), calcium, magnesium and iron, and the body of the unborn child with iodine, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland and the formation of the nervous system. And the low calorie content will please mothers who are worried about how to lose weight after giving birth - the less they gain it, the easier it will be to lose it later.

Medicinal use

We list the main areas of use of feijoa to improve our health:

The most obvious is improvement of the thyroid gland due to the large amount of iodine. For the treatment of the thyroid gland, you can use feijoa jam, the recipe of which we will share below. For such a sweet therapy, a tablespoon of jam is enough 30 minutes before meals 2-3 times a day for a month. If you do not like sweets, then you can be treated with infusion: in the evening, pour 3 tablespoons of dry feijoa fruits with 2 cups of boiling water, leave overnight, and drink in 3 divided doses during the day.
Antioxidants in the peel help to rejuvenate the body and are a good remedy cancer prevention. So, sometimes it will be useful to eat a whole feijoa without peeling.
Feijoa is also useful for the digestive system. The rich pulp has a mild laxative effect. And the peel, on the contrary, contains tannins. It can be dried and crushed. At indigestion drink half a glass of this decoction before meals: steam a tablespoon of chopped peel with a glass of boiling water.
The fiber content helps too. digestive system And cleanses the body.
The content in the fruits of a sufficient amount of essential oil, vitamins (primarily B vitamins) and iodine makes feijoa a wonderful remedy for depression, lethargy and loss of strength. Eat it regularly and the autumn melancholy will be removed by hand.
Together with depression will go away and sleep problems.
The presence of essential oils makes feijoa a good ingredient for inhalation. Ate the pulp, steam the peel with boiling water. You can add a spoonful of soda. And breathe over such a solution for several minutes under a towel. It's a good way control and prevention of the common cold.
Feijoa will help with gastritis.
Strengthens immunity.
It will be useful for those who suffer from atherosclerosis, anemia, beriberi. For these purposes, you can use feijoa juice: 1 tablespoon of pure juice is diluted with 50 ml of water, drunk once a day.
And feijoa is an excellent antiseptic that can be used when inflammation of the mucous membranes, periodontitis , cuts , inflammation of the kidneys. For this, a decoction of the bark of a tree, leaves and peel of fruits is used. Considering that it is easiest for us to find a peel, then make a decoction from it.

Note to those who follow the figure! Feijoa contains only 49 kcal per 100 grams. It is actively used in dietetics. There are express diets when instead of dinner you need to eat 300-400 grams of peeled feijoa, naturally, without sugar.

Have you already wanted to try this magical fruit, but doubt whether feijoa is right for you? Useful properties and contraindications discuss with a good nutritionist. He will tell you exactly in what quantities and in what combination you can eat an exotic fruit for you. The following are general warnings about the use of an exotic guest.

Feijoa Recipes

Salads, sauces, side dishes with feijoa

Ripe fruits can be eaten raw - for this it is enough to cut off the peel. But feijoa is eaten not only in its pure form. It is included in a wide variety of dishes. Moreover, not only desserts, but also savory treats can be easily prepared from feijoa. Recipes are very common on the Internet on culinary sites and forums.

The easiest way is to make a fruit salad. Cut arbitrarily favorite fruits, including feijoa. You can fill such a fruit mix with yogurt. Feijoa is also added to unsweetened salads and snacks. The recipes are varied. Not difficult at all, but very tasty: mix finely chopped feijoa, boiled and favorite nuts. Experiment, feijoa snacks will definitely not leave your guests indifferent.

Feijoa is also used to make sauces. The easiest way is to grind the peeled fruit in a blender and add sour cream to taste. Feijoa will shade any meat well. You can add feijoa to mixed vegetable side dishes, for example, in combination with boiled or.

For homemade lemonades, vitamin drinks, juices and compotes, feijoa is simply irreplaceable. You can add feijoa pulp to your proven pancake dough, use it as a filling for puffs and pies, spread it as a layer in cakes. Love this exquisite exotic taste - experiment on your health!

If you don't feel like messing around in the kitchen, feijoa can simply be served as a fresh fruit dessert, plain or lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar. Before serving, peel the fruit and cut into slices of medium thickness - to make it easier to eat. Alternatively, cut the washed and dried fruit in half and arm yourself with a dessert spoon.

Healthy dessert - feijoa jam

Those who love sweets will love feijoa jam. The recipe is extremely simple. We take a kilogram of feijoa pulp, the same amount of sugar, a medium lemon and a glass of water. It is most convenient to cut the fruit into two parts and remove the pulp with a spoon. Let's start cooking:

Pour the prepared fruit pulp with sugar and let stand for 20-25 minutes.
Then add water and lemon juice. If desired, you can rub lemon zest into the future jam - it will give a light citrus aroma.
We put the finished mixture on fire and cook at maximum heat until it boils actively, do not forget to stir constantly. The process will take approximately 10 minutes. A thick foam will become a signal - it means that the sugar has dissolved well. Everything, the jam is ready.
It remains only to pour it into sterile jars and roll it up.

It is best to store such jam in a cool, ventilated place - in a pantry or cellar. The amount of sugar can be varied, but it will require at least a third of the weight of the fruit.

Alternatively, you can cut the feijoa into circles, after cleaning it. Pour the prepared fruit with sugar syrup and boil. In this way, pieces of exotic fruit can be preserved to be used later in baking.

There is another interesting option - feijoa jam without cooking. Such a recipe will allow you to preserve as much as possible all the useful things that are contained in feijoa. In addition, such jam is often made from whole, unpeeled fruits, which means that the concentration of vitamins will be even greater. It is done - nowhere is easier. We twist the washed and cut fruits from both ends in a meat grinder and add sugar in a ratio of one to one. Let the sugar dissolve - and the workpiece is ready. Alternatively, feijoa pulp can be ground with a blender into a homogeneous mass. Such a jam will quickly thicken and acquire a rather dense consistency, like jelly.

Just do not make such live, uncooked jam in large quantities. It doesn't keep well. Therefore, you need to keep it in the refrigerator, preferably no longer than 2–2.5 months.

Add candied fruits or your favorite nuts (chopped with a knife) to any of the recipes and you will get a wonderful dessert. In addition, feijoa jam can be used to decorate cakes and pastries. But even if you just spread it on cookies or slices of bread, you can get gastronomic pleasure.

Beauty with an exotic taste: application in cosmetology

Feijoa is also used for many cosmetic procedures. It is included in many masks for facial skin, since the antioxidants in the fruit have a powerful anti-aging effect. Try this mask: pulp crushed into porridge plus a little sour cream. We put the gruel on the face for 20-30 minutes, then rinse well.

To brighten and brighten the area around the eyes, as well as smooth the area and reduce eye bags, simply apply fresh feijoa skin for 15-20 minutes.

You can add grated feijoa to coffee and honey peeling. Such a tool is well suited for combating cellulite, it will sufficiently soften and moisturize the skin of the body.

Warm baths for hands and feet with the addition of a decoction of dried feijoa peel have a softening, soothing and regenerating effect.

We eat with caution! Contraindications

Fans of this fruit need to remember that you can not overeat feijoa. Both useful properties and contraindications are associated precisely with the high content of iodine in fruits. This is especially true for those who suffer from hyperthyroidism - an increased function of the thyroid gland. It is better for such patients to refrain from eating fruit altogether, so as not to provoke an exacerbation of thyroid hyperfunction.

Symptoms of an overdose of iodine: increased nervous excitability, restlessness, sometimes turning into a nervous breakdown, increased heart rate and "jumping" temperature. General depression, decreased performance, memory impairment - if this condition lasts for weeks, be sure to go for an ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland.

Choose your feijoa carefully when buying. If an exotic fruit is knocked out or has other visible damage, do not take it, you can get poisoned by the waste products of bacteria. Also, if the feijoa that has been stale in your home has begun to rot, do not risk your health and the well-being of your loved ones, throw away the spoiled product.

An upset stomach can also be provoked by the use of feijoa along with cow's milk. It is better to combine this fruit with sour milk. For example, a fruit salad is delicious and healthy seasoned with fresh natural yogurt, and the sauce is made based on sour cream and feijoa.

Feijoa is also contraindicated for those who are diagnosed with diabetes, since the fruit contains a lot of sucrose. But there is an opinion that the high content of pectin levels this property. Better check with your doctor. And if he allows, you can sometimes include feijoa in the diet, for example, as a side dish or as part of sauces for meat, seafood and fish.

Do not forget that many people have an allergic reaction to overseas fruits. If you are trying feijoa for the first time, start with small pieces to see if your body will accept such food without consequences. Be especially careful when feeding feijoas to children.

Where can I buy?

In our country, this fruit is gaining popularity. Not everyone can pamper themselves with an exotic fruit all the time - it will be a little expensive. But take a closer look at the feijoa in the fall - in the middle of winter. This period is considered the season of exotic feijoa. At this time, it can be found more often in the store, and at a very affordable price.

How to store?

Just keep in mind, if you buy feijoa, think right away how to store it. Fresh, it can lie in the refrigerator for 7-10 days, then it will begin to flake and lose flavor. Therefore, having eaten plenty of seasonal feijoa, it is better to cook jam in reserve.

But this applies to mature fruits. Unripe feijoa can live much longer - up to six months in the refrigerator, at the right temperature and ventilation. But still it is better to make jam.

How to choose?

Remember, when choosing a feijoa, the benefits and harms will depend primarily on the freshness and maturity of the fruit. Here are some tips to help you avoid mistakes:

When choosing a fruit, carefully check it for damage and dents - such fruits will not suit us. There is less benefit in them, and doubts arise: it is unlikely that those who did not pay attention to the normal transportation of the product paid attention to its quality in bulk purchases.
Feijoa should not be too hard - this indicates that he has not yet ripened. Bought such fruits - leave for a couple of days at room temperature. They “reach” to a soft mature state literally before our eyes, and there will be no less useful properties with this method.
You should not buy overripe fruits either - the fermentation process will begin and you will no longer be able to eat such fruits or make jam.
Pay attention to the fact that the skin should be uniform and green, closer to a dark color. Dark brownish spots are unacceptable on quality feijoas that have been properly transported. The shape and size varies - the fruits can be round or oval, 3–8 cm in diameter.
Although this is not the most important parameter, if possible, take larger fruits.
A well-ripened feijoa has white, fragrant, firm jelly-like flesh. The presence of a yellowish tint of the pulp is allowed, but the brown color indicates that the fruit is unacceptably overripe.
Feijoa should not have stalks. Their presence indicates that the fruits were cut too early.
Feijoa can not only be touched, but also smelled. If the smell is similar to the smell of pineapples, then everything is fine - the product is ripe.

In general, exotic feijoa tastes like strawberries put together. But you understand - it's better to try once than read a hundred times!

Growing feijoa at home

You don't have to live in Brazil to grow feijoa. You can do it here in Russia in our beautiful gardens, next to apple and cherry trees. Moreover, these exotic trees bloom very beautifully. There are 2 ways to grow feijoa at home:

Growing from seeds: you need to take ripe fruits, cut them and extract the seeds with pulp. To separate the seeds, rinse all this in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, dry the seeds and plant them in the soil (first in a small pot, and then in the garden).
Growing from cuttings: small cuttings (up to 10 cm) with one pair of upper leaves are stuck into the soil two-thirds of the length at an angle. It is better to pour the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and cover with a film. Remember that feijoa loves moisture and intense diffused light. The roots of the cutting will appear in 1.5-2 months, after which it can be planted in the ground.

Some more useful information about this wonderful product:

Feijoa fruits, strictly speaking, like the fruits of our favorite watermelon, are berries.
Feijoa skins are a good source of antioxidants, but due to their specific taste, they are often peeled before consumption. You can dry the skins and use as a flavoring for homemade tea.
Feijoa bush flower petals are also edible and have a delicate apple flavor. They can be deep-fried - you get sweet chips. You can season them with a salad.
Jam from this fruit is called FeikhOevoe (emphasis on the second syllable). Although, nevertheless, “feijoa jam” sounds more familiar to our ears.

Feijoa is an unusual name for our hearing. Inconspicuous-looking feijoa fruits, although they appear on the shelves all the time, have not yet become popular to the extent that they deserve.

What is feijoa, what are the benefits of fruits, where did this plant come from?

What is feijoa?

Feijoa comes from the tropics, a native of South America, but even before the war it was brought to the Transcaucasus, where it took root perfectly. And now, most often, feijoa fruits are on the shelves from there.

The time of its active fruiting falls on November-December, so already in November these still unusual fruits appear on the shelves of the markets. Often, in order to attract buyers, sellers put signs next to feijoa, where they try to tell what kind of exotic fruit it is and “what it is eaten with”.

However, people are not too actively buying up subtropical exotics, apparently not trusting self-made advertising too much. In various books and articles it is written that "feijoa fruits are very tasty and fragrant, and their smell resembles a mixture of strawberries, pineapple and something else very pleasant." Have you already tried? Don't be disappointed - in order for this taste to be fully manifested, the fruits must be ripe, and ripe fruits cannot be transported.

There is nothing wrong with that, feijoa ripens perfectly during storage. If you bought hard fruits, wait patiently until they are soft to the touch. Then the feijoa pulp will become like jelly and acquire a real taste and aroma. And the beneficial properties of "artificial" ripening, according to experts, are not lost.

Useful properties of feijoa

Useful properties of feijoa can not be overestimated! First of all, feijoa is the only plant that can be compared with seafood in terms of iodine content. A unique property of naturally grown feijoa fruits is the presence of water-soluble iodine compounds in them (up to 40 m3 per 100 g of pulp). This they owe to the sea breezes, carrying with them volatile iodine. So only the fruits grown under the real sun by the real sea are of real value.

Both in scientific and folk medicine, feijoa fruits are used for thyroid disease. They are also recommended for hypo- and avitaminosis C, inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, gastritis, pyelonephritis.

" Ripe feijoa fruits are very tasty and fragrant, and their smell resembles a mixture of strawberries, pineapple and something else very pleasant. Have you tried it yet?"

In addition to thyroid diseases associated with a lack of iodine in the body, fresh, boiled or mashed with sugar, feijoa fruits are very useful for people suffering from atherosclerosis.

When using feijoa fruits, there is a certain contradiction between taste and benefit. The fact is that the peel of the fruit is, in principle, edible and, moreover, very useful, as it contains phenolic compounds such as catechins and leucoanthocyanins, biologically active substances that are strong antioxidants that help prevent cancer. But, having a tart, astringent taste, the peel spoils the taste of the product.

You can do it simply: peel the fruits, dry the peel and brew with tea so that not a single antioxidant is lost. And from peeled fruits you can cook a lot of delicious dishes: these are salads, meat sauces, various pastries. Feijoa jam or jam is especially tasty. And the easiest way is to pass the feijoa through a meat grinder and cover it with sugar (in the ratio: 0.7-1 kg of sugar per 1 kg of feijoa, and if stored at room temperature, then up to 2 kg of sugar). Such "raw" jam is very useful for boosting immunity.

So, when you see feijoa, buy and try it - you won't regret it!

Today, on the shelves of shops you can buy all kinds of fruits. Among the wide variety of domestic varieties, there are also overseas fruits, the existence of which even a dozen years ago no average inhabitant of our country had any idea.

Feijoa is one such miracle. Dark green, soft fruits with a transparent, sweet and sour pulp are valued for their aroma and taste, but few people know that they have a lot of useful properties.

Today, feijoa is a fairly common plant. This evergreen shrub with a spreading crown is native to the tropics. It was opened to the world by a botanist from Brazil, Joao da Silva Feijo. In honor of which the plant was named. It came from South America to France in 1890, from where it spread to Transcaucasia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Crimea, and Georgia.

The bush blooms in late June-early July, and the berries are plucked in October or November. The fruits grow quite densely, up to 30 kg of crop can be harvested from one bush. They have a greenish-yellowish color, multi-seeded, about 7 cm in size.

When ripe, their flesh is transparent with small oval-shaped seeds, has a sweet and sour taste. Harvest green fruit. They ripen during transportation, but at the same time they do not lose their useful properties.

Most of all, these berries contain organic acids, iodine and sugars. In addition, more than 90 types of various substances were found in the fruits.

In particular, feijoa contains (in 100 grams):

Vitamin B1 - 0.01 mg;
Vitamin B2 - 0.02 mg;
Vitamin B3 - 0.23 mg;
Vitamin B6 - 0.07 mg;
Vitamin B9 - 23.0 mcg;
Vitamin C - 32.9 mg;
Vitamin E - 0.16 mg;
Gamma-tocopherol - 0.03 mg;
Vitamin PP - 0.46 mg;
Vitamin K - 3.5 mcg;
Biotin - 0.4 mcg;
Beta-carotene - 2.0 mcg;
Lutein + zeaxanthin - 27.0 mcg;
Beta-cryptoxanthin - 3.0 mcg;
Lycopene - 5.0 mcg;
Potassium - 172.0 mg;
Calcium - 17.0 mg;
Silicon - 13.0-22.0 mg;
Magnesium - 9.0 mg;
Sodium - 3.0 mg;
Sulfur - 5.0 mg;
Phosphorus - 19.0 mg;
Chlorine - 8.0 mg;
Aluminum - 384.4 mcg;
Boron - 32.9 mcg;
Vanadium - 2.0 mcg;
Iron −0.14 mg;
Iodine - 20.0-35.0 mcg;
Cobalt - 1.4 mcg;
Lithium - 5.0 mcg;
Manganese - 80 mcg;
Copper - 40.0 µg;
Molybdenum - 6.0 mcg;

Calorie content: 55 kcal per 100 g.

Medicinal properties of tropical berries

The healing qualities of feijoa are valued not only in folk, but also in scientific medicine. Since it contains iodine, it is very useful for thyroid diseases.

Thanks to pectin, vitamin C, fiber and sucrose, these fruits, as a dietary product, are recommended for those people who suffer from atherosclerosis, pyelonephritis, and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

Due to the presence of many essential oils, this berry is used to prevent various types of viral infections.

In addition, the regular use of such fruits improves blood chemistry, reduces cholesterol, makes memory more reliable, strengthens the immune system, and fights cancer.

But not only the pulp has useful properties. Feijoa peel deserves special attention. It is very rich in antioxidants. The seeds of this berry also have healing qualities. They are used for arterial diseases and depressive disorders.

In folk medicine, feijoa is used to lower blood pressure, cure bronchitis, diarrhea, and poisoning. In addition to berries, the leaves and bark of the shrub are used for medicinal purposes.

These parts of the plant have an antiseptic and disinfectant effect, so they are used to heal various kinds of wounds and ulcers. A decoction of feijoa leaves is used to rinse the mouth with toothache and bleeding gums.

In dermatology, feijoa essential oil is used as an anti-inflammatory and antifungal agent.

Is it possible to feijoa during pregnancy? And other benefits for women

During the waiting period for the baby, you should carefully monitor the diet. The main condition of the daily menu should be a balanced, varied, healthy diet.

It is very useful during pregnancy. It is worth consuming the fruit only when it is fully ripe, becomes soft, and the pulp acquires a transparent structure. It is best for future mothers to eat fresh berries.

The benefits of this fruit for pregnant women is that it contains:

folates.

These substances are very important in the formation of blood cells. Its deficiency in the body of a pregnant woman can cause anemia and various congenital pathologies of the fetus.

Fiber.

Feijoa is rich in plant fibers. This item is especially important for women in position, since for 9 months and some time after childbirth, women often suffer from constipation.

This element plays a very significant role in the formation of the fetus in all living beings. Future mothers should definitely use products with such a substance. With regards to feijoa, it is very important to introduce this berry into the diet no later than 12 weeks, since it is at this time that the thyroid gland of the fetus begins to form.

Ascorbic acid.

It is necessary for both the unborn baby and the pregnant woman. It strengthens and forms the immune system, thereby preventing the occurrence of diseases.

Although not everyone likes feijoa, it is still worth adding a couple of fruits to the diet during pregnancy. This will allow the unborn baby to develop normally, and will also have a good effect on the general condition of the mother.

But in this version there is one significant taboo. If a woman in position uses preparations containing iodine, feijoa is prohibited. Since too high a concentration of this element in the body is as dangerous as a lack.

The emerald fruit is recommended for women at any age, as its regular use in the diet can slow down aging. For men, the berry should be used as a prophylactic against urological diseases.

Daily consumption of these fruits can prevent inflammation of the prostate, that is, prevent impotence.

Is it good for children?

Feijoa should also be given to children. Especially it should be added to the diet during the onset of seasonal diseases. Due to the presence of a large number of vitamins and trace elements, the fruit helps to increase the body's resistance.

The berry helps to cope with food poisoning and disorders that are quite common in children. Thanks to feijoa, the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines “calms down”, which allows you to normalize the condition of the child.

Contraindications and harm

Ripe feijoa does not harm the human body. But in our latitudes, fruits can most often be purchased unripe. It is better not to eat such a fruit, but to let it lie down for several days.

The use of unripe berries may not have a good effect on the digestive tract. Since this product contains a large amount of iodine, it is not recommended to include it in the diet for hyperthyroidism.

Due to the high content of sugars, feijoa is not advised to eat for those who suffer from diabetes. In addition, when using this berry, you can not combine this berry with dairy products. This is because the fruit contains a lot of pectins. And mixing these elements with milk negatively affects the work of the digestive tract.

Although feijoa rarely causes allergies, it is not recommended to add it to the diet of infants under one year old. Small children in the body do not have enough enzymes to digest such fruits.

Feijoa Healing Recipes

It is always pleasant to treat with the help of this plant. Even kids love these recipes. For example, tea from the flowers and leaves of the shrub is good for jaundice, but at the same time it is very aromatic and has an unusual taste.

Feijoa with sugar

For the recipe you will need:

1 kg of feijoa fruit;
1 kg of sugar.

Berries should be washed, roots and inflorescences removed and ground. The peel can not be removed, since it contains no less useful substances than the pulp itself. The finished gruel is mixed with sugar, laid out in jars and stored in the refrigerator. Such jam retains all the vitamins and minerals of fresh fruits for a long time.

feijoa juice

A drink is prepared from fresh, ripe, fleshy fruits. It has a stronger healing effect than the berry.

Feijoa juice is used in such cases:

For problems with the gastrointestinal system;
With chronic gastritis with low acidity;
With enteritis and colitis;
As a general tonic for people in old age;
As a prophylactic drug for gout, sclerosis, atherosclerosis, hearing loss and memory;
With Graves' disease and pathology of the thyroid gland;
With hormonal imbalance in the body;
With kidney disease;
With beriberi and mental stress.

Feijoa leaf infusion

For cooking you will need:

250 grams of boiling water;
1 st. l. crushed green leaves.

The leaves are poured with hot water and infused for about half an hour. This infusion should be consumed in the morning and evening. It helps to deal with goiter. And if you add honey to the drink, you get a good remedy for jade.

How to choose and store?

It is impossible to buy a ripe berry from us. This is due to the properties of the product itself and the way it is transported.

When buying this exotic fruit, you should pay attention to such factors:

If a ripe fruit is sold, it may already be spoiled in the middle.
A damaged or spoiled peel speaks of a poor-quality fruit.
The skin on feijoa should be smooth, have a rich green color.

Since emerald fruits come to us unripe, having bought a hard berry, we must put it in a dark place for ripening. It should become soft to the touch, while the pulp is somewhat reminiscent of jelly.

It should be stored in the refrigerator. But not for long, as it quickly deteriorates. The maximum period is 2 weeks. Therefore, for long-term storage, it is better to process the fruits into fresh jam.

How to eat?

For fresh consumption, it is necessary to take a ripe fruit, which has a sweetish aroma and is not firm when pressed.

In a good berry, after cutting it, the flesh will be light, translucent, gelatinous. The white center indicates an unripe fruit, the brown one indicates an overripe one.

Many people use feijoa with the peel. But those who do not like the shell of the berry prefer to cut it in half and extract the contents with a spoon.

Feijoa is not a very popular berry in our country. This is due equally to the high price, rarity, and ignorance of its properties. Basically, this fruit is consumed fresh, sometimes they make healthy jam. Either way, this fruit is worth a try. After all, feijoa is always tasty and healthy.

Initially, feijoa was used in landscape design, park areas were decorated with evergreen flowering shrubs. Today it exotic plant with amazing tasting fruits.

Feijoa is gaining popularity not so much because of the taste, but because of the benefits. A selection of amazing facts will allow you to take a fresh look at this tropical fruit.

According to the classification, they belong to the family of myrtle plants. The height of the shrubs reaches 3 meters. It looks especially beautiful during the flowering period. Feijoa blooms with bright crimson inflorescences with white and pink splashes.

The leaves are dense, dark green. The fruits look like immature walnuts. Inside the berries are juicy pulp. It tastes like sweetness of strawberries and tartness of kiwi.

The amazing properties of the shrub allow it to be evergreen. The plant tolerates frosts down to -14°C. The crop has the ability to not deteriorate for a long time. Well transported.

Feijoa grows in Russia - in the Crimea, Krasnodar, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine

Due to insufficient information, the overseas fruit has not found wide application in our country. Those who are familiar with feijoa, eat fruits in their raw form, prepare jams and preserves. You can buy feijoa in the markets and large supermarkets.

Thanks to the work of breeders, the tropical plant has become widespread in Russia - in the Crimea, Krasnodar, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine.

Depending on growing conditions, there are small, medium, large fruits. They eat whole fruits or scrape out the pulp with a spoon.

Because of its composition, tropical culture is used to treat a number of diseases. The medicinal properties of fruits during the period of beriberi for a weakened organism are especially valued.

How to choose feijoa:

The benefits of fruit, useful and medicinal properties of fruits and leaves

The chemical composition of feijoa indicates its benefits. This fruit can rightfully be called not only the "miracle of the tropics", but also a panacea for many problems.

Among Europeans, berries gained popularity at a time when they found a high concentration of iodine.

Pot growing of feijoa does not guarantee a rich content of iodine, it is abundant only in fruits growing on the coast. Benefit:

feijoa has a high content of nutrients, vitamins C, P and B;
essential oils are present in the fruits with an anti-inflammatory effect;
feijoa extracts and oils are widely used in dermatology and cosmetology;
contain iron, zinc, manganese, copper, organic iodine compounds;
in value, the fruits are equated to iodine-containing seafood;
essential oils promote rejuvenation;
juice and pulp help fight rosacea, after using masks, capillary nets on the face disappear;
in depressive disorders, fruit seeds are used;
tea is prepared from the leaves, useful for the body.

Calorie content is only 49-50 kcal per 100 grams of product.

The tart taste of feijoa is not accidental, it is associated with the content of antioxidants. They are considered a valuable product for the prevention of cancer.

Endocrinologists agreed that tropical berries are needed for the thyroid gland.

With regular use, by lowering cholesterol levels, an improvement in blood composition is observed. Due to the content of phenolic compounds in the skin, they are taken to stimulate metabolic processes in the digestive organs.

The benefits of feijoa for men are priceless. Urologists recommend using for problems with the prostate.

Women will be able, thanks to an exotic fruit, to maintain their figure and youth. By replacing feijoa confectionery, you can lose extra pounds.

Important: 100 grams of feijoa account for 0.5 mg of iodine compounds that are rapidly soluble for the body.

What is useful feijoa berry:

Harm and contraindications for use

Ripe feijoas have a positive effect on the body, in unripe fruits adversely affect the digestive system. They can even cause poisoning.

If unripe fruits are bought, it is better to put them to ripen at room temperature.

A tropical plant is contraindicated:

direct contraindication - with an excess of iodine in the body;
use with caution in diabetes;
it is not recommended to mix with milk (may cause indigestion);
due to poor digestibility, do not give feijoa to children under one year of age;
Pregnant and lactating mothers should use minimal amounts.

A large number of fruits eaten can be harmful - cause nervous excitability, anxiety.

Do not forget that overseas fruits can contribute to allergic reactions. Start your acquaintance with the fruits in small portions.

Important information: to avoid consequences, be careful when feeding feijoa to children.

Use during pregnancy and lactation

The richest natural source of nutrients for pregnant and lactating women is recommended with caution. In order not to cause side effects due to excess iodine, you should not overdo it with their use.

Regarding the exotic fruit, the opinion of experts was divided, some recommend them during pregnancy, others associate them with risks. In everything you need to know the measure.

Feijoa is especially useful at the 12th week of pregnancy, during this period the thyroid gland of the child develops.

It is difficult to predict how the pregnant body will behave if you try the berry for the first time. The same can be said about breastfeeding. If in doubt, it's better consult a doctor and check the reaction of the body.

Culinary and beauty recipes

The topic below the material presented is devoted to recipes from an exotic fruit. They make jams, mousses, jellies. The popularity of these recipes is due to the rich content of pectin.

For treatment, healthy decoctions are prepared, ground with honey, nuts. Add as a flavoring additive to salads. They make face masks.

Sugared fruits

Proportions: for 1 kg of feijoa take 1 kg of sugar. Take ripe fruits. Wash them well, dry them on a towel.

Finely chop with a knife, add sugar. Rub with a wooden spatula. Keep refrigerated. Apply as needed. Candied fruits are an excellent remedy for protecting the immune system.

Feijoa jam without cooking for the winter:

diet salad

Proportions: for 5 fruits, take a handful of walnuts and 1 boiled beetroot. Feijoa and beets cut into strips. Lightly dry the nuts in the oven and crush them. Drizzle salad with olive oil.

To enhance the taste, add spices, herbs or garlic. This easy-to-make salad will help you lose weight.

Vitaminized cocktail

Proportions: 4 feijoa, kiwi, apple, cinnamon, 150 ml fat-free kefir or yogurt. In the blender bowl, place the fruits of an exotic fruit, kiwi, apple. All pre-wash, peel, cut.

Pour in the fermented milk product, add a pinch of cinnamon. Grind with a blender until smooth. A fortified shake is the perfect start to the day instead of breakfast.

Feijoa with honey

Proportions: honey with feijoa in the ratio 1:1. Grind the pulp of ripe fruits with honey, arrange in sterilized jars. Cover with lids or paper. Keep cold.

Use in the morning on an empty stomach 1 tbsp. spoon. The composition allows you to quickly recover from illnesses. The remaining outer part can be frozen or dried.

Compote with lemon balm

Proportions: for 1 glass of sugar 180 gr. feijoa, lemon balm sprigs. Wash the fruits, prick them with a toothpick. Pour in water, add sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat in the oven. Boil for 3-5 minutes.

Remove from heat, strain, add lemon balm. Pour into glass jars. Store inside refrigerator. Chilled drink - tones up, calms the nervous system.

leaf tea

Proportions: 1 tsp. dry leaves in 250-300 ml of boiling water. Leaves wither in partial shade. Ferment in the fresh air or in a dry, ventilated place to the state of a tea leaf.

Brew like regular tea, you can add sugar or honey. The taste of tea is very unusual, with a slightly tart aftertaste.

Pulp jam with lemon

Proportions: for 1 kg of ripe fruit you need 1 kg of sugar and half a lemon. Wash the feijoa, prick with a toothpick. Boil syrup from sugar and 200 ml of water. Fill them with fruits.

Cook in 3 stages with complete cooling of the jam for 5 minutes after boiling. At the final stage, add lemon slices.

Pack in clean dry jars. Cork and refrigerate. Jam will help out to raise immunity during respiratory diseases.

From feijoa you can cook jam - with lemon or nuts

Mask for the face

Proportions: 2 pcs. feijoa, yolk of one egg, 5 gr. honey and 5 ml. olive oil. Beat the ingredients, slightly warm in a water bath. The temperature of the mask should be 36-37 degrees.

Apply to cleansed face. Hold for half an hour. Wash away. The vitamin composition moisturizes, softens and tightens the skin. Can be used for rosacea.

The use of a natural source of iodine is especially important in large and polluted cities.

The material dedicated to the benefits of feijoa will be of interest to both men and women. Using recommendations for the prevention and treatment of diseases, you can maintain your health for a long time!