How to eat feijoa: rules, tips and tricks. Feijoa salad with citrus

Fruits are a storehouse of vitamins, they are simply necessary for every person and feijoa is no exception, its beneficial properties are not known to many. Unlike oranges, bananas and other popular products that are in short supply on our shelves, feijoa is still considered exotic. Some people are not even aware of the existence of such a product. It has an unusual taste, reminiscent of a banana, strawberries and even pineapple. This plant grows in the Brazilian subtropics, and was brought to Europe at the beginning of the last century. Although it is low in calories, it has its own contraindications, because a high concentration of iodine can lead to side effects.

Useful qualities of an overseas product

Feijoa has a green or emerald color, and its shape can be compared to a lemon. It owes its popularity to the optimal concentration of vitamins and other substances in the fruit.

What diseases is feijoa used for?

1. Colds. The product contains essential oils that effectively fight microbes and viruses, as well as vitamin C, which serves as a prophylactic during an influenza epidemic.
2. In stressful situations, depression or chronic arterial disease, the benefits of feijoa are stored in its seeds.
3. Oncology. For the health of men, women, especially pregnant women, the antioxidants contained in the peel of the plant are very important. Although it tastes unpleasant, it is used as a cancer prevention.
4. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to the fact that the product helps to digest food, it cleanses the body of men and women of toxins in a short time.
5. Feijoa has no contraindications for diseases of the cardiovascular system, its regular use with honey reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood.
6. Feijoa, the benefits and harms of which are known, are recommended for people with high blood pressure, but it is advisable to exclude from the diet for diabetes.
7. The iodine contained in the body can guarantee the correct functioning of the thyroid gland. Feijoa is great for replenishing it.

Harm from feijoa

Despite the beneficial properties of the fruit, in some cases it should be consumed with extreme caution.

• Before buying, you should carefully examine the fruit for damage during transportation, and of course pay attention to contraindications.
• The peel of the fruit consists of vitamins and trace elements, but in its raw form it is inedible. Feijoa does not lose its valuable qualities during heat treatment, so it can be added to compote, salad or sauce.
• The plant is a strong allergen, therefore, first you need to try a small part of it, and only then increase the dose. An allergic reaction as a contraindication manifests itself in the form of rashes on the skin and redness, although there are cases with burning or itching in the oral cavity. In particular, pregnant women need to be careful.
• Unripe feijoa, hard to the touch, can cause indigestion and even serious food poisoning. The fact is that ripe fruits are very easily damaged, so berries for export are always harvested unripe and already in this form they get to us. An unripe berry can ripen perfectly at home for two to three days at room temperature.
• A person will suffer from indigestion if he decides to use feijoa with honey and dairy products. The fruit is rich in pectins, and they do not mix well with milk.

1. Diabetes. With such a disease, it is not advisable to eat a fruit that contains sugar in large doses. The fetus can cause an attack of hyperglycemia (an excess of glucose in the blood), so it is recommended to protect yourself from unnecessary problems with diabetes.
2. Limit the use of feijoa should be those who suffer from hyperthyroidism, when hormones are produced in large quantities.
3. Obesity. Despite the fact that feijoa is not very high in calories, it is still not worth eating in large quantities for those who are overweight. Because the fruit contains a lot of malic acid, which stimulates the production of gastric juice and increases appetite.
4. In chronic constipation, it is better to minimize the use of such a product, because it has a fixing property.

Interesting! The exotic fruit shrub flower petals have an apple flavor and can also be eaten. If you deep-fry them, you get sweet chips.

How to choose feijoa

Unfortunately, only a few know how to eat berries or can cook a tasty and healthy dish. When choosing a product, you should pay attention to its contraindications. If they are not available, then choose a ripe, soft fruit with juicy and translucent pulp. Got a brown center? The fruit has already deteriorated, and if it is white, it has not yet ripened. The pulp has a strong odor and a sweet taste that is reminiscent of pineapple or strawberries. The peel is dense and edible, has a certain astringency. If the berry is damaged or knocked out, there is a chance of poisoning with the waste products of bacteria. This also applies to rotten feijoa. Some eat the whole fruit, after cutting off the tail, while others prefer to scoop out the pulp with a teaspoon, combining it with honey.

The chemical composition of feijoa

The chemical composition will tell you how useful feijoa is and what advantages it has. Berries have the unique ability to store a variety of water-soluble iodine compounds that are easily absorbed by the body. Also, the fruit consists of phenolic compounds such as tannin, catechin, leucoanthocyanin, etc. In addition to quickly digestible substances, the plant contains vitamin C, the concentration of which increases as it ripens. For pregnant women, this is a storehouse of fiber, protein, asparagine, alanine, tyrosine, glutamine.

In addition to vitamin C, the fruits contain all B vitamins, sucrose, folic and malic acid, and trace elements. 100 g of the product contains 0.74 ash, 86 ml of water, 0.8 g of fat and 10 g of carbohydrates. Also, 100 g of the plant includes 17 mg of calcium, 9 mg of magnesium, 155 mg of potassium, 70 mcg of iodine, 40 mcg of zinc, 3 mg of sodium, 80 mcg of iron. An exotic berry is distinguished by a high water content, because 100 g contains about 80% water, 10% sugar and 10% carbohydrates.

How to use feijoa

It is not recommended to abuse the fruits, because its positive properties and contraindications are associated with a high iodine content. With an overdose, anxiety and nervousness increase, the heartbeat quickens and jumps in body temperature are noticeable. If working capacity has decreased, memory has worsened and this condition continues for a long time, then it is worth being examined by an endocrinologist. The product is gradually introduced into the diet for children in small portions, because after all it is an exotic fruit. To make the child like the taste of the berry, it can be cooked with honey. This also applies to pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Important! Ripe fruit is stored in the refrigerator for no more than seven days.

How to boost immunity with feijoa

To strengthen the immune system, grated fruits with sugar are used. During cooking, all the beneficial properties of feijoa are preserved. During the cooking process, it does not need to be heat treated. The plant (1.5 kg) should be washed well, cutting off all the tails. Then the product is cut into small cubes, without peeling, and twisted with a meat grinder. The fruits contain iron, which can cause them to turn yellow. With constant stirring, granulated sugar (1 kg) is added to the resulting mixture. As soon as the sugar has melted, add chopped walnuts (200 g).

Regular use of such jam with honey is an excellent prophylactic during a flu epidemic, which is necessary, first of all, for pregnant women. Let the homemade medicine stand in the kitchen for about an hour, and then it needs to be poured into sterilized jars. Feijoa is stored in the refrigerator.

Some symptoms of the appearance:

• increased sweating;
• weakened immunity, frequent colds;
• weakness, fatigue;
• nervous state, depression;
• headaches and migraines;
• intermittent diarrhea and constipation;
• want sweet and sour;
• bad breath;
• frequent feeling of hunger;
• weight loss problems
• loss of appetite;
• night grinding of teeth, salivation;
• pain in the abdomen, joints, muscles;
• does not pass cough;
• pimples on the skin.

If you have any of the symptoms or doubt the causes of ailments, you need to cleanse the body as soon as possible. How to do it .

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

Feijoa. The nutritional value

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

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

How useful is such a product?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feijoa harm

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

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

How to eat feijoa?

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

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

Choosing the Right Feijoa

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

The benefits and composition of feijoa

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

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

Feijoa benefits for pregnant women

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

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, abrasions on the skin can be healed. Remedies are great for bleeding gums and toothache.
2. To make a nourishing face mask, it is enough to combine the grated fruit with the yolk of an egg. As a result, the skin will receive a charge of useful microelements, microcracks and creases will be smoothed out. Also, the dermis will acquire an even tone, smoothness and velvety.

Contraindications and possible harm to feijoa

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

Rules for the use of feijoa

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

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

Video: the benefits and harms of feijoa

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.