Useful properties of feijoa and contraindications to its use. Vitamin complexes, macro- and microelements in feijoa

Feijoa is exotic for a Slavic person, and the inhabitants of the tropics are a familiar fruit, often eaten. A fruit tree grows in a subtropical climate, it 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, Brazil knows this, and they often eat fruits in their diet.

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

What is feijoa? Fruit or berry?

Feijoa fruit is an oblong-shaped berry with a smooth, dense green rind. Soft juicy pulp resembles a combination of several fruits: strawberries, kiwi, pineapple. The fruit is edible in its entirety with the peel, but not everyone likes its taste. By color, you can determine its maturity: if the pulp is white, the fruit is not ripe, if it is brown, then it is overripe. Ideally ripe fruit has a transparent core.

The 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 iodine elements necessary to maintain thyroid function, as well as iron involved in oxygen transport, magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, and phosphorus.
• B vitamins that support the functioning of the nervous system.
• Vitamins C and A, which strengthen 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.

Useful properties for women and men

For women, the fruit is especially useful during pregnancy, when the expectant mother's body needs a lot of iron, folic acid, calcium, and magnesium. All trace elements are found in feijoa. In addition, for the development of a healthy fetus, a sufficient amount of iodine is necessary, which favorably affects the functioning of the thyroid gland and the formation of the child's nervous system. With its deficiency in the body of a pregnant woman and a newborn baby, congenital hypothyroidism (low function of the thyroid gland) may develop. A complication of this disease is dementia. At the same time, the fruit is low-calorie and does not add extra weight to the expectant mother.

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

Medicinal properties of feijoa

• Compensates for the lack of iodine 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 immunity. Thanks to the vitamins and microelements included in the composition, the fruit stimulates the formation of immune cells - leukocytes.
• Fights anemia. Due to the large amount of iron, feijoa is effective for iron deficiency anemia, strengthens the immune system.
• It lowers cholesterol in the blood, so the fruit is useful for people suffering from atherosclerosis.
• Improves the functioning of the digestive tract: the content of an increased amount of vegetable fiber helps to increase peristalsis and cleanse the intestines.
• Natural antiseptic. The tree bark, leaves and fruit peel have a disinfecting effect. A decoction of them is used for inflammatory diseases of the mucous membranes - periodontal disease, cuts, inflammation of the kidneys.

Thyroid treatment with feijoa

Use jam from raw feijoa fruit 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 dry feijoa fruits is also used. To do this, pour 3 tablespoons of fruits with two cups of boiling water, insist overnight. The next day, drink in 3 divided doses. So continue 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, blood sugar levels are elevated. Violation of the diet and the use of foods containing a large amount of sugar aggravates the course of the disease, leading to an even greater increase in blood glucose. Therefore, feijoa is not used for the treatment of 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, 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 jam with oranges. For cooking, take a kilogram of feijoa fruit, 2 kilograms of sugar and the juice of two oranges. Cook jam and take 1 tablespoon 2 times a day. The combination of a large amount of vitamin C in an orange and a complex of trace elements and vitamins in feijoa strengthens blood vessels.

Feijoa is an evergreen shrub valued for its delicious fruits. They are oblong dark green berries about 4 cm long with a pleasant smell. Feijoa has juicy flesh, the fruit tastes like kiwi, strawberries and pineapple at the same time.

How and where does feijoa grow

The plant grows as a fairly tall shrub. Its height, as a rule, reaches 4 m. The root system is superficial. Feijoa does not tolerate low temperatures, but it can withstand up to -10 ° C well.
In spring, the shrub blooms very beautifully, and the fruits ripen in autumn, at the end of October.

Feijoa grows in Abkhazia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Greece, Georgia, Colombia, Spain, Italy, Northern Argentina, USA, Portugal, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Uruguay, France and the Caucasus.

On the territory of Russia, it is grown in the Krasnodar Territory, Dagestan and Crimea.

The chemical composition of feijoa

Feijoa is 80% water, 10% fructose and sucrose, 2.5% pectin, and the rest is protein and fat. Fruits contain a large amount of vitamins, minerals, fruit acids and oils.

The peel is also very rich in useful elements and mineral salts.

Vitamins: B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, C, E, K, PP.

Minerals: iron, iodine (35 mcg per 100 g), potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, sodium, zinc, phosphorus.

Acids: folic, apple.

Feijoa calories - 49 kcal per 100 g

Feijoa daily rate - 2-3 fetuses for adults, 1 fetus for children.

Useful properties and benefits of feijoa for the body

• strengthens the immune system,
• heals,
• compensates for the lack of iodine in the body,
• prevention of cardiovascular diseases,
• normalizes blood pressure,
• cleanses the blood
• increases the level of hemoglobin,
• increases the number of red blood cells,
• reduces cholesterol,
• cancer prevention,
• normalizes digestion,
• helps with thyroid problems
• improves memory,
• increases attentiveness,
• lifts the mood
• improves skin condition,
• relieves skin inflammation.

The beneficial qualities of the fruit are due to the high content of easily digestible iodine, in the content of which the berry surpasses even seafood. Therefore, the berry is useful for the proper development of the child's body, as well as in the treatment of diseases associated with a lack of this element. Feijoa fruits are useful for the prevention of thyroid diseases.

With viral and infectious diseases, feijoa helps to strengthen the immune system. It has a good effect in the prevention of inflammatory diseases of the digestive system.

Tannins and antioxidants are found mainly in the peel of the fruit, so it is good as an anti-inflammatory in the form of a decoction or added to tea. It contains a lot of phytoncides, which makes it useful in the fight against colds and infections.

Medicinal properties of feijoa

For heart disease and for their prevention you need 1 tbsp. pulp juice mixed with 1/4 water. Take a drink 1 time per day.

For hypertension, thyroid problems and depression eat 1-2 tbsp. feijoa puree.

Contraindications and harm

• individual intolerance,
• hypothyroidism.

In diabetes, the high content of carbohydrates should be taken into account, so you should not abuse this berry. It is also recommended to use fruits with excess weight with caution.

During pregnancy and lactation, feijoa is allowed to eat, but very little - 0.5-1 fruit per day. But it is best to consult with a specialist in advance.

A large number of fruits can cause allergic reactions and problems in the digestive tract.

How to choose ripe fruit

To the touch, the berry should be elastic and firm.

To successfully choose a fruit, you need to cut the fruit and see what color it is inside. If there is such an opportunity, then ask the seller to do this. Transparent jelly-like pulp indicates that the berry is ready to eat, white color indicates that the fruit should ripen a little, and brown color indicates that it has already deteriorated.

The fruits must be without damage and have an even color. Slightly unripe fruits are usually sold, so they need to be kept at room temperature for a couple of days before use.

How to store at home

The shelf life of feijoa is small - 1 week. Should be stored in the refrigerator. The fruits can also be frozen.

How to eat

It is customary to cut the fruit into two equal halves and use a teaspoon to eat the pulp. The rind is generally not eaten raw as it has a bitter taste. But since it has useful substances, it can be used to prepare jams, decoctions or add to herbal teas.

Face masks

Masks from puree of berries have an anti-inflammatory effect, nourish the skin of the face, promote healing of wounds and eliminate the effects of acne. In addition, they smooth fine wrinkles and give a rejuvenating effect.

To do this, apply 1-2 fruits crushed to a puree state on the face and hold for 10-25 minutes. After - rinse with water and lubricate the face with a moisturizer. You can simply wipe the skin of the face with a fruit cut in two, the effect will be the same.

Feijoa is an exotic fruit for Russians, but it is becoming quite popular due to its taste and health benefits. We advise you to definitely try this berry. ;)

Harvesting ripe feijoa

There are few fruit crops in the myrtle family. A place of honor among them is occupied by feijoa - an evergreen shrub or low tree with edible green fruits.

If you are not yet familiar with the exotic, it will be useful for you to know: feijoa fruit or berry? According to the botanical classification, the fruit is called a berry.

And since mainly desserts are prepared from it, in cooking and everyday life they consider it a fruit. Feijoa is eaten raw or used to make jams, compotes and even marinades.

How and where does feijoa grow

The homeland of the plant is the subtropics. The first copies were found in Brazil. Now trees are grown in the Caucasus, in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, on the Pacific coast of the United States.

They feel good in the Mediterranean and in Australia, they are found in Russia. Where feijoa grows is well known to residents of the Krasnodar Territory, the Caucasus and Abkhazia.

Exotic trees in these regions are common garden plants. They are not so sissy, they can withstand frosts up to 11 degrees.

The inhabitants of the south appreciate not only the excellent taste of the fruit, they know how feijoa is useful, and what diseases it helps with.

Useful properties and contraindications of feijoa, composition, calorie content

Biologists compare the fruits of the plant with seafood: they have a lot in common in their chemical composition.

How is feijoa useful for the body, and how to use it? It is known that this pantry of vitamins, minerals, useful organic acids.

Wherein product calorie content low - about 50 kcal/100 g Glycemic index feijoa - 40 units.

Feijoa Composition

1. In fruits and ascorbic acid.
2. Feijoa vitamins (C, PP, gr. B) make it a good antioxidant.
3. The pulp contains a lot of pectins. This allows you to cook marmalade, jelly, soufflé and marshmallows from fruits.
4. Of the minerals, there is a lot of potassium, iron, phosphorus and sodium.
5. The peel contains phenols - natural antiseptics. They kill microbes, make the immune system strong.
6. Tannins and essential oils suppress pathogenic microflora.
7. Fruits contain a lot of fiber - an essential element of proper digestion.

The benefits of feijoa for the body

• High blood pressure normalizes, lowers cholesterol levels.
• Effective in bronchitis and diarrhea.
• Delays the growth of cancer cells.
• It has a positive effect on hematopoietic processes.
• Strengthens the body. Recommended for stress and fatigue.

Use of peel, leaves, flowers

1. Compresses from the bark and leaves of the plant have been used as an antiseptic. It is an excellent disinfectant for wound healing.
2. A decoction of the leaves relieves toothache, helps fight bleeding gums.
3. The flowers of the plant are edible and can be added to salads.
4. The peel of the fruit is dried and added as a flavoring agent to tea.

Useful properties of feijoa for men

Men value the plant as a prophylactic against urological diseases. But this is not all that feijoa is capable of. Useful properties for men are a positive effect on the reproductive and genitourinary systems.

Daily use in season 2-3 fruits prevents inflammation of the prostate Helps with erectile dysfunction.

Contraindications and warnings

• The fruit does not go well with and. It's best not to eat them together. There is a risk of diarrhea.
• With hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism), you can eat very moderately. After all, an excess of iodine can harm.
• Do not give to children under one year old. Babies do not yet have the enzymes that break down exotic fruits.
• Feijoa for type 2 diabetes is allowed, but you need to choose unsweetened fruits. This also applies to patients with type 1 diabetes.
• No cases of allergy to this product have been reported so far. But still, no one is immune from individual intolerance.

Feijoa weakens or strengthens stool

A sufficient amount of fiber in fruits contributes to the normalization of digestion. The pulp has a mild laxative effect, and the peel is astringent, as it contains a lot of tannins. Dry peel is brewed and drunk for diarrhea and food poisoning.

The right way to eat feijoa - with or without peel

Having learned how feijoa is useful and what it heals, you need to find out how to eat it correctly. The taste of the skin is specific, tart. Most fruits are eaten without it. But the medicinal properties of feijoa with a peel are much higher.

People on different continents decide for themselves how to eat feijoa. Some clean them, others eat the whole, cutting off only the tail. If you are trying a fruit for the first time, eat the skin and pulp separately.

How much feijoa can you eat per day

For the product to bring maximum benefit, 5 fruits per day will be enough.. But in the off-season there are no fresh fruits, they are replaced with jams and mashed potatoes, grated with sugar or. The daily norm of such a product is no more than 4 tbsp. l.

How to clean feijoa

Looking at exotics, it is difficult to understand how to use feijoa. If you come across unripe hard fruits, put them next to them - they will ripen.

Feijoa, when ripe, becomes soft. The fruit is cut, and the pulp is taken out with a spoon. If the peel is green, without spots, it is either eaten or dried for later use.

When does the feijoa ripen?

Deep autumn is the feijoa season in Russia. November is a traditional time for picking tropical fruit. The most useful and tasty are ripe fruits.

It is better to buy them when the feijoa sale season is in full swing. This is November - December. Ripe fruits fall to the ground, where they are harvested. If you saw a feijoa with a green stalk, then the fruit is definitely unripe, it was cut green.

How to choose ripe feijoas

Glossy shine, noble wrinkles are signs of a ripe fruit. A matte bluish coating is also good. This is the fruit's natural defense against spoilage. Brown spots - signs of rot, bright green peel - immaturity.

But the size depends on the variety. The largest fruits are brought from New Zealand. To take them, they are plucked unripe.

Medium size - originally from Azerbaijan. The chances that they will be ripe are much higher. Those that are smaller come to us from the Krasnodar Territory. Their path is even shorter.

How to determine the ripeness of feijoa

If you cut the fruit, and it has a white center, then you have an unripe feijoa in front of you. Ideally, the flesh of the fruit should be transparent, beige or pale pink.

The brown center happens in rotten fruits. The aroma depends on the variety. The taste of elongated feijoa resembles with sourness, round - they smell like strawberries.

How to store feijoa at home

In growing areas, fruit can be stored for no more than a month. It is placed in paper bags or boxes and placed in a cool place. Fruits that hit the shelves of the Middle Strip have come a long way, their shelf life is reduced.

Usually store-bought fruits are not stored for more than a week. But their medicinal properties are preserved even after processing. For this, ripe feijoa is ground with sugar (1: 1) directly with the skin. Keep refrigerated.

Growing feijoa at home

If you are interested in the beneficial properties (and contraindications) of feijoa, but the climatic conditions do not allow you to have this tree in the garden, you can grow the culture indoors.

Please note that only self-pollinated varieties of feijoa bear fruit. Growing other varieties at home is a way to decorate the interior.

You can get a beautiful tree by sowing its seeds. You will see the first fruits in 7 years. Plants grown from cuttings begin to bear fruit in 3-4 years.

The cuttings are taken semi-lignified, “with a heel”. They are treated with heteroauxin and rooted in wet sand. As they grow, the cuttings are planted in pots of the appropriate size. Plants need to be placed in a bright place and ensure timely watering.

Feijoa recipes in folk medicine

For medicinal purposes, ripe fruits are used in fresh and dried form, their peel, bark and leaves of trees. You do not need to take the medicine with meals. This will reduce its effectiveness. As a rule, it is taken half an hour before or after a meal.

Feijoa Recipes for Thyroid Treatment

• Water infusion of leaves - pour a glass of boiling water 1 tbsp. l. raw materials. Insist half an hour. Drink with honey in a glass twice a day before meals (20 minutes).
• Raw jam - pass the fruits through a meat grinder and combine with an equal amount of sugar. Morning and evening (preferably half an hour before meals) take 1 tbsp. l. facilities. Take a break after 10 days. After 10 days, the reception is resumed.

How to cook feijoa for immunity

For the prevention of viral diseases, take in the morning a tablespoon of feijoa grated with sugar. There is another old recipe.

1. When ripe, the fruits are placed in jars and poured with honey.
2. In 2 weeks, they will wrinkle slightly and let the juice go.
3. The liquid is drained, and the feijoa is poured with a new portion of honey.
4. This is done several times until the fruits decrease in size.
5. Drained honey is used to make drinks, and fruits dried in this way are eaten 2-3 pieces a day to boost immunity and prevent goiter.

For the prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Feijoa juice (1 tablespoon) is diluted with 50 g of water and drunk once in the morning on an empty stomach. This recipe will help normalize the pressure of hypertensive patients.

For the treatment of nephritis

Shredded dry leaves and flowers (they are taken in half) are brewed with a glass of boiling water. After half an hour, add a spoonful of honey. Drink after meals twice a day for a glass.

With atherosclerosis

Jam is prepared from 600 g of feijoa, 1 and 1 kg of sugar. Grind fruits with peel in a blender, cover with sugar, put on fire and bring to a boil, cool. For treatment, take 1 tbsp. l. in the morning. Keep refrigerated.

Feijoa tinctures

Easy-to-prepare tinctures can be used in the preparation of desserts and to strengthen the immune system. One tablespoon a day is enough to increase the body's resistance to dangerous viruses.

Tincture preparation technology

• Ripe fruits are washed, the tail is removed and cut into slices.
• Loosely placed in a glass jar.
• Pour fruit with vodka (it should completely cover the contents of the jar).
• Add a little honey and insist in a dark place for 2 weeks.
• The liquid is drained, bottled.

And about the feijoa wine on the video:

Many diseases arise due to a lack of certain substances in the body. Serious pathologies are prevented by observation and attention to one’s health, you just need to see a doctor and get tested at the first alarming symptoms. Often in the early stages, the development of the disease is stopped by simple methods. Instead of using pills, you should try to change the menu: exclude harmful foods and liquids that remove the necessary substances from the body, but add useful ones. For example, if you are deficient in iodine, it makes sense to stop eating cabbage and indulging in coffee and turn your attention to seafood and feijoa. This tropical berry is indispensable for the deterioration of the thyroid gland.

Chemical composition and benefits

Absorbing the energy of the sun, feijoa synthesizes substances such as:

• minerals: iodine, silicon, boron, cobalt, chromium, rubidium, molybdenum, potassium;
• ascorbic acid;
• B vitamins;
• phytosterols;
• mono- and disaccharides;
• amino acids;
• organic acids;
• phenolic compounds;
• tannins;
• fiber;
• pectin;
• essential oil.

Always green feijoa has been on the shelves since October. Recently, it has been cultivated in the Caucasus, in the Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory. The exotic berry is not yet as popular as it deserves, although it has a lot of advantages:

• replenishes the lack of iodine in the body;
• thanks to ascorbic acid, it delivers antioxidants to the body and improves immunity;
• contains phytosterols, which have a beneficial effect on blood vessels, controlling cholesterol levels, lowering blood pressure;
• increases appetite and relieves nausea;
• contains fiber and pectins that stimulate the digestive tract;
• includes oil that destroys microbes, fungi, relieves inflammation and skin irritation;
• prevents the development of tumors;
• improves mental activity;
• normalizes metabolism.

This subtropical fruit is valued for its easily digestible, water-soluble iodine. Feijoa is a champion in the plant world in terms of its content. It is very useful in thyroid disorders caused by iodine deficiency. The lack of this substance leads to a decrease in pressure and immunity, to fatigue, edema, anemia, deterioration of memory and mood. Preventing iodine deficiency is easier than treating it, so you should include fragrant berries in your diet.

If a transmission is being prepared for a flu patient, in addition to lemons, it is advisable to put feijoa in the basket, it also has a lot of vitamin C, which will start immune processes and speed up recovery. In addition, berry pectins will do a general cleaning in the body: they will remove the toxins of drugs, the waste products of pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

B vitamins in feijoa prevent aging, improve metabolism and treat depression

A diet with the inclusion of feijoa is welcome and with a decrease in the secretion of gastric juice - hypoacid gastritis. Organic acids of the fetus activate the work of the stomach. And thanks to the astringent and enveloping properties of the tannins of the berry, inflammation of the mucous membrane will be removed. Feijoa fiber and pectins also have a beneficial effect on the intestines: they eliminate constipation, remove heavy metals.

Feijoa phytosterols reduce the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the alimentary tract, therefore they are indispensable for the prevention of atherosclerosis and rosacea. Phenols and anthocyanins form compounds with antioxidant activity that help prevent cancer. Feijoa peel is especially useful in this regard.

Feijoa owes its scientific name to the director of the Natural History Museum of Brazil, Juan da Silva Feijo. The specific name (feijoa Sellova) is given in honor of the German naturalist Friedrich Sellova.

The bark, flowers and leaves of this shrub contain tannins, catechins, anthocyanins and are known for wound healing, antiseptic and anti-cancer properties. Pyelonephritis is treated with a decoction of the leaves, and the mouth is rinsed with infusion for toothache and periodontal disease.

The bark, flowers and leaves of the feijoa bush are known for their wound healing, antiseptic and anti-cancer properties.

Three fruits a day will help in the following circumstances:

• regular constipation;
• stress;
• beriberi;
• attacks of pain during menstruation;
• rheumatism;
• constant colds;
• high cholesterol.

Feijoa species

The homeland of Feijoa is South America, the mountains of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia. This genus from the myrtle family includes three species, of which only one is edible - Feijoa sellowiana. Botanists describe the species as a large evergreen shrub, a typical representative of subtropical vegetation. Loves moisture. On the territory of Russia, it is grown in the south and in the subtropics of the Caucasus. The trunk of the tree is green-brown, rough, the foliage is green on top and silvery on the underside.

The fruits of the shrub are eaten - oval fleshy berries with a bumpy surface. Both ripe and unripe fruits are always the same green color. Feijoa, grown on iodine-rich soils, contain more of this element, therefore they are used in dietary nutrition. Ideally, when buying berries, you should find out where they are grown and whether they are suitable for your purposes.

The larger the feijoa, the more useful it is

South American Indians call the fragrant Quechua berry. The legend says that the outlandish fruit is a gift from the gods, which gives a person incredible strength.

Quechua reaches 4–6 m in height. Up to 30 kg of berries are harvested from one bush.

Quality feijoa is slightly soft to the touch, even green in color, without a glossy sheen. Hard fruits will have to be ripened (brought to a state of maturity). In a ripe fruit, the pulp resembles a creamy transparent jelly. The unripe fruit is white on the cut. Such berries ripen in a dark place at room temperature for 3 days. If the fruit is brown on the cut, it means that it has rotted. When buying, pay attention to the skin. If brown spots are visible, the berries are already overripe and are not suitable for eating.

How to choose the right feijoas - video

Application

Quechua is eaten fresh. A bitten off piece of peel is deeply disappointing. The berry itself is valued for its fresh strawberry-pineapple taste, but the skin is tart and knits the tongue. It is dried and added to tea for flavor, or an infusion is made and the mouth is rinsed with bleeding gums, wounds after medical intervention, tonsillitis. To enjoy the taste of the fruit, it is cut into two parts, the creamy pulp is taken with a spoon. For medicinal purposes, feijoa is eaten whole, with the skin, especially for atherosclerosis and gastritis with low acidity.

Thyroid treatment

Thyroid hormones, which are synthesized by the thyroid gland, consist of more than 65% iodine. Endocrine disorders caused by iodine deficiency are corrected by introducing iodine-containing products, such as feijoa, into the diet. They eat berries twice a day, 150 g each. But such therapy will be beneficial only after consulting a doctor, because the basic treatment of hypothyroidism is based on hormones, nutritional supplements are of an auxiliary nature.

With a lack of iodine, it is useful to include feijoa in the diet

For the prevention of endemic goiter, 3 large berries are consumed per day. Before starting treatment, make sure that the fruits are grown in iodine-rich soils.

The closest relatives of feijoa are myrtle, eucalyptus, guava, tea tree and clove tree.

Prevention of atherosclerosis

The southern berry is used as an additional remedy in the treatment of arterial diseases. Usually eat 2-3 fruits before meals. Feijoa phytosterols lower cholesterol, which is also useful for high blood pressure. For the prevention of atherosclerosis, the following recipes are suitable.

Feijoa ground with sugar

Quechua is harvested green, ripening occurs during transportation and storage. Perishable fruit is unlikely to last longer than a week, even in the refrigerator. Therefore, the housewives go to various tricks to preserve fragrant berries. You can do it this way:

1. Trim the flower stalks and grind the fruits with sugar in a ratio of 1:1.
2. Packed in sterile containers, closed with lids, put in the refrigerator.

Quechua grated with sugar is ideal for tea with pancakes

For the prevention of influenza, colds and the treatment of beriberi, grated berries are consumed in 1 tbsp. spoon on an empty stomach. This tool increases the body's defenses. In addition, the mixture is also suitable for preventing iodine deficiency. In this case, take 2 tbsp. spoons.

Quechua and orange jam

Armed with such a jam, it is pleasant and tasty to deal with vascular problems. After all, it is not at all necessary to take only dull bitter medicines. For cooking take:

• feijoa berries - 500 g;
• sugar - 1 kg;
• freshly squeezed juice of one orange;
• walnuts - 1 cup.

Cooking:

1. Dip a colander with berries for 3 minutes in boiling water.
2. Without peeling the peel, grind in a blender.
3. Pour in sugar and wait until the fruits release juice.
4. Bring to a boil, pour in orange juice, add nuts.
5. Simmer for another quarter of an hour, preserve.

Jam is not as healthy as fresh berries, but it is effective against vascular problems.

Unfortunately, heat treatment destroys vitamins. Feijoa jam will not be as useful as berries ground with sugar. When heated, the content of vitamin C in fruits drops by 7 times. Such a product is unlikely to raise immunity or help heal mucous membranes with hypoacid gastritis, but is still effective against vascular problems.

Quechua fruits contain more potassium than sodium. As a result, blood vessels relax and blood pressure decreases.

Feijoa juice

Juice is squeezed from berries in an electric juicer. It is undesirable to peel the peel from the fruit, it contains essential oils, anthocyanins and phenols. The daily norm for an adult is 1 glass, for a child - half. Keep drinks in the refrigerator for no longer than a day. Drink juice half an hour before meals or 2 hours after. This healing drink brings relief from depression, intellectual overload and restores the body after surgery or a long illness.

For the prevention of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, they drink a quarter glass of water, in which 1 tbsp is diluted. a spoonful of feijoa juice, before each meal.

Feijoa leaf therapy

Little information is available on the use of the leaves of this shrub. However, in trusted sources there is a recipe for tea for jaundice.

Cooking:

1. Mix equal proportions of flowers and quechua leaf.
2. Take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of the mixture and pour boiling water, leave for half an hour, strain.

Half a glass is taken 2 times a day before meals. With periodontal disease and toothache, rinse your mouth with this infusion. Traditional medicine also recommends leaf tea for hypothyroidism. If you add honey to the drink, it can also be used for inflammation of the kidneys - pyelonephritis.

Europeans discovered Quechua only at the end of the 19th century.

Feijoa during pregnancy and lactation

The main way to give birth to a healthy baby is to eat right during the period of gestation. Feijoa is included in the list of foods recommended by doctors due to its high content of iodine, which is necessary for the normal development of the embryo. From the first weeks, hormones are required from the mother's thyroid gland for herself and the unborn baby, so an increased intake of iodine into the body is necessary. In addition, a large amount of this element during gestation is excreted in the urine.

Iodine deficiency in the body of the expectant mother leads to mental retardation, deafness and goiter in the baby.

It is useful for a future mother to include feijoa in her diet: the berry is rich in iodine, which is necessary for the intrauterine development of the baby

To avoid iodine deficiency in herself and pathologies in her unborn child, a pregnant woman needs to eat 20 g of feijoa per day. This rate is acceptable if medications with iodine are not prescribed by the attending physician. Otherwise, you should consult a doctor and adjust the daily rate.

Feijoa helps expectant mothers in the following ways:

• relieves the usual difficulties - constipation;
• eliminates nausea with toxicosis;
• increases appetite;
• replenishes depleted mineral reserves;
• contains folic acid, which contributes to the development of the nervous system of the fetus.

However, if gestational diabetes is detected, in which a woman's cell susceptibility to her insulin decreases, the delicacy cannot be eaten because of the sucrose in its composition. After childbirth, when pregnancy hormones stop affecting the body, blood sugar levels most often return to normal. Then again include the berry in the menu.

What the mother eats, the baby gets with milk. It is noteworthy that feijoa is not treated with chemicals during transportation and storage, it is a safe product. Vitamins, iodine of these berries will come in handy for a nursing woman. It is especially good that vitamin C is present in Quechua, because the baby’s immunity is just being formed. Therefore, 3-4 fruits per day will only benefit.

If a mother or child gets sick in a car, let them use feijoa. This berry will eliminate nausea.

When and how to give to children

Feijoa does not usually cause allergies in children. However, caution does not hurt, so the berry is not introduced into the diet for up to a year. Before use, remove the peel, the fruit itself is crushed. They teach slowly, starting with 1 teaspoon. If there are no problems, the volume is gradually increased and brought to 1 fetus per day. This rule is observed for up to three years. Upon reaching this age, the baby can be pampered with jam or feijoa compote.

Peeled feijoa puree is given to children from the age of three for colds, skin irritation and diarrhea.

It happens that feijoa bring trouble:

• fruits consumed with dairy products cause intestinal upset;
• the skin of the berry is not suitable for a child to eat, because it is difficult to digest by a young organism;
• unripe fruits lead to poisoning.

With hyperthyroidism and diabetes, Quechua is prohibited.

The versatility of feijoa is that it helps children with both constipation and diarrhea. With a delay in stool, fiber and pectins stimulate the intestines. And with diarrhea, tannins stop pathogenic processes and restore healthy microflora. However, these organic substances are contained in the skin of the fetus, which is given to children only from the age of three.

Feijoa for diabetes

The menu of each diabetic is strictly individual and is compiled taking into account the opinion of the doctor. Feijoa is not recommended for severe diabetes and obesity. In mild forms, the berries are eaten in small quantities, controlling blood sugar levels. There are some simple rules. On the day when they feast on sweet fruits:

• eat fewer simple carbohydrates;
• do not consume a lot of fat;
• ideally combine quechua with protein foods;
• eat berries in several doses, and not all at once.

Feijoa pectins have a beneficial effect on the digestion of a diabetic: they reduce inflammation of the mucous membranes, reduce the intake of cholesterol and remove toxins. In moderate doses, berries will only benefit the sick: they will improve mood and increase immunity.

Feijoa is used to prepare savory sauces for meat and fish.

Feijoa weight control

Unfortunately, this berry does not make it possible to lose weight. Quechua does not remove accumulated fat, but it helps not to store it in the future. This is due to feijoa phytosterols, which reduce the absorption of fats from the intestines. It is useful to eat 2 fruits before dinner, then digestion will improve and the intestines will work like clockwork. To control weight, it is worth replacing the usual dinner with a light exotic salad 2-3 times a week. For cooking you will need: Beetroot and feijoa salad contains a meager amount of calories and perfectly cleanses the intestines

To make this tasty and healthy dish, you need:

1. Grate pre-boiled medium-sized beets.
2. Cut the berries into cubes, chop the nuts.
3. Mix everything, add salt and butter to taste.

The maximum daily allowance of feijoa is 400 g.

External use: mask and scrub

Due to the anti-inflammatory properties of feijoa essential oils, it has a positive effect on skin condition. Masks from it relieve irritation, smooth wrinkles and nourish the skin. The mask is also suitable for those who have just done facial cleansing. For a cosmetic procedure you will need:

• small feijoa - 1 pc.;
• yolk - 1 pc.;
• cottage cheese - 2 tbsp. spoons;
• vegetable oil - 1 tbsp. spoon.

Grind the berry, mix with the rest of the ingredients and gently apply on the neck and face for 20 minutes. Lie down, keeping the muscles of the face motionless. Then rinse everything off with warm water.

The mask is applied to clean skin along the massage lines, avoiding the lips and eyes.

For the treatment and prevention of rosacea, in addition to masks, an infusion of feijoa peel is used: 1 tbsp. a spoonful of skins is poured with boiling water and aged for 20 minutes. The remedy is drunk in several approaches, before each meal.

If the skin has become dry and flabby, you should use a tonic coffee and quechua body scrub. For cooking you will need:

• ground coffee - 5 teaspoons;
• honey - 1 teaspoon;
• olive oil - 1 teaspoon;
• chopped feijoa - 1 pc.

You need to do the following:

1. Mix the ingredients and apply on the body in a circular motion.
2. Massage the skin for 5 minutes, then rinse under a warm shower.

Coffee exfoliates dead cells, honey nourishes, and feijoa removes inflammation and tones. This natural scrub refreshes and smoothes the skin and is inexpensive.

Contraindications

Obviously, the green berry is prohibited by physicians in diseases associated with iodine intolerance. It is not advised to abuse feijoa and obese and diabetic patients due to the high glucose content. It is harmful to eat these fruits with increased acidity of the stomach, as the production of gastric juice is activated. Allergies are rare, but there are cases of individual intolerance, be careful. Feijoa should not be included in the menu when:

• hyperthyroidism;
• hyperacid gastritis;
• severe form of diabetes;
• obesity
• individual intolerance.

Unripe berries cause diarrhea and poisoning. The same reaction occurs if you combine feijoa with dairy products.

Quechua accumulate toxic thallium, this must be taken into account by workers in the chemical industry and other hazardous industries.

There are fruits that have a pronounced seasonal demand. These include the fruits of feijoa, the benefits and harms of which are today's story. They begin to appear on store shelves with the beginning of autumn. Although they say that nature has no bad weather, autumn slush and winter frosts make us think about getting as many useful substances into the body as possible. And everyone who guards their health is reviewing the menu, trying to include more vitamins in it.

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

At home, in South America, the feijoa fruit is 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 in the Crimea.

Feijoa - benefit and harm

Some people seriously consider feijoa to be a hybrid of strawberry, pineapple and kiwi (I wrote about it recently, you can follow the link and read). Ripe feijoa tastes, indeed, reminiscent of them. The impression can be spoiled by the dense peel of the fruit, but I will discuss the correct eating of the fruit below.

Although ... the feijoa skin itself is also useful, it contains substances valuable to health. Therefore, it is unreasonable 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, it is worth starting with the natural natural substances that make up its composition.

• First, feijoa is one of the fruits that deserve to be considered champions in terms of iodine content. Compounds of the most important element are easily absorbed, as they are rapidly soluble, which is especially important for those living in areas that are unfavorable 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 fetus ripens.

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

What is useful 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 for hypothyroidism (more details in contraindications to the use of fruit).
2. Useful for beriberi.
3. Strengthens the immune system, helps to treat colds and viral diseases. Helps to recover quickly after surgery and serious illness.
4. Extremely useful for the intestines, due to the presence of a large amount of fiber. Recommended for patients with gastritis, diseases of the pancreas, liver.
5. Hypertension, diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
6. Berries are an excellent source of iron, it is recommended to take them with low hemoglobin.
7. It has antifungal and antibacterial action, negatively affects pathogenic organisms.
8. There is an opinion: the plant has an anti-cancer effect. Whether this is so is not known, but for prevention and with this disease, it is useful to take berries as a delicious medicine.
9. Wound, ulcers, abrasions. Prepare a decoction of the bark, leaves and make lotions on the sore spot.
10. Inflammation of the gums, toothache - a decoction of leaves and tree bark will help.

Feijoa for diabetes

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

But doctors strictly warn: you should not change your sense of proportion. Overeating fruit is strictly prohibited, since the composition of fruits 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, an inflammatory process in the digestive tract, and arterial disease.
• With obesity and hyperthyroidism (the thyroid gland produces too many hormones), feijoa fruits are harmful.

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

The benefits and harms of feijoa for pregnant women

Women are very responsible for nutrition during pregnancy. The main condition is balance, diversity and its benefits, since now there is an active growth, development of the baby, the laying of all organs.

But ... unfortunately, it is at this time that it is unimaginably drawn to various harmful things. Usually, doctors recommend to support the body, eat more fruits and vegetables, and preferably grown in the climate zone where you live. In winter, you see, it is unlikely to do this.

Feijoa is great for pregnant women, despite being exotic. What is the benefit of feijoa during pregnancy?

• Vitamins. The most important women are PP, in the company of which vitamin C is absorbed much better.
• Iron and iodine will become priceless natural substances during this period. The latter is easily digested and quickly enters the fetus. Pay attention to feijoa at the 12th week of pregnancy - the thyroid gland begins to form in the child.

Important! If you are prescribed drugs with the addition of iodine, which doctors often do during childbearing, fruit consumption should be limited, since an excess of iodine is as harmful as a deficiency.

Feijoa benefits for women

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

Beneficial effect on inflamed, acne-covered skin. It will help with, reducing the manifestation of spider veins, relieve pigmentation.

Preparation of 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 in a place where a tree grows, then leaves, flowers and bark.

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

Feijoa jam:

Everyone will like raw fruit jam: grind feijoa in a meat grinder and add sugar. Take berries and sweetness in the same amount.

Feijoa - photo

Feijoa calories

In dietary nutrition, feijoa fruit is respected for its low nutritional value - it is low. If you are concerned about being overweight and trying to lose weight, feel free to include a healthy fruit in your menu.

Feijoa calories per 100 gr. - 52 - kcal.

How to choose and eat feijoa

For timely delivery to the buyer, the collection of fruits begins in advance, not yet ripe enough. Fruits do not lose their benefits during long-term transportation. But if you chose an already ripe copy, then eat it right away, it spoils rather quickly.

The ripe fruit has a thin skin of a dark green color, the pulp is jelly-like, light pink with a slight yellowish tinge. The unripe fruit should lie down a little so that it ripens faster, put a ripe banana next to it.

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 useful properties, it would be more expedient to eat the fruit completely. Most people cut the acca in half and then scoop out the flesh with a spoon.

Add fruits to salads, use in the preparation of appetizers, sauces, sandwiches, desserts, smoothies. Read the recipe for making feijoa jam a little higher.

Harm and contraindications for use

If you want to get the maximum benefit and minimum harm from the fruit, carefully read about the contraindications to the use of feijoa.

A ripe fruit rarely causes an allergic reaction, but when trying for the first time, first try a small piece and follow the reaction of the body. This must be done without fail, especially those who know firsthand about allergies.

• Among the recommendations there is one warning: do not mix feijoa with milk and products from it - intestinal upset is guaranteed.
• Do not offer fruits to children under one year old, their body does not have enough enzymes that digest fruits.
• The fruit contains an almost record amount of iodine. Refuse to use it in case of hyperthyroidism, it will have a detrimental effect on the body.
• With diabetes, you should not completely refuse feijoa, but since it has a high sugar content, do not get carried away and eat the fruit only with the permission of a doctor.

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