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

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

Useful properties of feijoa.

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

2. Feijoa fruits are rich in vitamins:

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

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

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

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

How to choose feijoa.

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

The use of feijoa in nutrition.

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

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

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

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

Contraindications to the use of feijoa.

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

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

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

To prevent the lack of nutrients in the body, it is recommended to include foods saturated with them in your menu. Feijoa fruits have valuable properties for women's health. They contain many vitamins and minerals that are necessary for the full functioning of the woman's body.

Description and vitamin and mineral composition

It is a large fleshy berry. The fruit can be either round or slightly elongated. Its size varies from 2 to 5 cm, and its weight is up to 60 g. The fruit has a bumpy peel, which can be from light green to dark green in tone. The pulp is surrounded by a translucent white pulp, and inside are the seeds.

vitamins

The fruit is very rich in vitamins. It contains:

• (thiamine) - 8 mcg;
• (riboflavin) - 32 mcg;
• (niacin) - 0.29 mg;
• (pantothenic acid) - 0.23 mcg;
• (pyridoxine) - 0.05 mg;
• (folic acid) - 38 mcg;
• (ascorbic acid) - 20.3 mg.

Did you know? This plant was named after Joanie de Silva Feijo, who was its promoter and director of the Natural History Museum of Brazil.

Minerals

Of the macronutrients in feijoa contains:

• - 155 mg;
• - 17 mg;
• - 9 mg;
• - 3 mg;
• - 20 mg.

• - 80 mcg;
• - 70 mcg;
• - 85 mcg;
• - 55 mcg;
• - 40 mcg.

Calorie content and nutritional value of the product

100 g of fruit contains:

• water - 86 g;
• proteins - 1 g;
• fat - 0.8 g;
• carbohydrates - 10 g;
• ash - 0.74 g.

What is useful feijoa

Due to its rich composition, the berry in question has a positive effect on the female body:

• treats and prevents diseases of the endocrine system;
• quickly copes with beriberi;
• improves immunity;
• helps to quickly recover after surgery or an illness;
• normalizes the work of the digestive tract due to the fiber contained in the composition;
• increases the level of hemoglobin;
• fights fungal and pathogenic cells;
• improves metabolism, improves blood circulation;
• favorably affects the functioning of the nervous system, normalizes pressure;
• thanks to the antioxidants in the composition of feijoa, the process of aging and cell destruction slows down;
• relieves pain during menstruation;
• fruit masks improve skin condition, relieve acne and pigmentation.

Is it possible

Women during pregnancy and lactation are very attentive to their diet, as this affects both the development of the child and the well-being of the mother.

During pregnancy

You can eat feijoa while carrying a baby.
Consider the benefits of using it:

1. The berry contains a lot of iodine, which is important for the proper development of the fetus.
2. Pregnant women often experience constipation. Feijoa will help to cope with this problem and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Folic acid contained in the berry has a positive effect on the health of the expectant mother and contributes to the proper development of the fetus.
4. Thanks to the iron in the composition of the berry, the risk of developing anemia is reduced.

When breastfeeding

When feeding a baby, a woman is allowed to eat the fetus in question when the child reaches 3 months of age. If you start using it earlier, then the development of an allergy in the baby is possible.

Important! Feijoa should be introduced into the menu of a nursing mother gradually, starting with the fourth part of the berry.

After use, you need to pay attention to the reaction of the baby: if a rash or loose stools appear, then it is worthwhile to postpone the introduction of a new product for a while. And if there were no negative reactions, then the next day, mom can increase the dose to half a berry.

The benefits of feijoa for those who want to lose weight

The considered fruit helps to lose weight. Consider its dietary properties:

• 100 g of berries contain only 49 kcal and 17% of the daily fiber requirement. This combination saturates well and reduces the total number of calories consumed per day;
• thanks to vegetable fibers, blood sugar control improves and food is absorbed more slowly - this helps prevent a large release of insulin after eating (high insulin levels in the body leads to rapid formation of body fat);
• the berry supports beneficial intestinal microflora, which is of great importance for normal weight;
• feijoa has a low fructose content (2.95 g per 100 g of the product). A person who is losing weight can eat 15 g of fructose per day, which is equivalent to 0.5 kg of feijoa.

Cosmetic properties: homemade feijoa masks

This fruit is useful not only for internal health, but will help a woman always remain beautiful on the outside. Consider feijoa mask recipes that are easy to make on your own.

Anti-aging

In order to make such a mask, you need to turn the berry into a puree. Then 2 tablespoons of puree are taken, 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and the same amount of honey are added. All ingredients are well mixed. The mixture is applied to the skin of the face for a quarter of an hour. After that, the mask is washed off with water at room temperature.

For dry skin

For this mask, mix 1 tbsp. l. green berry puree with the same volume of soft curd. Cream is added to the mixture to make a creamy mass. The mask is applied for 15 minutes, washed off first with warm water, and then with cool water.

Universal

To prepare such a mask, you need 2 tbsp. l. mix berry puree with 1 egg white and 1 tsp. honey. The resulting mass is applied to the face for a quarter of an hour and washed off with cool water.

For oily skin

You can prepare this remedy by mixing 2 tbsp. l. feijoa puree, potato starch and 2 drops of lemon juice. Apply the resulting mass on the face for 15 minutes and rinse with water at room temperature.

The use of medicinal properties

Feijoa for hypertension and atherosclerosis. The berries are passed through a meat grinder and mixed with sugar in a ratio of 2:1. You need to apply 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day before meals. This product should be stored in a glass container in the refrigerator.

To normalize pressure. Berries should be crushed and mixed with sugar in equal parts. Take a sweet medicine should be in the morning and evening for 30 g.

With diseases of the cardiovascular system. 1 st. l. feijoa juice is mixed in 100 ml of water and taken 1 time per day.

Women, feijoa, cooking, or how to make feijoa jam

Any hostess can prepare healthy feijoa jam, as this recipe is very simple and will not take much time.

Required Ingredients

For jam you will need:

• feijoa - 1 kg;
• sugar - 1 kg.

Step by step cooking process

To begin with, the edges are removed from the fruit. And then the berry will need to be ground in a meat grinder. If dimensions allow, then the fruit can be placed whole. Well, if the meat grinder is small, feijoa should be cut in half.

Did you know? It is believed that the first jam began to cook in ancient Greece. They boiled quince with honey, achieving a viscous consistency of the mixture.

Feijoa jam is ready. It must be poured into jars and closed with lids. Store such a useful sweetness in the refrigerator or in any other cool place. This is the so-called "cold brewing" method.

Is it possible to eat feijoa skin

Feijoa peel can be eaten. It contains a large amount of catechins and leukoanthocyanins, which block the development of cancer cells. If you regularly eat the skin, then the risk of oncology is significantly reduced.

The skin contains phenols, which have an antibacterial effect. It is often used to prepare disinfectant decoctions and infusions that help with stomatitis and inflammation of the gums. Also, small wounds and scratches are washed with these products.

The shell of the berry contains a lot of fiber. Therefore, if you eat the fruit along with the peel, the intestines will work better.

Storage rules

Feijoa is not stored for a long time - 7-10 days from the date of collection. Berries should be stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of +2 ... +6 ° C, putting them in a paper bag or in a plastic ventilated container.

Important!Feijoa cannot be stored in a tightly closed plastic bag - the berries will quickly deteriorate. To increase the shelf life, it is recommended to make ventilation holes in the bag.

If the fruits are immature, they should be laid out in a single layer on a newspaper and left in a dry place where direct sunlight does not fall. The temperature should not exceed 23 °C. After the berries are ripe, they are put in the refrigerator.

Feijoa can be frozen. To do this, the fruits are placed in containers or bags for freezing and sent to the freezer. As needed, the berries are taken out. This storage method allows you to save almost all the useful properties of feijoa.

Possible harm and contraindications

It is not recommended to eat the fruits in question for people who are hypersensitive to iodine or suffer from thyrotoxicosis. You can not use the berry in large quantities - this leads to allergies, rashes, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, deterioration of metabolism.

In case of an overdose, a sharp decrease in body temperature is observed, the pulse quickens, anxiety, loss of strength, and nervous breakdowns appear.

No less useful

In addition to feijoa, there are some more exotic fruits that bring many benefits to the female body.

Orange contains folic acid, which is beneficial for pregnant women. Antioxidants, which are part of citrus, protect the skin from the early appearance of wrinkles, which allows you to maintain female youth for a long time.

Like its other "relatives" contains folic acid, which is important for women's health. Lime juice helps to cope with diseases of the genitourinary system of a woman.

The female body is more likely than the male body to undergo varicose veins. Lime will help in this situation if you apply pieces of citrus to the diseased area at an early stage.

It is indispensable for pregnant women, due to the presence of folic acid in it, which favorably affects the development of the baby in the womb. It is also able to regulate the menstrual cycle.

Guava is an antidepressant: if you regularly use the fruit, it will improve the functioning of the nervous system and relieve stress and neuroses.

Feijoa has many beneficial properties and has a positive effect on women's health. When using it, do not forget about the measure to avoid negative consequences and harmful effects.

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

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

The modern habitat of cultivated species of Feijoa:

• Azerbaijan, Sicily, New Zealand, Abkhazia.

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

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

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

100 g of ripe fruits contains:

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

Everything else falls on minerals and vitamins:

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

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

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

Feijoa contains 5 essential amino acids:

• tyrosine, asparagine, alanine, arginine, glutamine.

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

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

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

Benefit for health

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feijoa does not cause allergic reactions.

The benefits of feijoa in cosmetology

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

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

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

Required components:

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

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

How to eat feijoa

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

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

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

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

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

How to store

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

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

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

Medicinal use

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

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

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

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

Sweet tooth should like medicinal feijoa jam:

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

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

Harm and possible contraindications

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feijoa is not 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.