Today we will talk about how feijoa is useful. Feijoa is home to America. Feijoa is grown in regions with tropical and subtropical climates including the Crimea. Feijoa I mainly buy on the market, we sell it in October-November. Feijoa fruits are harvested not yet ripe, they ripen during transportation, and without losing their useful properties. But, you should know that ripe fruits spoil very quickly. The peel of ripe fruits is dark green, the flesh is jelly-like inside, the taste of feijoa, for me, is a mixture of flavors: pineapple, kiwi, green strawberry.

The calorie content of feijoa is 52 kcal per 100 grams.

Feijoa composition: fats, carbohydrates, fiber, essential oils, glucose, iodine, potassium, zinc, sodium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium. Vitamin: C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9.

How to choose, store and eat feijoa correctly

We can buy feijoa only at the beginning of winter, I try to buy feijoa in the market, not in a supermarket or store. When buying a feijoa, ask the seller to cut the fruit for you, the flesh should be transparent.

If the pulp is white, it means that the fruit is not yet ripe, but you can buy feijoa. In a couple of days, the fruits will ripen. If the flesh of the feijoa is brown, it means that the fruit has deteriorated.

From the feijoa vendors, I learned that it is better to take larger feijoa fruits. Fruits should have a uniform dark green color.

Choose fruits carefully, buy feijoa without visible damage. And if one of the fruits has rotted at home, then it is better to throw it away. Eat only quality foods. After all, the beneficial properties of feijoa will depend on the freshness and quality of the product.

Feijoa fruits are stored in the refrigerator for about one week. In feijoa season, you can buy it at 0.5-1 kg. and eat fresh. And for the winter, prepare raw feijoa jam. This is an excellent "medicine" for strengthening health and immunity.

Feijoa pulp can be eaten with a teaspoon by cutting the fruit in half. You can eat straight with the skin, but personally, I don't like it, although it is rich in amino acids and biologically active substances. Feijoa fruits are used for making desserts, used for baking, making sauces, compote and jam.

How is feijoa useful?

Feijoa fruits are very tasty, fragrant, beneficial for our health. Fruits are very useful for weakness, seasonal vitamin deficiency. Plus, it is a source of cheerfulness, as well as a good memory.

• Feijoa is very useful for vitamin deficiency.
• It is useful to use feijoa for colds, since the fruits contain vitamin C.
• Good for the intestines, as it contains a lot of fiber.
• Feijoa contains 36 mg of iodine per 100 grams. It is simply irreplaceable with a lack of iodine in the body.
• Feijoa helps to lower blood cholesterol levels.
• Improves blood composition.
• It is useful to eat feijoa with low hemoglobin in the blood. What other foods help to increase hemoglobin in the blood can be found in my article "".
• It is useful to eat feijoa for people suffering from atherosclerosis.
• Feijoa fruits strengthen the immune system.
• Feijoa helps improve memory and focus.
• Fruits inhibit the development of cancer.

Feijoa contraindications

As a rule, allergic reactions to fruits are extremely rare. But if you have a serious illness, consult your doctor before using feijoa. To take into account for you all the beneficial properties and contraindications of feijoa.

• Feijoa is contraindicated in case of individual fruit intolerance.
• If you are allergic to feijoa fruits.
• Do not overuse fruits if you are obese.
• With diabetes mellitus.

You can also eat one fruit and see the body's reaction, if there are no unpleasant symptoms, then you can safely use the fruit. But agree that everything is good in moderation.

Feijoa treatment

Feijoa is very useful for constipation, due to the fact that the fruits contain a lot of fiber. They must be included in your diet, and you need to eat them for a long time.

Feijoa is very useful for thyroid diseases that are associated with a lack of iodine in the body. It is useful to eat 2-3 fruits a day. In terms of iodine content, feijoa fruits can only be compared with seafood.

For the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, add 1 tablespoon of feijoa juice to 50 grams of water and drink. Drink once a day.

The fruits of feijoa are useful for atherosclerosis. In case of hypertension, they need to be twisted in a meat grinder and mixed with sugar (2: 1). Store the mixture in the refrigerator and take a tablespoon 2 times a day.

Feijoa fruits are very useful for depression and stress.

Eat 3-4 fruits a day. Fruits improve memory, attention. They are a good vitamin remedy. Strengthens the immune system.

Feijoa flowers, like fruits, have medicinal properties. They are dried and then added to tea or jam. And from the fruits you can make delicious and aromatic jam.

Feijoa is a seasonal fruit, so you can save it only by making jam from it. Since the shelf life of feijoa is one week in the refrigerator. But the raw feijoa jam is very tasty and healthy.

Very tasty for tea, plus all the useful properties of feijoa are preserved in this jam. I only cook raw jam, because there is no arguing about its benefits and taste. I don't make a lot of jam. I take 1-2 kg. feijoa. Since I also have raw raspberry and black currant jam in my refrigerator. But if you have not tried such a jam yet, I highly recommend making it. I think you will not regret it.

First, you need to choose beautiful and ripe feijoa fruits. We sell them on the market in the fall. I approach the choice of fruits responsibly. I take only high quality ones.

At home, I wash them under running water. I remove the remnants of flowers. You don't need to peel off the peel. I tried to cook the jam by peeling off and not peeling off the peel. When you peel off the peel, the raw feijoa jam is more tender and tastier. But that's for my taste. In general, it is very useful to twist the feijoa with the skin, as it contains many vitamins.

I cut the fruits in half, if large, then into four parts. Then they need to be crushed. You can do this with a meat grinder, I grind using a blender. Grind the feijoa in portions in a blender and put in a bowl.

The finished chopped mixture must be mixed with sugar. The proportions are 1: 1 (that is, for 1 kg of feijoa, I add 1 kg of sugar). Therefore, if 2-3 kg of feijoa, then more sugar will be needed.

Mixing chopped feijoa and sugar, I put the raw jam in sterile jars. I usually take jars with a twist. You can leave the jam on the table in jars until the sugar dissolves. I keep raw feijoa jam in the refrigerator.

Now you know how feijoa is useful, its useful properties, its use in treatment and contraindications.

Feijoa is native to South America - Brazil (where it was first discovered), Uruguay. And its spread throughout the world began only in the twentieth century. Attempts to study the properties of Akka Sellov were made back in the USSR. However, due to the specific growing conditions, neither the plant itself, nor its fruits were widely spread in the local latitudes. Therefore, the contraindications of feijoa, along with its beneficial properties, have so far been derived only theoretically, based on the fact that medicine already knows about its composition.

What is in the composition of fruits, peels and leaves

Feijoa fruit is a tough, bitter-sour rind that contains a very sweet, jelly-like pulp with seeds. From the point of view of biological classification, this is not even a fruit, but a berry, which is why it is so juicy. In the homeland of feijoa, it is not accepted to eat its peel - only the contents, with an ordinary spoon. For some, feijoa tastes like strawberries, for others - kiwi with pineapple. Since feijoa has never received wide distribution in the national cuisine, the following should be remembered when choosing its berries.

• Peel. It should be green in feijoa (the whole range of shades - from the color of young grass to olive), elastic and shiny, without spots. But there should be a soft "filling" inside.
• Consistency. Hard flesh is a sign that the berry is still green.
• White pulp. This is a 100% sign that this is an unripe (2/3 fully ripe) fruit. This happens often in the modern world - due to the peculiarities of modern logistics and sales tactics. Because of them, fruits, especially exotic ones, are almost always eaten half-green or ripe in the warehouse.
• Translucent pulp... This is the only way a ripe feijoa should look like.
• Brownish pulp... The appearance of a strong yellow or brown tint in the feijoa pulp indicates that it is already overripe and ready to ferment.

In any case, feijoa berries are a delicious, but also a truly sweet dessert, dangerous for those suffering from diabetes, since the glucose content in them is very high - comparable to that of mango fruits. Feijoa berries grown on the sea coast are saturated with iodine, although their “land-based” “relatives” may contain three times less than the “seaside” ones.

So, from a medical point of view, this tall shrub (or a stunted tree - whichever is more convenient) is most valuable for its ability to accumulate iodine from the soil and help from its deficiency. At the same time, the benefits of feijoa in preventing diseases of the thyroid (thyroid gland) directly depends on the place of its growth, which must be checked with the seller every time when buying berries. Otherwise, the chemical composition of feijoa is similar to most berries - in particular, due to the contained in them:

• food acids - folic (vitamin B9), ascorbic (vitamin C), nicotine (vitamin B3), apple, lemon;
• vitamins - four more representatives of group B (B1, B2, B5 and B6), contained in the pulp itself, as well as vitamins E, A and some others in the composition of leaves and peel;
• macro- and microelements - iodine, sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc. Feijoa berries also contain copper, manganese, phosphorus and iron, which makes them a good (because easily digestible) alternative to the now fashionable multivitamin complexes from the pharmacy;
• vegetable fats - in the form of essential oils that give the pulp of feijoa a strawberry-pineapple aroma.

The peel of the Akka Feijoa berry also contains anthocyanins - natural coloring compounds. They give the parts of the plant in which they are contained, shades of color from scarlet to purple. Anthocyanins are powerful natural antioxidants and are used as indicated by scientific medicine and cosmetology. There are many of them in the leaves of the plant. By the way, its leaves, along with the peel, are also rich in tannins, which give them a bitter-tart taste and serve as natural antibiotics, since they are moderately poisonous.

Useful properties and contraindications of feijoa

The presence of these components in various parts of the feijoa determines its ability to alleviate the course of diseases.

• Reduce temperature... And fight other signs of a cold, since organic acids in the berries have antipyretic, anti-inflammatory properties. This also applies to vitamin C.
• Relieve joint pain... Since their antiseptic effect affects not only the sore throat, but also the course of osteochondrosis, arthrosis and arthritis (with the exception of gouty).
• Sanitize the digestive tract... With dysbiosis, indigestion of an unclear etiology, low acidity of the stomach, since all the same acids and tannins disinfect the cavity of the digestive organs during the digestion of feijoa pulp.
• Improve digestion... Due to the stimulating effect of tannins and anthocyanins on the intestines and liver along with the gallbladder.
• Lower blood pressure... Because all food acids have mild anticoagulant properties. Plus, their presence in the blood can reduce the intensity of inflammation in different parts of the vascular network (with atherosclerosis they are always present) and slightly expand the lumen of the vessel.

In addition, fruits can:

• replace seafood - if the purchased feijoa berries grew no further than 20 km from the sea coast, one can hope that their kilogram contains almost the full daily dose of iodine;
• replace multivitamins - or rather, preparations of minerals and trace elements, since a number of vitamins directly in feijoa berries are far from complete;
• prevent anemia - due to the presence of iron in a relatively well-assimilable form (in contrast to the same apples).

What ailments does it help

The medicinal properties of feijoa are relevant for kidney disease, excluding those caused by oxalate or urate stones / sand in them. Both types of stones are formed due to metabolic disorders in the body of oxalic (oxalates) or urinary (urates - a sign of gout) acids. In such cases, the exchange of other acids also suffers, although not so much. This means that taking foods rich in any substances from this series is fraught with increased kidney problems instead of solving them.

Feijoa is one of the few fruits allowed for pancreatitis (not during an exacerbation), because the B vitamins it contains can improve the condition and behavior of the pancreas.

The use of feijoa leaves for coughs, judging by the reviews, is as effective as the use of berries. Feijoa leaves and peels are rich in tannins and antioxidants. But the experience of their use in traditional medicine is not too great, and the reason for this is not only the relatively low prevalence of feijoa in our climatic zone.

On the other hand, many other plants have similar properties, including those from our latitudes. Moreover, their action is both better studied and much more pronounced. For example, most of the same anthocyanins are not found in feijoa peel, but in black currants, black grapes, red peppers, blueberries, mulberries, tomatoes. It is not its leaves that are especially rich in tannins, but the oak bark - hence their name. Therefore, most often, not preparations from leaves are used as their saturated extract, but the essential oil of feijoa - a concentrate of tannins, antioxidants and minerals, which helps well against acne and other minor skin problems.

There is an indication for the use of feijoa as an additive to the diet during pregnancy, since feijoa is rich in iodine (the mother's thyroid hormones regulate the growth rate of the fetus), and iron, without which hematopoiesis is impossible, and calcium, potassium, magnesium, which are responsible for cardiovascular development. -vascular system of the baby.

When able to harm

At the same time, food acids, like mild antibiotics and antiseptics, whose ability to reduce and even eliminate inflammation in many tissues of the body has been scientifically proven, create both the main benefits and harm of feijoa. The problem is that they all provoke acute immune reactions - hence the prevalence of allergies to fruits and berries rich in them, including citrus fruits, strawberries, currants. The main side effect of eating feijoa is also allergies. In any case, when it comes to its berries saturated with organic acids. In addition to allergies, other conditions are also contraindications to the use of feijoa.

• Diabetes . Due to the excess content of glucose in them, albeit along with fructose.
• Excess weight . Due to the high calorie content of feijoa berries. Eating fruit instead of chocolate bars, of course, has a beneficial effect on any figure, but only if there are other serious restrictions on carbohydrates. And losing weight simply by introducing feijoa into the diet is impossible.
• Complications of atherosclerosis... Starting with hypertensive crises, and further, to ischemia, heart attack and stroke. Eating feijoa berries in food normalizes blood pressure due to natural antiseptics, antioxidants and some trace elements (magnesium, potassium). But all of them can have a pronounced therapeutic effect only up to a certain point - while the heart with blood vessels is relatively healthy and there is only a slight age-related deterioration in their work. And then, due to their treatment with feijoa at home, you can only lose precious time, risking not just health, but life.
• Hyperacid gastritis... Especially if the high acidity of gastric juice is combined with an ulcer. Feijoa is a sweet and sour fruit. So the addition of a fair amount of acids from it to the one that is already in excess in the stomach will only lead to increased aching pains below the ribs (in the lower parts of the esophagus burned with acid), heartburn, and deepening of erosions, if any.
• Gout and oxalaturia... The second disease is oxalic acid intolerance.

Storage, preparation and consumption methods

On the question of how to use feijoa for therapeutic purposes, we can say that the easiest way is to eat its pulp fresh, with honey, adding a teaspoon of natural flower or buckwheat honey to the pulp of two fruits.

Feijoa has a short shelf life - only about a week on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. But as for how to prepare feijoa for the winter, then, firstly, this is not always necessary, since the first batches of its berries just arrive on the counter in November-December. Secondly, the abundance of food acids (strong natural preservatives) allows you to simply mix its pulp with sugar in equal proportions, put it in sterile jars and close it with plastic lids. That is, in the same way as black currants are closed.

Making feijoa jam is more difficult: here you need to be able to knead sugar syrup, because in case of a mistake, the jam will become a compote (there is too much liquid in the pulp of a ripe feijoa). In addition, such a recipe is less preferable, since heat treatment will destroy the lion's share of acids and other vitamins in its composition. You can also freeze feijoa, but you will have to sacrifice the most watery part of the pulp.

There is even a liqueur based on peeled and diced feijoa berries infused with 40% alcohol or cognac. Moreover, many believe in its medicinal properties, although in reality alcohol destroys the basis of the therapeutic effect of feijoa - the food acids in its composition. In other words, only some mineral compounds remain in such a liqueur, and it heals a cold only to the extent that the warming up of all body tissues caused by alcohol can help from it.

Even brewing feijoa leaves to cure something seems to be a more reasonable solution, even though they contain almost no dietary acids. In general, connoisseurs of the remedy often brew its peel, but the addition of dried feijoa leaves makes the drink more aromatic and stronger, since they smell more like myrtle than strawberries.

Tea drink

You will need:

• a teaspoon of dry feijoa leaves;
• a teaspoon of dried feijoa peel;
• natural honey;
• a glass of boiling water.

Preparation

1. Chop the leaves and skins, place them in a steaming cup and stir.
2. Pour boiling water over the raw materials, stir again and cover with a lid.
3. Let sit for fifteen minutes, then add honey to taste and stir until dissolved.

If you take a tablespoon of both ingredients for the same volume of water and brew them in a thermos, leaving for half an hour, you get a good remedy for nephritis of various etiologies, except for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones and sand). And this tea should be drunk twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, after meals, for two weeks. Then you can take a break for a week and repeat the course.

Thyroiditis paste

You will need:

• two to four feijoa berries with skin;
• a tablespoon of sugar / honey;
• a meat grinder, blender or food processor.

Preparation

1. Wash the feijoa berries, cut the stalks from the ends and pass through a meat grinder (or grind in a blender).
2. Add sugar or honey, beat thoroughly until it is completely dissolved.

You need to use the remedy according to the scheme a week of admission for a week of break, for a month, in a tablespoon, before meals, three times a day. It is not worth preparing such a paste for the future, since it will even lie in the refrigerator for no more than a week.

Pouring

You will need:

• half a liter of vodka, moonshine or brandy 40%;
• three ripe or overripe feijoa berries;
• 150 g sugar;
• 100 ml of filtered water;
• glassware with a volume of at least a liter with a tight lid.

Preparation

1. Wash the feijoa berries and peel them off. Cut the flesh into large cubes.
2. Dissolve sugar in water, put on medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the flame to low and cook for five minutes, skimming off the foam with a slotted spoon.
3. Fold the chopped berries in a clean bowl, carefully pour the sugar-water solution so that the glass does not break.
4. After the mixture has cooled, add the moonshine / vodka / cognac, shake the entire contents and close the lid.
5. Infuse the drink for two weeks in a warm and dark place, taking it out and stirring it once a day.
6. After the infusion period has expired, remove the plant components and filter the remainder through a three-fold gauze several times, until completely transparent.

The healing properties of feijoa in the composition of the resulting liqueur will be greatly narrowed in comparison with the fresh "original". In addition, it has a faint bouquet, but overall it is not bad - especially as a homemade alcoholic drink. It can be sweetened or "fortified" with alcohol of the same quality, adding the components necessary for the ideal taste after the base has been infused. Store the liqueur on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, no more than a year.

In late autumn, many exotic fruits tend to appear on supermarket shelves and markets. Feijoa is no exception.

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), its frequent use can lead to an iodine overdose.

What kind of fruit are you, feijoa?

Feijoa belongs to the species of evergreen fruit trees of the genus Akka of the Myrtle family. South America is considered its homeland, now it is successfully grown in the subtropical zone of the Caucasus and Crimea, as well as in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Mostly, it is from here that he comes to us.

Feijoa is usually harvested unripe, because at the same time, the berries are not injured during transportation and ripen perfectlyFeijoa fruit is similar in taste and smell to strawberries, kiwi and pineapple. Usually, only fully ripe soft fruits are eaten. But since in a ripe state they are easily damaged and spoiled, it is recommended to buy solid fruits and leave them in the refrigerator for a couple of days until they are fully ripe. The fruit is considered fully ripe when its pulp resembles jelly. Remember, the more ripe the feijoa, the better its beneficial properties are manifested. There is one more sign, following which, you can choose the right feijoa: check the fruit pulp, it should be transparent. If you are in the market, ask politely to cut the feijoa. In the event that the pulp is white inside, then the fruit is not ripe, if it is brown, it is spoiled.

Useful properties of feijoa

Iodine is the main wealth of feijoa. In terms of its content in the fruit, feijoa may well be compared with fish or other seafood. Unlike fish, feijoa contains very useful water-soluble iodine compounds, which are perfectly absorbed by the human body.

Also, the fruits of this tropical plant are generously filled with vitamin C, the content of sucrose, fiber and pectin in them is high. Based on these characteristics, feijoa is recommended for diseases such as atherosclerosis, pyelonephritis, housing and communal services diseases and colds. It is used as a dietary product and as an immune-boosting agent.

Feijoa peel contains a rich supply of antioxidants, but not everyone can eat it fresh - it is extremely astringent. However, the peel of feijoa can be safely dried and used, for example, as an exotic tea additive.

How to eat feijoa - practice

Ripe fruits can be consumed both fresh and used to prepare a variety of dishes. If you want to eat feijoa raw, separately, then rinse the fruit and, without removing the peel, cut it in half and use a teaspoon to select the pulp. Who is not afraid of the astringency of feijoa, you can cut the fruit into thin slices and eat it like that. In the event that feijoa is part of a dish, then, as a rule, you should carefully remove the peel. Then you should grate the feijoa or cut into small cubes - this is already how the recipe will require.

Feijoa pulp has a very pleasant, delicate strawberry-pineapple taste and aroma. At the same time, the peel tastes tart, a little knitting, but generally quite edible. Someone loves to eat feijoa whole, cutting off only the tail. Others cut the berries in half and scoop out the fragrant pulp with a spoon.

Feijoa recipes

All feijoa recipes make the dishes very original and unusual in taste.

• Feijoa goes well with vegetables and other fruits, so feel free to add it to salads from these ingredients. For example, beet salad with feijoa and walnuts. Optionally, you can add oranges here.
• Feijoa sauces add spice to meat dishes.
• This tropical fruit is delicious in desserts and baked goods, where it is used as a filling. As an option for a delicious dessert: grated feijoa flavored with sour cream.
• Fans of such a dish as chicken with prunes will definitely like chicken cooked with feijoa.
• A variety of feijoa fruit preservation is practiced.
• Cooked vitamin drinks are also good.
• The most common and simple recipe is this one: in a one-to-one ratio, finely chopped feijoa fruits are covered with sugar, and then grinded. It's delicious and good for your immune system.

• The feijoa fruit, strictly speaking, like the fruit of our beloved watermelon, is a berry.
• Feijoa peel is a good source of antioxidants, but due to its specific taste, it is often peeled before consumption. You can dry the skins and use as a flavoring for homemade tea.
• The flower petals of the feijoa shrub are also edible and have a delicate apple flavor. They can be deep-fried to create sweet chips. You can season your salad with them.
• Jam from this fruit is called Feihoy (stress on the second syllable). Although all the same "feijoa jam" - sounds more familiar to our ear.

The healing properties of plants and their beneficial effects on the human body have been known since time immemorial. The green gifts of nature were successfully used by the ancient Romans, Chinese, Greeks, Egyptians and the inhabitants of the Middle East for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, on their basis unique elixirs and anti-aging cosmetics were created.

The healing and beneficial properties of feijoa

The practice of treatment with medicinal plants has not lost its relevance today and is an alternative to synthetic medicines (especially in terms of prevention or at an early stage of the disease). The feijoa fruit has a whole range of useful properties, which makes it possible to use it in cosmetology, cooking, dietary nutrition and medicine.

Appearance and internal composition - how is feijoa useful?

The plant belongs to the Myrtle family and is an evergreen shrub that bears fruit with juicy, large, fleshy berries of yellow-green or dark green color. It is a unique natural product with a rich content of vitamins, macro and microelements, which has a pleasant taste and many other advantages. It is eaten fresh, in the form of preserves, drinks, compotes, jams, salads, preserves and all kinds of additives.

Feijoa fruits have a round or oblong-oval shape, their length ranges from 2 to 5 cm (occasionally reaches 7 cm). The diameter of the smallest berries is equal to 1.5 cm, the largest - 5 cm, but most often their diameter corresponds to 3-4 cm.The weight of the fruit depends on its size and ranges from 15 to 120 g.

White translucent pulp accumulates huge reserves of iodine compounds, essential oils (exudes a wonderful aroma and increases the body's resistance to viruses), which gives feijoa useful properties and makes it indispensable in the treatment of diseases associated with a lack of iodine and a decrease in immunity. A small amount of seeds contained in the pulp is protected from external influences by a dense skin.

In ripe fruits, the peel has a lumpy structure with a slight bloom, while in unripe berries it is smooth and shiny. The astringent taste of the peel spoils the organoleptic qualities of the product, therefore, it is recommended to remove it before eating the berries, but not to throw it away - it is very useful (it contains a large amount of antioxidants that prevent aging and the appearance of cancer cells) and is quite edible. The peel must be dried, chopped, and then added to tea (while the benefits of feijoa for the body remain unchanged).

Feijoa calories

The calorie content of the fruit is quite low and is in the range of 25 -50 kcal per 100 grams of product.

Where and how feijoa grows - harvesting

Ripe feijoa fruits deteriorate quickly enough and require special storage conditions, therefore, when harvesting, they prefer unripe fruits - so they can be delivered to their destination without loss. In the process of storage and long-term transportation, the berries gradually ripen without losing their beneficial properties.

How to choose a feijoa when buying

When choosing fruits in the market or in a store, you should pay attention to appearance berries (the peel should have a dark green color, have no visible damage and be shiny), density (ripe berries have a soft consistency) and aroma (a characteristic mixture of kiwi and strawberry aromas). The transparent flesh on the cut of the berry indicates the desired ripeness of the product and its excellent quality. Fruits with brown flesh are considered overripe, and with white flesh - not reached the desired condition (for final ripening, they must be kept in a warm place with good ventilation for several days).

Large berries (diameter 5cm, length 10cm) are considered more useful and contain the maximum amount of vitamins, sugar and trace elements - and they should be selected from the total mass.

How to store feijoa

Feijoa fruit retains its beneficial properties only if stored properly. The best storage for a small amount of berries can be the vegetable or fruit compartment of the refrigerator. The shelf life depends on the state of the berries - it is better to store very soft berries for no more than 7 days, and denser fruits can be kept in the refrigerator for two weeks.

Raw feijoa jam is an ideal way to process large quantities of berries and create fortified reserves for the winter. Its preparation does not take much time, does not require special skills and even cooking. It is enough to pass the cleanly washed berries through a meat grinder, mix with sugar (1 kg of sugar is required for 1 kg of berries) and packaged in jars. The combination of feijoa with sugar protects it from spoilage and allows you to preserve all the healthy ingredients as much as possible.

Why is feijoa useful for the body in medicine?

In feijoa fruits, beneficial properties and contraindications are decisive when using them in a given situation and you cannot do without consulting a doctor, because self-medication can lead to unpredictable consequences.

The benefits of feijoa for the body

• Lack of vitamins in the body (feijoa is a source of vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, PP, pantothenic acid and folic acid)
• ARVI (increases the protective properties of the body due to the increased content of vitamin C)
• Atonic constipation (the fiber contained in berries helps to stimulate the intestines), gastritis
• Prevention and treatment of thyroid diseases associated with iodine deficiency (the benefit of feijoa is that it contains 36 mg of iodine in terms of dry weight per 100 g of product)
• Atherosclerosis (protects blood vessels from the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, lowering cholesterol levels)
• Anemic conditions (the level of hemoglobin rises, and the quality indicators of blood improve)
• Decreased immunity (increases the body's resistance)
• Prevention of malignant neoplasms (strong antioxidant)
• Gerontological practice (prevents aging, improves memory, promotes concentration)

Contraindications and harm of feijoa

• Hypersensitivity (allergy) to feijoa
• It is recommended to use with caution in patients with diabetes mellitus and overweight people (with uncontrolled use of feijoa, the benefits and harms can be beyond a thin line from each other, and it can collapse at any time)

The healing properties of feijoa for diseases

Eating feijoa every day reduces inflammation and normalizes bowel function. Long-term intake of fruits allows you to achieve sustainable results. It is not at all necessary to consume the fruits in their natural form - the taste, delicate texture and useful properties of feijoa and recipes for new dishes allow you to create and diversify the diet.

2. Diseases of the thyroid gland (with a lack of iodine)

Feijoa in a situation of iodine deficiency is an excellent substitute for seafood and can be used to replenish it in case of intolerance. A few medium-sized fruits a day will help restore the lost balance and normalize the condition. The fragrant pulp of feijoa can be scooped up with a teaspoon after cutting the fresh fruit into two halves.

3. Prevention of diseases of the heart and blood vessels

Feijoa juice has a beneficial effect on blood vessels and heart muscle. It should be consumed no more than once a day, 1 tablespoon dissolved in 50 ml of water at room temperature.

4. Hypertension, atherosclerosis

A mixture of feijoa with sugar is a recipe that is popular in the treatment of atherosclerosis and hypertension. It is consumed 2 times a day for 1 tablespoon. The mixture contains 2 parts of fruits and 1 part of sugar, the resulting composition is stored in the refrigerator and taken out as needed.

5. Stress and depression

Depression, bad mood, internal stress disappear when 3-4 feijoa berries are included in the diet. Such a diet promotes concentration and improves the ability to remember.

6. Decreased immunity

The beneficial properties of feijoa with sugar help to increase immunity and replenish the lack of vitamins in the body in winter. The best option for this combination is feijoa jam. The dried flowers of the plant are no less useful and can be used as a vitamin supplement in the preparation of various dishes and tea.

Cosmetology and feijoa

Antioxidants that make up the fruit prevent early cell aging and have a rejuvenating effect on the skin, so cosmetologists often include feijoa in masks. Some of them can be made at home as well.

To prepare the mask, the refrigerator should contain such simple ingredients as eggs, low-fat cottage cheese, feijoa, and olive oil. The mixture is prepared immediately before application and consists of 1 tablespoon of oil, 1 yolk, 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese and a third of feijoa berries. After 20 minutes after application, the mask must be washed off.

Feijoa recipes

Feijoa dishes are varied, which makes it much easier to introduce them into any diet. With the inclusion of feijoa, recipes for salads, desserts, teas are transformed and filled with a different content and a rare taste.

Fresh feijoa fruit

The easiest way to enjoy this wonderful fruit is to eat it naturally and without any additives.

Feijoa jam without cooking - recipe for feijoa with sugar

Feijoa in the form of jam will become a favorite delicacy of a real gourmet, especially since its preparation takes place in a matter of minutes. It is enough to wash the berries, grind with a mixer and mix in equal proportions with sugar (1: 1). Only three teaspoons a day and a full range of vitamins, micro and macronutrients enters the body, protecting it from the adverse effects of the external environment.

Feijoa desserts

Feijoa fruits go well with sour cream - it is enough to chop them, mix with a fermented milk product and the dish is ready to eat.

Feijoa recipe with honey - how to cook

But feijoa with honey, the recipe can have several modifications, for example, with honey and walnuts, peanuts, hazelnuts or honey and lemon. In any case, the resulting mixture can be eaten as a separate dish or used as a pie filling, as well as added to cakes and ice cream.

Feijoa salads show useful properties for men, children, women and the elderly in various combinations - it is appropriate to add vegetables and fruits to them. It all depends on the tastes and imaginations of the cook. Feijoa is organically combined with boiled beets and walnuts, but no less elegant and bright in a fruit salad with tangerines, raisins and oranges.