Feijoa is native to South America. The fruits grow in Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Argentina, in the south of Russia, in the Crimea, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, from where they are delivered to the markets. The fruit got its name "feijoa" from the name of Joao da Silva Feijo. This naturalist from Brazil was the first to discover valuable cold-resistant (able to tolerate frost -14 degrees) tropical fruits.
Description and properties of feijoa
If we touch on the description of the feijoa fruit, then it is a large, green, fleshy, juicy berry, which has an elongated oval, spherical shape. The length of the fruit is from 2 to 7 cm, the diameter is 1.5-4 cm, the weight varies between 15-60 g. In terms of aroma and taste, feijoa is similar to strawberries, pineapple and kiwi. The flesh of the fruit is protected by a bumpy green peel.
The most valuable thing in feijoa is a large percentage of iodine content. 100 grams of pulp contains up to 40 grams of easily digestible iodine compounds. People suffering from thyroid diseases should definitely include this fruit in their diet. In addition, the beneficial properties of the feijoa fruit include a high concentration of vitamin C in the pulp. Due to this, this product simply needs to be consumed for such ailments as:
- anemia;
- hypovitaminosis;
- weak immune system;
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
An interesting fact is that beneficial features feijoa fruit is found in both the pulp and the skin. It is in the peel that a lot of pectin and various useful substances-antioxidants that prevent the development of atherosclerosis. In total, there are 93 useful elements in feijoa fruits, among which there are even amino acids with essential oils.
These delicious berries able to raise immunity and stop bacterial attacks at the initial stage.
It should also be noted harmful properties feijoa fruit and not everyone can eat these fruits. Some people are allergic to feijoa. These are isolated cases, but they exist. There is an individual intolerance to the fruit. For those who suffer from diabetes, feijoa is contraindicated because the fruit contains sugar. With obesity, you should also not abuse these berries.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should first consult a doctor before including feijoa in their diet. When planning to give a child feijoa berries for the first time, it also does not hurt to consult with a pediatrician or nurse.
How to choose feijoa fruit, cost and storage
The main thing before choosing feijoa fruits is to know that they are usually sold hard, unripe (after all, this is an imported fruit), but the most important thing is that the integrity of the fruit, the skin should not be damaged. After lying down a little, the fruits will ripen themselves, but they will not lose their useful properties. You need to buy fruits without spots and damage, with a uniform dark green skin. Inside the feijoa, the flesh should not be brown, otherwise the fruit is considered spoiled. Sellers should be asked to cut the fruit in half to assess the condition of the pulp.
How to eat feijoa or delicious recipes
Feijoa is called a convenient fruit because it can be eaten in any form. True, not everyone knows how to eat feijoa in order to get the most out of this delicious fruit. Ripe feijoa berries are delicious by themselves, ice creams are stored for up to six months without losing their beneficial properties. Dried feijoa is distinguished by both taste and aroma. Jam and jam from these fruits can boost immunity.
The most common way to eat feijoa is peeled. In salads, feijoa is peeled like potatoes and cut into slices. With hard skin, feijoa is cut into 2 parts and the pulp is scooped out with a teaspoon.
Frequent questions about what to eat with feijoa fruit, which has a sour-sweet delicate fruity taste. Feijoa can be combined with fish dishes, poultry meat. Feijoa berries will give a low-fat baked veal spicy taste. In salads, feijoa is best combined with spinach, arugula, nuts.
Feijoa jam recipes
The most valuable is “live” jam. Prepare it like this:
- The fruits are washed, dried on a paper towel;
- Cut off the tails, cut each feijoa into 2 or 4 parts;
- The fruits are crushed with a blender or meat grinder;
- Chopped feijoas are mixed with sugar (proportion 1:1);
- Pour the mixture into sterilized jars and store in the refrigerator.
Raw feijoa and apple jam
This type of jam will require 1 kg of apples, feijoa and sugar. You also need 1 lemon.
- peel apples from seeds and cut;
- remove the stalks and cut into large pieces;
- cut the lemon into several parts, removing the seeds;
- grind in a meat grinder and mix with sugar and lemon.
Feijoa is exactly the fruit that appears in the stores of our country only in early October. The sale of this product ends in December. At the same time, many do not even know how to eat feijoa correctly, what can be cooked from it, and what useful qualities it has. Let's figure it out.
Where does this fruit grow?
Initially, an evergreen plant called feijoa appeared in Argentina. Uruguay, Brazil, it is in the subtropics of distant South America. For the first time about this tree in Europe learned only at the end of the 19th century. The plant got its name from the discoverer of the botanist - Joanie da Silvo Feijo. Now this tree is grown in the Crimea, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and the Krasnodar Territory. But large feijoa plantations can only be found in New Zealand. For a long time, this plant was considered decorative. A delightfully tree with silvery leaves spread very quickly in almost all subtropical zones. But in the tropics, the plant did not take root at all. Gradually, the popularity of this tree has increased. But despite this, many still do not know what feijoa is. The beneficial properties of this plant have long been proven.
Useful properties of feijoa
So, what is the use of feijoa. It is worth noting that this fruit contains a huge amount of iodine. According to the content of this trace element, feijoa can only be compared with seafood. Why does the body need iodine? This microelement improves memory and speeds up thought processes. When there is enough iodine in our body, we feel great. We are cheerful and full of energy. If there is a decrease in the amount of an element in our body, we feel severe weakness and get tired very quickly.
In addition, the feijoa fruit contains about 93 substances useful for humans. This fruit is a real piggy bank of vitamins. Feijoa contains fiber, essential sugar, malic acid, macro- and microelements.
The fruits of this plant are recommended for use in diseases of the thyroid gland. Feijoa fruit, the beneficial properties of which have been known for a long time, can be used for pyelonephritis, gastritis, beriberi, as well as in the presence of inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the fruits of the evergreen tree can reduce pressure, calm the heart. Feijoa essential oil helps to eliminate skin problems. This substance has anti-inflammatory properties.
Where can you use feijoa
As for the smell and taste of this fruit, they resemble a combination of pineapple, kiwi and strawberries. Now imagine how many different dishes can be made with such a unique component. Feijoa fruit is used to prepare various sauces, salads, desserts, compotes, jams and marmalades.
It is worth noting that these fruits go well with seafood. Especially with noble varieties of fish, for example, with sea bass or black cod. They can be stuffed with feijoa or served with fruit with these products as a side dish.
These fruits give a spicy and unique taste to poultry and pork meat. Very often, a side dish with feijoa is made in combination with various vegetables: zucchini, Brussels sprouts, carrots. However, the fruit itself should not be processed, as the boiled fruits become softer.
How to choose the right feijoa
So, what is useful feijoa, you already know. Now you need to understand how to choose the right fruits. When choosing this fruit, you should pay special attention to the color of the pulp. Of course, the feijoa needs to be cut. If the flesh of the fruit is transparent, then it is ripe. Do not buy brown fruits. This indicates that the feijoa has begun to spoil. If the flesh inside turns out to be opaque and white, then the fruit is not ripe.
It is also worth remembering that the fruit retains its useful qualities only during the week. Therefore, you should not buy feijoa, the beneficial properties of which have long been known, with a margin. It is better to immediately cook something tasty from the fruits. It should be noted that the fruit this plant not only allow you to diversify your menu, but also become a table decoration.
Feijoa: how to eat
This fruit can be eaten raw. It is worth noting that not only the pulp, but also the peel is suitable for food. Of course, it is not as tasty, but it has much more benefits. To eat the pulp, you need to cut the fruit and carefully cut it out with a spoon. However, it is better to cook various feijoa dishes. At the same time, vitamins are almost completely preserved. What can be cooked?
raw jam
So, feijoa, how is it eaten and in what form? For starters, you can try the jam from this fruit. The fruits should be crushed to a mushy state. This can be done with a blender or a meat grinder. In this case, the peel should not be removed, as it contains a huge amount of vitamins. The resulting mass must be mixed with sugar. It will turn out just amazing jam without cooking. For 1 kilogram of feijoa, 1 kilogram of sugar is needed. When the jam is ready, you can arrange it in jars, previously sterilized. It is better to store the finished product in the refrigerator. You can also add crushed hazelnuts or walnuts to the mixture.
How to make real jam
Feijoa, whose beneficial properties are known to many, can be eaten in the form of jam. To prepare it, you need water, grated ginger, fruits and sugar, the amount of which should be 25% of all fruits. All components should be placed in a refractory container and put on fire. But best for water bath. The delicacy should be cooked for 6 hours. In this case, you need to remove the foam and stir regularly. Do not immediately add grated ginger. It is better to do this at the end of cooking. It is worth noting that such an extraordinary combination will make the jam more delicious. The finished delicacy should be wiped through a sieve. This will separate the ginger fibers and feijoa seeds from the jam.
Feijoa with beets
To prepare this simple salad you will need:
- Beet medium size.
- From 100 to 200 grams of feijoa.
- Walnuts.
- Salt.
- Vegetable oil.
Fruit must be peeled and then finely chopped. It is better to boil the beets and grind them on a coarse grater. Peel and crush nuts. Mix all the ingredients in one container, lightly salt and season with vegetable oil. It is worth considering that the calorie content of feijoa is very small. Therefore, the dish is perfect for those who follow their forms. In addition, boiled beets help cleanse the body. Such a diet salad contains a lot of vitamins and fiber.
Pork special
To prepare this dish you will need:
- Pork.
- Feijoa.
- Lime.
- Vegetable oil.
- Salt.
- Cashew nuts.
- Paprika.
- Mix of lettuce leaves.
- Low-fat yogurt or mayonnaise.
- Red wine
The meat must be washed, dried with a paper towel, and then cut into small and thin slices. Lime and feijoa also need to be thoroughly washed and chopped. Fruit is best cut into thin rings. Onions should be peeled and cut into strips. After that, you need to put a frying pan on the fire, pour a little vegetable oil and warm up well. In the heated fat, it is necessary to lower the pork slices and fry them on all sides. After that, put fruits and onions in the pan. You need to fry everything for another three minutes.
In almost ready meals add some red wine soy sauce and add chopped cashews. All components must be thoroughly mixed and removed from heat. Mix from perfect different varieties should be combined with low-fat yogurt or mayonnaise. An extraordinary dish is ready.
Cranberry and feijoa tincture
The calorie content of feijoa is very small, so this fruit can be used to prepare not only tasty, but also dietary dishes and drinks. To prepare cranberry tincture you will need:
Berries should be washed and crushed. Peel the feijoa and chop as desired. After that, you can prepare sugar syrup. To do this, pour 75 milliliters of water into a refractory container and dissolve sugar in it. Put the saucepan on the fire and bring to a boil. Pounded berries and chopped fruits should be transferred to a container with a volume of 700 milliliters. You also need to add sugar syrup. The remaining volume should be filled with water. Then everything needs to be mixed well. The container should be tightly closed and put in a dark place. The tincture will be ready in 7 days.
Finally
Feijoa is a real storehouse of nutrients. You can eat fruit not only in its raw form. Feijoa is great for cooking various salads, sweets and even meat. This product has a simply amazing taste, which makes any dish simply unique.
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 nervous system. A low calorie will please mothers who are worried about how to lose weight after childbirth - 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 treat 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 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.
- Availability 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. This 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 thing to do is cook 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, you can simply serve feijoas as fresh fruit dessert without additions 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 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 prepared fruit 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.
For a fresher, more radiant eye area, as well as smoothing the area and reducing eye bags, simply apply fresh feijoa skin for 15 to 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 stale in your home began 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, fruit salad is delicious and healthy to season fresh. natural yogurt, and make the sauce 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 it all 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 lighting. 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.
A fruit like feijoa is not often found on store shelves, because it is a rather rare and exotic product.
His appearance feijoa resembles a large green nut. To taste, this fruit can be compared with ripe strawberries.
Is there any benefit in its use and what is the calorie content of feijoa?
Feijoa benefits
In fact, it is difficult to overestimate the health benefits of this product. After all, it contains a huge amount of vitamins and minerals that are necessary for the human body.
How useful is feijoa for the body? By eating just a few fruits, a person receives a daily dose of zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, iodine and other elements that are needed for the normal functioning of almost all organ systems.
The beneficial properties of feijoa are noted by specialists from various fields of activity: doctors, nutritionists, cooks, pharmacists, cosmetologists, etc.
- A well-known fact is that this fruit is a powerful antioxidant, which means that its use prevents the development of cancer;
- Feijoa is an anti-inflammatory substance, all thanks to vitamin C, which contains the fruit;
- From the frequent intake of this fruit, immunity increases;
- Eating fruits will be an excellent prevention of a number of diseases.
No wonder some called him a little green bomb. The feijoa season starts from mid-autumn and lasts until the end of January. The best time to purchase it is mid-November.
What are the benefits of feijoa for women? The antioxidants mentioned above are involved in the process of slowing down aging. And for every lady it is extremely important to look young and beautiful.
The second point is that the pulp of the fruit is perfect as a mask for skin and hair. Moreover, it does not matter what type of skin. Feijoa is a versatile fruit that suits dry, oily and combination skin. The difference is in the recipes. For example, to prepare a feijoa mask for oily skin, you need to add alcohol to the pulp of the fruit and lemon juice. If the skin is dry, cottage cheese and egg yolk are added.
As a rejuvenating mask, feijoa pulp is added oat flakes, almond or olive oil, after which the mixture is infused in a decoction of chamomile.
This fruit is also a cure for hair breakage and is often used to restore hair. To do this, the feijoa pulp should be well kneaded and applied to the scalp, after which, wrap your head in warmth. The mask should be kept for at least half an hour, after which it must be washed off by massaging the scalp.
But perhaps the biggest benefit of feijoa for women is dietary properties fruit. No wonder many nutritionists recommend that those who want to lose weight eat feijoa more often. It contains a lot of fiber, which is responsible for the absorption of food by the body.
Yes, besides, feijoa contains a small amount of calories.
Feijoa as a source of iodine
For normal life, iodine is necessary for every person, because it is responsible for vigor, strength, intellectual potential, memory and other important things. A person with a low iodine content will feel weak, unwell, and lethargic.
Feijoa is not just rich in iodine, it is responsible for the preservation of iodine in the body and promotes its absorption.
This fruit is especially useful for pregnant women. By introducing feijoa into your diet, the expectant mother enriches her child with a large supply of vitamins and iodine. And iodine is extremely useful for the development of the intellect and the whole body of the child.
As mentioned above, this product is considered low-calorie. A medium-sized feijoa has about fifty calories.
In addition to calories, fats, proteins and carbohydrates, the product contains: fiber, sucrose, iodine and many amino acids.
Contraindications
Despite the fact that feijoa is very useful fruit, in its use there are contraindications:
- Feijoa is a powerful allergen. People with allergies should use this fruit with great care. It is recommended to start with a small piece and if there is no side effects, then the fruit can be eaten, but in small quantities;
- You should not eat fruits with milk, but you can with yogurt and cottage cheese;
- An unripe feijoa fruit can cause food poisoning.
There are a number of diseases in which it is not recommended to eat feijoa:
- Diabetes;
- Hypertension;
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Obesity.
Feijoa for weight loss
Now you know how feijoa is useful for the body. And this fruit is great for eating during the diet. Nutritionists insist that 400 grams of feijoa can do just fine to replace a full dinner.
For those who wish to introduce this low-calorie product into their diet, it will be useful to know about diet meals that can be cooked using feijoa:
- Jam with low sugar content;
- Feijoa sauce;
- Beet salad with feijoa;
- Salad from boiled meat and feijoa;
- Feijoa chicken.
How to eat feijoa
You need to choose only ripe fruits of the fruit. The bright green color of the peel and the transparent color of the pulp are responsible for the “ripeness”. If the fruit has a brownish color, then it is already overripe.
Also, the ripe fruit should not be too hard, but only slightly soft.
How to eat feijoa, with or without peel? Most often, the peel is removed from the feijoa and only then eaten, but this may not be done. The peel not only has a pleasant tart taste, but is also extremely useful.
Fruits can be frozen for the winter, they retain their beneficial properties even when frozen.
Feijoa can be cooked in many ways various dishes(not only low-calorie ones). For example, jam, confiture, jam. Fruits can decorate pastries or stuff them with meat for baking.
Despite the rarity of feijoa, it is definitely worth finding and trying it, because this overseas fruit has great benefits for both health and beauty.
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Feijoa is an evergreen large shrub of the family Myrtle, another name sounds like pineapple guava. The fruits are named after the Portuguese Silva Feijo (Feijo), who is credited with discovering the plant in Brazil in the second half of the 19th century.
Feijoa grows everywhere in a subtropical climate, perfectly adapted in the Transcaucasus, the Krasnodar Territory and Central Asia.
Feijoa fruits are mistakenly classified as fruits; in fact, they are a large juicy berry with a dense skin of dark green or yellowish color. The skin surface is smooth and bumpy. Inside, the ripe feijoa fruit is transparent, light beige in color, with several seeds that form a flower pattern in a cross section. The taste of feijoa is similar to, and, with the same bright aroma.
Feijoa calories
Feijoa has 49 calories per 100 grams of product.
Feijoa contains dietary fiber that has a beneficial effect on intestinal motility and is the prevention of constipation. The main useful component of feijoa is, the amount of which in fruits can be compared even with recognized leaders in iodine content (calorizator). Two feijoa fruits eaten during the day cover daily allowance an element necessary for the maintenance of thyroid function.
Feijoa harm
In rare cases, individual intolerance to the product has been noted; feijoa should also be used with caution in large quantities for those who have an increased acidity of the stomach.
It is most useful to use feijoa in its raw form, but the fruits are very tender and darken quickly when cut. Feijoa is used in salads, as an additive to cottage cheese, yogurt, cereals, stuffing for shortbread pies. Jam, compotes are cooked from fruits, feijoa is added to meat dishes for spice.
Selection and storage of feijoa
When buying feijoa fruits, you should make sure that each berry is intact, that there are no dark spots or damage. Dense feijoas are not quite ripe, but they may well ripen at room temperature. Ripe feijoa fruit is soft, but not liquid, the skin should be whole.
