Feijoa: useful properties and contraindications, delicious recipes, how to choose and store. Feijoa - useful properties and contraindications. The composition and medicinal properties of jam or juice from feijoa

Feijoa is native to South America - Brazil (where it was first discovered), Uruguay. And its distribution around the world began only in the twentieth century. Attempts to study the properties of Akka Sellova were made back in the USSR. However, due to the specific growing conditions, neither the plant itself nor its fruits have become widespread in these 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, peel and leaves

The feijoa fruit is a tough, bitter-sour rind that encloses 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, eating its peel is not accepted - only the contents, with an ordinary spoon. For some, the taste of feijoa resembles strawberries, for others - kiwi with pineapple. Since widespread in national cuisine feijoa never received, when choosing its berries, you need to remember the following.

• 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 inside there should be a soft “filling”.
• Consistency. Firm flesh is a sign that the berry is still green.
• White pulp. This is a 100% sign that this is an unripe (2/3 ripe) fruit. This happens often in the modern world - because of the peculiarities of modern logistics and sales tactics. Because of them, fruits, especially exotic ones, we almost always eat half-green or ripened in a warehouse.
• translucent pulp. This is how a ripe feijoa should look like.
• brownish flesh. The appearance of a strong yellow or brown hue in the pulp of a feijoa 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 diabetics, because their glucose content is very high - comparable to mangoes. Feijoa berries grown on the sea coast are saturated with iodine, although their "land" "relatives" may contain three times less than "seaside" ones.

So, from a medical point of view, this tall shrub (or stunted tree - whichever suits you) is most valuable for its ability to accumulate iodine from the soil and help with its deficiency. At the same time, the benefits of feijoa in preventing diseases of the thyroid gland (thyroid gland) directly depend on the place of its growth, which must be checked with the seller each time when buying berries. The rest of the chemical composition of feijoa is similar to most berries - in particular, due to the content they contain:

• food acids- folic (vitamin B9), ascorbic (vitamin C), nicotinic (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 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, giving the feijoa pulp a strawberry-pineapple flavor.

The rind of Akka Feijoa berries 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 feijoa determines its ability to alleviate the course of diseases.

• lower the temperature. And fight other signs of a cold, since the 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 dysbacteriosis, indigestion of unclear etiology, low acidity of the stomach, since all the same acids and tannins disinfect the cavity of the digestive organs when digesting feijoa pulp.
• improve digestion. Due to the stimulating effect of tannins and anthocyanins on the intestines and liver along with the gallbladder.
• reduce arterial pressure . Because all food acids have the properties of mild anticoagulants. Plus, their presence in the blood allows you to reduce the intensity of inflammation in different parts of the vascular network (with atherosclerosis, they are always available) and slightly expand the lumen of the vessel.

In addition, the 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 directly vitamins in feijoa berries are far from complete;
• prevent anemia- due to the presence of iron in a relatively well-absorbed form (unlike the same apples).

What ailments does it help?

The medicinal properties of feijoa are appropriate for kidney diseases, 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 metabolism of other acids also suffers, although not so much. This means that taking foods rich in any of the substances from this series is fraught with increased kidney problems instead of solving them.

Feijoa is one of the few fruits that are allowed to be taken with 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 cough, judging by the reviews, is as effective as the use of berries. Feijoa leaves and peel are rich in tannins and antioxidants. But the experience of using them in folk medicine not too large, and the reason for this is not only the relatively low prevalence of feijoa in our climate zone.

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

There is an indication for the use of feijoa as a supplement to the diet during pregnancy, since feijoa is rich in both 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 the development of the heart. - the vascular system of the baby.

When it can hurt

At the same time, food acids, as mild antibiotics and antiseptics, whose ability to reduce and even eliminate inflammation in many tissues of the body have been scientifically proven, create both the main benefit and harm of feijoa. The problem is that they all provoke acute immune reactions - hence the prevalence of allergies to fruits rich in them with berries, including citrus fruits, strawberries, and currants. Main side effect from the use of feijoa is also an allergy. In any case, if we are talking about its berries saturated with organic acids. In addition to allergies, other conditions are contraindications to the use of feijoa.

• Diabetes . Due to the excess content of glucose in them, albeit along with fructose.
• Excess weight . Because of high calorie feijoa berries. Eating fruit instead chocolate bars, of course, favorably affects any figure, but only under the condition of 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. The use of 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 and blood vessels are 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 adding a fair portion of acids from it to the one that is already in excess in the stomach will only lead to increased aching pain from below under the ribs (in the lower parts of the esophagus burned with acid), heartburn, deepening erosions, if any.
• Gout and oxalaturia. The second disease is oxalic acid intolerance.

Methods of storage, preparation and use

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

Feijoas have 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) even allows you to simply mix its pulp with sugar in equal proportions, arrange it in sterile jars and close it with plastic lids. That is, in the same way as blackcurrants are closed.

Making jam from feijoa is more difficult: here you need to be able to knead sugar syrup, because in case of an error, the jam will become 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 the most watery part of the pulp will have to be sacrificed.

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 - food acids in its composition. In other words, only some mineral compounds remain in such a liquor, and it treats a cold only to the extent that the heating of all body tissues caused by alcohol can help from it.

Even brewing tea from feijoa leaves to treat something seems like a smarter solution, even though they contain almost no food 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 dried feijoa leaves;
• a teaspoon of dried peel of feijoa berries;
• natural honey;
• a glass of boiling water.

Cooking

1. Grind the leaves and skin, put them in a brewing cup and stir.
2. Pour the raw material with boiling water, mix again and cover with a lid.
3. Leave for fifteen minutes, then add honey to taste and stir it until completely 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 good remedy from nephritis of various etiologies, except for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones and sand). And this tea should be drunk twice a day, morning and evening, after meals, for two weeks. Then you can take a week break and repeat the course.

Paste from thyroiditis

You will need:

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

Cooking

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

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

Livka

You will need:

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

Cooking

1. Wash the feijoa berries and cut off the skin from them. Cut the pulp into large cubes.
2. Dissolve sugar in water, place over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce flame to low and simmer for five minutes, skimming off foam with a slotted spoon.
3. Fold the chopped berries in a clean bowl, carefully pour the sugar solution in water so that the glass does not burst.
4. After the mixture has cooled, add moonshine / vodka / cognac, shake all the 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. At the end of the infusion time, remove the plant components and filter the residue through three-fold gauze several times, until completely transparent.

The medicinal properties of feijoa in the composition of the resulting liqueur will be greatly narrowed compared to the fresh "original". In addition, it has a weak bouquet, but in general it is not bad - especially as a homemade alcoholic drink. It can be sweetened or “reinforced” with another 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.

Initially, feijoa was used in landscape design, park areas were decorated with evergreen flowering shrubs. Today it exotic plant with amazing tasting fruits.

Feijoa is gaining popularity not so much because of the taste, but because of the benefits. Compilation amazing facts will allow you to take a fresh look at this tropical fruit.

According to the classification, they belong to the family of myrtle plants. The height of the shrubs reaches 3 meters. It looks especially beautiful during the flowering period. Feijoa blooms with bright crimson inflorescences with white and pink splashes.

The leaves are dense, dark green. The fruits look like unripe walnuts. Inside the berries are juicy pulp. It tastes like sweetness of strawberries and tartness of kiwi.

The amazing properties of the shrub allow it to be evergreen. The plant tolerates frosts down to -14°C. The crop has the ability to not deteriorate for a long time. Well transported.

Feijoa grows in Russia - in the Crimea, Krasnodar, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine

Due to insufficient information, the overseas fruit has not found wide application in our country. Those who are familiar with feijoa, eat fruits in their raw form, prepare jams and preserves. You can buy feijoa in the markets and large supermarkets.

Thanks to the work of breeders, the tropical plant has become widespread in Russia - in the Crimea, Krasnodar, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine.

Depending on growing conditions, there are small, medium, large fruits. They eat whole fruits or scrape out the pulp with a spoon.

Because of its composition, tropical culture is used to treat a number of diseases. Especially appreciated medicinal properties fruits during beriberi for a weakened organism.

How to choose feijoa:

The benefits of fruit, useful and medicinal properties of fruits and leaves

The chemical composition of feijoa indicates its benefits. This fruit can rightly be called not only the "miracle of the tropics", but also a panacea for many problems.

Among Europeans, berries gained popularity at a time when they found a high concentration of iodine.

Growing feijoa in a pot does not guarantee a rich content of iodine, it is abundant only in fruits growing on the coast. Benefit:

• feijoa has a high content of nutrients, vitamins C, P and B;
• present in fruits with anti-inflammatory effect essential oils;
• feijoa extracts and oils are widely used in dermatology and cosmetology;
• contain iron, zinc, manganese, copper, organic iodine compounds;
• in value, the fruits are equated to iodine-containing seafood;
• essential oils promote rejuvenation;
• juice and pulp help fight rosacea, after using masks, capillary nets on the face disappear;
• in depressive disorders, fruit seeds are used;
• tea is prepared from the leaves, useful for the body.

Calorie content is only 49-50 kcal per 100 grams of product.

The tart taste of feijoa is not accidental, it is associated with the content of antioxidants. They are considered a valuable product for the prevention of cancer.

Endocrinologists agreed that tropical berries are needed for the thyroid gland.

With regular use, by lowering cholesterol levels, an improvement in blood composition is observed. Due to the content of phenolic compounds in the skin, they are taken to stimulate metabolic processes in the digestive organs.

The benefits of feijoa for men are priceless. Urologists recommend using for problems with the prostate.

Women will be able, thanks to an exotic fruit, to maintain their figure and youth. Replacing confectionery feijoa, you can throw off those extra pounds.

Important: 100 grams of feijoa account for 0.5 mg of iodine compounds that are rapidly soluble for the body.

What is useful feijoa berry:

Harm and contraindications for use

Ripe feijoas have a positive effect on the body, in unripe fruits adversely affect the digestive system. They can even cause poisoning.

If unripe fruits are bought, it is better to put them to ripen at room temperature.

A tropical plant is contraindicated:

• direct contraindication - with an excess of iodine in the body;
• use with caution in diabetes;
• it is not recommended to mix with milk (may cause indigestion);
• due to poor digestibility, do not give feijoa to children under one year of age;
• Pregnant and lactating mothers should use minimal amounts.

A large number of fruits eaten can be harmful - cause nervous excitability, anxiety.

Do not forget that overseas fruits can contribute to allergic reactions. Start your acquaintance with the fruits in small portions.

Important information: to avoid consequences, be careful when feeding feijoa to children.

Use during pregnancy and lactation

The richest natural source of nutrients for pregnant and lactating women is recommended with caution. In order not to cause side effects due to excess iodine, you should not overdo it with their use.

Regarding the exotic fruit, the opinion of experts was divided, some recommend them during pregnancy, others associate them with risks. In everything you need to know the measure.

Feijoa is especially useful at the 12th week of pregnancy, during this period the thyroid gland of the child develops.

It is difficult to predict how the pregnant body will behave if you try the berry for the first time. The same can be said about breastfeeding. If in doubt, it's better consult a doctor and check the reaction of the body.

Culinary and beauty recipes

The topic below the material presented is devoted to recipes from an exotic fruit. They make jams, mousses, jellies. The popularity of these recipes is due to the rich content of pectin.

For treatment, healthy decoctions are prepared, ground with honey, nuts. Add as a flavoring additive to salads. They make face masks.

Sugared fruits

Proportions: for 1 kg of feijoa take 1 kg of sugar. Take ripe fruits. Wash them well, dry them on a towel.

Finely chop with a knife, add sugar. Rub with a wooden spatula. Keep refrigerated. Apply as needed. Candied fruits are an excellent remedy for protecting the immune system.

Feijoa jam without cooking for the winter:

diet salad

Proportions: take a handful for 5 fruits walnuts and 1 boiled beet. Feijoa and beets cut into strips. Lightly dry the nuts in the oven and crush them. Drizzle salad with olive oil.

To enhance the taste, add spices, herbs or garlic. This easy-to-make salad will help you lose weight.

Vitaminized cocktail

Proportions: 4 feijoa, kiwi, apple, cinnamon, 150 ml fat-free kefir or yogurt. In the blender bowl, place the fruits of an exotic fruit, kiwi, apple. All pre-wash, peel, cut.

Pour in fermented milk product, add a pinch of cinnamon. Grind with a blender until smooth. A fortified shake is the perfect start to the day instead of breakfast.

Feijoa with honey

Proportions: honey with feijoa in the ratio 1:1. Grind the pulp of ripe fruits with honey, arrange in sterilized jars. Cover with lids or paper. Keep cold.

Use in the morning on an empty stomach 1 tbsp. spoon. The composition allows you to quickly recover from illnesses. The remaining outer part can be frozen or dried.

Compote with lemon balm

Proportions: for 1 glass of sugar 180 gr. feijoa, lemon balm sprigs. Wash the fruits, prick them with a toothpick. Pour in water, add sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat in the oven. Boil for 3-5 minutes.

Remove from heat, strain, add lemon balm. pour over glass jars. Store inside refrigerator. Chilled drink - tones up, calms the nervous system.

leaf tea

Proportions: 1 tsp. dry leaves in 250-300 ml of boiling water. Leaves wither in partial shade. Ferment in the fresh air or in a dry, ventilated place to the state of a tea leaf.

Brew like regular tea, you can add sugar or honey. The taste of tea is very unusual, with a slightly tart aftertaste.

Pulp jam with lemon

Proportions: for 1 kg of ripe fruit you need 1 kg of sugar and half a lemon. Wash the feijoa, prick with a toothpick. Boil syrup from sugar and 200 ml of water. Fill them with fruits.

Cook in 3 stages with complete cooling of the jam for 5 minutes after boiling. At the final stage, add lemon slices.

Pack in clean dry jars. Cork and refrigerate. Jam will help out to raise immunity during respiratory diseases.

From feijoa you can cook jam - with lemon or nuts

Mask for the face

Proportions: 2 pcs. feijoa, yolk of one egg, 5 gr. honey and 5 ml. olive oil. Beat the ingredients, slightly warm in a water bath. The temperature of the mask should be 36-37 degrees.

Apply to cleansed face. Hold for half an hour. Wash away. The vitamin composition moisturizes, softens and tightens the skin. Can be used for rosacea.

The use of a natural source of iodine is especially important in large and polluted cities.

The material dedicated to the benefits of feijoa will be of interest to both men and women. Using recommendations for the prevention and treatment of diseases, you can maintain your health for a long time!

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

Choosing the Right Feijoa

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

The benefits and composition of feijoa

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

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

Feijoa benefits for pregnant women

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

1. It has been scientifically proven that feijoa has a disinfectant and antiseptic effect. With the help of various infusions, decoctions of fruits and leaves, abrasions on the skin can be healed. Remedies are great for bleeding gums and toothache.
2. To make a nourishing face mask, it is enough to combine the grated fruit with the yolk of an egg. As a result, the skin will receive a charge of useful microelements, microcracks and creases will be smoothed out. Also, the dermis will acquire an even tone, smoothness and velvety.

Contraindications and possible harm to feijoa

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

Rules for the use of feijoa

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

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

Video: the benefits and harms of feijoa

An amazing taste with a slight sourness, a bizarre shape, an attractive green color - all this pleasantly characterizes the feijoa fruit. His beneficial features have a positive effect on our body, so it is necessary to include an exotic product in your diet (in the absence of contraindications) throughout the season.

What does feijoa contain?

To taste, this fruit is similar to strawberries, pineapple and gooseberries at the same time. However, its medicinal properties, usefulness more than exceed those of other gifts of nature. Fruits in large quantities contain vitamins and all kinds of micro and macro elements:

• alanine;
• arginine;
• asparagine;
• glutamine;
• calcium;
• potassium;
• silicon;
• tannin;
• tyrosine;
• iron;
• magnesium;
• manganese;
• phosphorus;
• folic acid;
• zinc;
• enzymes.

In addition, feijoa peel contains trace elements: kahetin and leucoanthocyanin, which are powerful antioxidants. They are used for the prevention of cancer, maintaining the viability of the immune system, total cleaning of blood vessels. Vitamin C and essential oils have a wide range of useful properties and are actively used in the treatment colds.

Feijoa - vitamin composition

A ripe oriental guest is a real storehouse of vitamins of different groups. Vitamin A is responsible for the condition of the skin and nails, vitamin B1 oversees the growth and development of the body, improves metabolic processes, and vitamin B3 and its "colleague" vitamin B6 are responsible for the normal course of metabolic processes. Similar functions are performed by vitamin PP. Without them, the development of the human body would be impossible. The vitamin composition of feijoa helps to provide us with all the useful substances in the winter season.

Feijoa - iodine content

Compared to other fruits, the iodine content in feijoa is 2.5 to 10 times higher. So, 100 grams of fruit contains from 8 to 35 mg of iodine. This indicator varies depending on the variety, the degree of ripeness of the fruit. In addition, this microelement is very well absorbed, therefore it is recommended for use by children, adults, pregnant and lactating women.

What is useful feijoa?

A bizarre fruit with useful properties is a universal fighter, under the onslaught of which they will retreat:

• oncology;
• problems of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract);
• anemia;
• avitaminosis;
• atherosclerosis.

The benefits of feijoa have been scientifically proven, repeatedly confirmed by experts, but it is not worth using it as an alternative to medicines (it contains allergens). A comprehensive medical examination should be carried out, appropriate treatment should be prescribed and carried out. The fruit can serve as a support for maintaining the health of the body, helping to speed up the healing process.

Feijoa jam - benefits

Canning can be an alternative to eating the fruit fresh. The benefits of feijoa jam are not inferior fresh version, however, it is important to keep proper preparation. For these purposes, it is worth buying 1-2 kg of fresh fruits, sugar and cooking in the following sequence during the season:

• wash the fruits, remove the remains of flowers that the plant throws out in large quantities;
• cut each fruit into pieces;
• grind with a blender or meat grinder;
• grind with sugar in a ratio of 1:1;
• put into sterilized jars, tightly close the lid;
• store in a cool place.

Feijoa berry - benefits

The benefits of feijoa berries are known all over the world and the number of their fans is constantly growing. Meanwhile, this fruit, like any other product, has a number of contraindications, neglecting which can cause significant harm to the body:

• the presence of individual intolerance, allergies;
• diabetes;
• excess weight.

If a child tries the fruit for the first time, it is better to start with small portions, for example, by adding this healthy exotic fruit to a mashed salad. So you can determine how well the body responds to a new product, even rich in trace elements and useful properties. Contraindications manifest themselves unexpectedly, because the children's body is still too vulnerable to external stimuli. Further, the daily rate can be gradually increased.

feijoa juice

It will not be difficult to find juice in free sale, but much more healthier drink prepared by hand. For these purposes, the most ripe fruits are purchased, which must be peeled, passed through a press or juicer. Mineral or apple water and sugar are traditionally added to the resulting fruit mass. The benefits of feijoa juice are the same as from fresh fruit. However, it is stored for no more than a few days - this property must be taken into account.

Feijoa - beneficial properties for men

The key beneficial properties of feijoa for men are to maintain reproductive function, prevent the development of a disease such as prostatitis. Urologists strongly recommend that the representatives of the stronger sex consume this fruit daily - both prophylactically and in addition to drug treatment of inflammatory processes. An exception and a reason for refusing the product is individual contraindications.

What is useful feijoa for women?

Useful oriental fruit belongs to the series dietary products, which are great for the diet of those who want to lose weight. The fat content and calorie content in it are minimal. Biologically active substances actively contribute to the acceleration of metabolism. The benefits of feijoa for a woman's body are multifaceted. Just one fruit a day and the diet will be an order of magnitude more effective. In addition, the fruit is often used by cosmetologists: its active ingredients slow down aging and allow you to remove minor age wrinkles.

Feijoa for children

The key ingredients are vitamin B5 (pantothenic product) and its counterparts with indexes A and C. They can be obtained from synthetic medicines, however daily use natural fruit will be more effective, because it the nutritional value much higher. The benefits of feijoa for children is to correct the functioning of the immune system and ensure the normal development of cells. The main thing is to first find out if the child has any prerequisites for the development of allergies. In addition, the fetus has the ability to strengthen or weaken, so you need to carefully monitor the reaction of the body.

Medicinal properties of feijoa

The use of an overseas fruit gives a cumulative effect. In order for the healing properties of feijoa to be fully revealed, and tannins to begin to act actively, it must be eaten for at least a month. During this time, the condition of the skin will improve, immunity will strengthen, and the body will begin to better resist infections. Then it remains only to maintain the state.

Feijoa for pressure

The complex use of traditional medicines and feijoa for pressure has been practiced for a long time. It contains amino acids and a very useful pectin, which is responsible for “cleansing” the vessels and removing harmful cholesterol from the body before it settles on the walls. However, to keep the achieved result just will not work. The use of a fruit with such beneficial properties should be carried out as often as possible.

Video: what is the use of feijoa for the body

Feijoa is exotic for a Slavic person, and the inhabitants of the tropics are a familiar fruit, often eaten. A fruit tree grows in a subtropical climate, is used not only for food, but also in medicinal purposes. If you know the beneficial properties and contraindications of feijoa, you can enrich the body with valuable substances. The population of South America, New Zealand, Brazil knows this, and they often eat fruits in their diet.

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

What is feijoa? Fruit or berry?

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

The chemical composition of feijoa fruit

• Microelements and macroelements necessary to maintain immunity and the normal course of all chemical processes in the human body. Feijoa is especially rich in iodine elements necessary to maintain the functions of the thyroid gland, as well as iron involved in the transport of oxygen, magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, and phosphorus.
• B vitamins that support the functioning of the nervous system.
• Vitamins C and A, which strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
• Amino acids (arginine, tyrosine, aspartic, glutamic) involved in the formation of proteins in the human body.
• Essential oils and tannins.

Useful properties for women and men

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

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

Medicinal properties of feijoa

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

Thyroid treatment with feijoa

Use jam from raw feijoa fruit or puree. You need to take a tablespoon 30 minutes before meals 2-3 times a day. The course of treatment is at least a month. It should be remembered that only ripe fruits are used for medicinal purposes.

An infusion of dry feijoa fruits is also used. To do this, pour 3 tablespoons of fruits with two cups of boiling water, insist overnight. The next day, drink in 3 divided doses. So continue every day for a month.

Feijoa for diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a disease of the pancreas in which there is a violation of the absorption of glucose by cells. At the same time, blood sugar levels are elevated. Violation of the diet and the use of foods containing a large amount of sugar aggravates the course of the disease, leading to an even greater increase in blood glucose. Therefore, feijoa is not used for the treatment of diabetes, given the content of sugars in its composition, but it is acceptable to consume in minimal quantities.

What else

Feijoa is also used in the treatment of the cardiovascular system. It cleanses the blood of cholesterol, stimulates the formation of blood cells, prevents the formation of blood clots pure juice from feijoa fruits. A tablespoon of juice is mixed with 50 grams of water and taken once a day.

To strengthen the walls of blood vessels, you can use jam with oranges. For cooking, take a kilogram of feijoa fruit, 2 kilograms of sugar and the juice of two oranges. Cook jam and take 1 tablespoon 2 times a day. The combination of a large amount of vitamin C in an orange and a complex of trace elements and vitamins in feijoa strengthens blood vessels.