The benefits and harms of feijoa

Exotic fruits are a great way to diversify your diet. In terms of the content of nutrients, feijoa, which has a wide scope of use.

Acquaintance with feijoa: photo, description

Feijoa is an evergreen shrub up to 4 m high, growing in the southern regions of Eurasia, North and South America. Green fruits of an elongated shape ripen on the plant. The average length of the fruit is 4 cm, weight is from 15 to 120 g.

The fruits have a juicy pulp. The fruit tastes like strawberries, kiwi and pineapple. The pulp contains seeds surrounded by a translucent pulp. The peel is lumpy, light or dark green in color.

Chemical composition and nutritional value of fruits

Feijoa contains:

• water;
• fructose and sucrose;
• pectins;
• vitamins of group B, C, PP, E and K;
• iron, iodine, calcium, zinc, potassium, manganese, magnesium, copper, phosphorus;
• folic and malic acid.

Nutritional value per 100 g of product - 0.55 g of proteins; 52.63 g carbohydrates and 0.22 g fat.

Feijoa calories

The calorie content of the product is 49 kcal per 100 g. The permissible daily rate is up to 3 fruits per day. The fruit is included in diets and is used to cleanse the body.

Features of the selection and storage of feijoa

Fruits are removed from trees unripe for further transportation. Before buying, assess the integrity of the peel, the absence of damage and dents.

Only ripe fruits with a thin skin and transparent pulp are eaten. Unripe fruits are kept at room temperature, after ripening they are transferred to the refrigerator.

How to eat feijoa: with or without peel

Feijoa is consumed with or without the peel. The peel contains antioxidants, enzymes, catechins and phenols. The substances help to rejuvenate the body and inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

The peel has a pronounced bitter taste. Most often it is crushed together with pulp or dried. Dry rind is added to tea.

Why is feijoa useful for the body

The benefits of the fruit for the human body:

• relieves inflammation;
• improves skin condition;
• replenishes iodine deficiency and normalizes the activity of the pancreas;
• strengthens the immune system;
• reduces pressure;
• cleanses the blood and increases hemoglobin;
• normalizes digestion;
• increases tone;
• improves memory and attentiveness;
• raises inflammation.

Feijoa benefits for women

Useful properties of the fruit for women:

• helps to cope with stress;
• rejuvenates the skin;
• relieves pain during menstruation;
• improves metabolism, skin and hair condition.

Can feijoa be taken during pregnancy

Feijoa contains vitamin PP, iodine and folic acid, which improve the condition of a pregnant woman and an unborn child. Taking the fruit will help normalize the stomach.

Feijoa for breastfeeding

In the case of breastfeeding, the fruit is added to the diet when the baby is 3 months old.Feijoa is better for nursing mothers to introduce into the menu gradually. First, ¼ of the fetus is taken, in the absence of a negative reaction, the rate is increased to ½.

The fruit is consumed without a peel, as it contains substances that can cause an upset stomach in a child.

Useful properties of feijoa for men

Feijoa helps prevent prostatitis and prostate cancer. The fruit is recommended for men over 40 years old. As a result, immunity and vitality are increased.

Why is feijoa fruit useful for children

Fruits are not recommended for children under 1 year old. Taking them can cause individual intolerance.

First, the absence of an allergic reaction to the fruit is checked. The pulp of the fruit is crushed and given to the child in an amount of no more than 1 tsp. For children aged 1 to 3 years, it is enough to eat 1 fruit per day.

Benefits of the fruit for children:

• strengthening the immune system;
• improving memory and concentration;
• mild laxative effect;
• increased hemoglobin.

For what diseases can feijoa be taken?

The fruit is used for the following diseases:

• hypertension;
• disorders of the cardiovascular system;
• diseases of the stomach and intestines;
• depression and stress;
• diabetes;
• atherosclerosis;
• colds and viral diseases;
• problems with the pancreas.

If you have a serious illness, you should consult your doctor before eating the fruit.

Will feijoa help treat thyroid gland?

The most common thyroid disorder is endemic goiter. The disease is caused by a lack of iodine, which leads to an enlargement of the thyroid gland.

For the treatment of goiter, the fruits and leaves of the plant are used. The leaves are brewed with boiling water and drunk like green tea 2 times a day.

How to use feijoa for diabetes

The pulp of the fruit contains carbohydrates that are quickly processed by the body. The glycemic index of the fruit is 20 units.

When consumed by diabetics, the functioning of the thyroid gland improves. If diabetes has caused trophic ulcers, leaf products will help relieve inflammation.

The recommended norm for diabetics is no more than 2 pcs. in a day. The fruit contains glucose and fructose, so after consuming them it is necessary to check the blood sugar level.

From stress

In stressful situations, the load on the cardiovascular and nervous systems increases, and immune properties decrease.

Feijoa helps to normalize the body's work in stressful situations. You can eat 3-4 fruits daily. They are eaten fresh or ground in a blender with the addition of sugar, honey and mint.

High blood pressure recipe

Feijoa helps to lower blood pressure. To do this, it is enough to consume up to 3 fruits daily. Due to ascorbic acid, magnesium and potassium, the vessels have a relaxing effect.

With pancreatitis

Reception of the fruit relieves the condition of a person with various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including pancreatitis. Eating the pulp and peel removes toxins and stabilizes the intestines.

A useful recipe for pancreatitis:

1. The leaves of the plant (10 pcs.) Are chopped with a knife and poured with 500 ml of water.
2. The product is placed on the stove and brought to a boil.
3. Reduce the fire and boil the liquid for 10 minutes.
4. Add 1 tbsp to the broth. l. salt and leave to cool.
5. The tool is taken daily in 50 ml before meals.

For hypertension

Hypertension is especially dangerous in old age. With regular use of feijoa, blood pressure normalizes, blood circulation improves and cholesterol levels decrease.

A useful recipe from feijoa for hypertension:

1. The pulp of the fruit (100 g) is poured with a glass of water.
2. Add 1 tsp to the mixture. honey.
3. The product needs to be drunk during the day.

A few more healing recipes
The health benefits are brought not only by the pulp, but also by the feijoa juice.A useful infusion is obtained on the basis of the leaves.

What diseases is feijoa juice useful for?

The juice from the pulp is used to prevent colds. For 50 ml of water add 1 tbsp. l. honey and fresh juice. The remedy is drunk every day before meals.

Diluted juice is also used to normalize blood pressure, strengthen immunity and increase vitality. A mixture of orange juice and feijoa is useful for the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Are the leaves good for you

An infusion of leaves is used as an external remedy for healing wounds and abrasions. The remedy is used for diseases of the thyroid gland to replenish iodine deficiency.

Leaf infusion recipe:

1. Chopped leaves (1 tbsp. L.) Pour 1 cup boiling water.
2. The product is left for half an hour and filtered through a strainer.

The infusion is consumed 2 times a day, 1 glass half an hour before meals. You can add a little honey to the product.

Feijoa in cooking

The fruits go well with fish, chicken and lamb. Pieces of pulp are baked in the oven to prepare hot meals. The fruit is added to fresh salads with apples, carrots, beets and citrus fruits. The fruits give the dishes a picket flavor.

From feijoa get homework for the winter: jam, jams, juices, sauces, compotes. The pulp is cooked or crushed with added sugar.

In the manufacture of confectionery, the pulp is added to cake cream and pie filling. Fresh fruit is used to decorate the cakes.

Useful properties of feijoa jam

When cooked, the pulp retains vitamin C, pectin, fiber, antioxidants, sucrose and malic acid. Jam has a number of useful properties:

• normalizes the stomach;
• strengthens the immune system;
• helps fight colds;
• increases tone;
• reduces inflammation.

Contraindications to the use of jam

It is recommended to limit the use of feijoa jam in the following cases:

• increased thyroid function;
• diabetes;
• overweight;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• age less than 1 year.

It is not recommended to take this jam with dairy products. The combination causes stomach upset.

The benefits of feijoa in cosmetology

In cosmetology, the antiseptic properties of the fruit are used. On the basis of fruits and leaves, infusions are prepared for healing wounds, relieving bleeding gums.

Revitalizing hand mask

A regenerating hand mask is obtained from the pulp. The fruit is rubbed with a grater and mixed with the yolk of the egg. The mask is applied to the hands and kept for 15-20 minutes. As a result, the skin becomes smoother, and scratches and abrasions heal.

Feijoa rules

Only fresh and ripe fruits are eaten. Unripe fruits are kept at room temperature. When ripe, the pulp acquires a jelly-like consistency, and the skin becomes thinner.

Before using, the question often arises of how to clean the feijoa. You can remove the peel with a regular kitchen knife. Another way is to cut the fruit in half and use a spoon to remove the pulp from the skin.

Harm and contraindications of feijoa

Feijoa is used with caution in the presence of diseases:

• diabetes;
• hyperthyroidism of the thyroid gland.

The pulp is not combined with dairy products. Pectins contained in fruits, when interacting with milk, lead to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.

When consumed excessively, the pulp causes allergic reactions and indigestion. Therefore, when adding fruit to the diet, its daily rate is taken into account.

Conclusion

Feijoa contains nutrients necessary for the functioning of the body. The fruit is consumed fresh, used in cooking and home canning.

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