Feijoa is an exotic fruit that little is known about in our homeland. He appeared on the shelves not so long ago, and immediately began to arouse interest among both culinary specialists and representatives of traditional medicine.

The Latin name for feijoa is Acca sellowiana. This is a woody evergreen plant belonging to the genus Akka. Until now, many argue about what the feijoa fruits are - fruits, vegetables or berries. But officially the fruits are recognized as berries. The tree is quite low, its maximum height is 4 meters. The fruits are green and oval in shape. They look like small zucchini. If the fruit is ripe, then it will be soft to the touch.

The historical homeland of the plant is Brazil. However, feijoa is also grown in Central Asia. In Russia, there are plantations in the Krasnodar Territory. The fruit was first discovered by Europeans in Brazil in the 19th century. Its name is explained quite simply - this is the name of the discoverer, as well as the head of the Museum of Natural History, Joao de Silva Feijo.

Although the plant is tropical, it can tolerate quite low temperatures, even frosts down to minus 14 degrees. Therefore, it has spread almost all over the world, in particular, in Europe. Now feijoa is actively grown at home.

The plant has beautiful large flowers that bloom for a long time, as well as leaves that have a slightly silvery sheen. Therefore, feijoa bushes, which are very beautiful, were previously used only for decoration. They decorate parks and squares. And today, in hot countries, feijoa does an excellent job with this task.

Even before the Great Patriotic War began, the plant was brought to the Transcaucasus, where it managed to take root quite well. From there, he goes to the shelves of stores throughout the country. The plant bears fruit in November and December, so you can buy it in late autumn.

Medicinal properties

Feijoa fruits include more than 90 types of various useful components. They contain quite a lot of pectins, which makes it possible to prepare jelly and marmalade from them. There are also a lot of vitamins C, P and group B in the pulp of fruits, much more than in many traditional cultures, which provides treatment and prevention of beriberi.

Feijoa can be safely consumed by those who are overweight, as there are very few calories in the product: about 50 kilocalories per 100 grams of pulp. The ratio of fats, proteins and carbohydrates is 1:2:20.

The skin of the fruit contains a lot of tannins. In view of this, the fruits acquire a tart taste. It also contains compounds of anthocyanins and phenols. These components have pronounced antioxidant properties, which allows for the prevention of cancer.

The characteristic aroma of the fruits is due to the presence of essential oils in them. Also, thanks to them, the anti-inflammatory property of the plant is provided. Therefore, the oil, which is prepared from the fruit, is popular in dermatology and cosmetology.

But even such a set of useful properties in itself would not make feijoa remarkable against the background of other tropical products. The presence of trace elements in it deserves special attention. The fruits include zinc, iron, copper, manganese. But the berry gained the greatest popularity when highly concentrated organic iodine compounds were found in it. This became a real sensation in the scientific community, because there was a prospect of using the fruits to combat endemic goiter, which can develop due to a lack of iodine in the water and kidney. In terms of iodine content, feijoa is compared with seafood, although their calorie content is different.

However, there are certain nuances regarding iodine. Plants can accumulate iodine compounds only where this mineral contains water, soil and air. For example, a plant grown on the seashore will absorb a microelement as much as possible, but in a flowerpot culture it can be extremely small. Therefore, you should not consider feijoa grown on a private plantation a panacea for the thyroid gland.

In folk medicine, in addition to fruits, other parts of the plant can also be used. So, the leaves and bark have disinfectant and antiseptic properties, they can be used to heal wounds and ulcers. A decoction of the leaves helps to fight toothache and bleeding gums.

Is there any harm and contraindications?

Allergic reactions to feijoa fruits are very rare. But if a person has any serious illness, it is better to consult a doctor before using the product.

Among the contraindications, the already mentioned allergy and individual intolerance to the product stand out. Also, do not get carried away with the fruits of diabetes. If you have never eaten feijoa, you can eat one fruit and follow the reaction of the body. In the absence of negative symptoms, you can use exotic green berries.

How to choose and use fruits?

In our homeland, feijoa fruits of small and medium size are mainly sold. But keep in mind that the larger the fruits, the more useful components they contain. A good product will have a uniform green color. Do not purchase a fruit that has spots and dents - this indicates that it has been lying for a long time. You can ask the seller to cut one berry. The pulp of the fruit should be transparent. If it is white, the fruit is unripe. And the brown flesh does indicate that the fruit is spoiled.

It is worth considering that feijoas have a short shelf life, so they need to be eaten quickly. You can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can make jam from berries. The best option is to buy feijoa in small quantities and consume it fresh. The product can be eaten in its pure form or added to salads and other dishes.

The peel of the fruit is edible. But her taste is not so sweet and pleasant - it is tart and slightly astringent. Therefore, many people clean it from it before eating the fruit. The rind can be dried and added to teas.

Methods of application in traditional medicine

In addition to cooking, the plant is actively used in folk medicine. For medicinal purposes, fresh and dry fruits, bark, peel, leaves of the plant are used. Feijoa-based medicines are not recommended to be consumed with food, as this will negatively affect the effectiveness. Use the remedy usually half an hour before meals or half an hour after.

A lot of recipes based on feijoa are intended to fight thyroid problems. This is explained, of course, by the presence of iodine in the product.

• Infusion of their feijoa leaves. A tablespoon of leaves should be poured with a glass of boiling water. Leave to brew for half an hour. Drink twice a day for a glass of 20 minutes before meals. You can add honey.
• raw jam. You need to take a kilogram of feijoa fruits and sugar, pass them through a meat grinder, place in a jar and let it brew. Sugar and fruit juice should combine. 20 grams of the finished product to use in the morning and evening. Repeat for ten days, then take a ten-day break and repeat the course. You can replace sugar with honey. You need to store such jam on the lower shelves of the refrigerator.
• Feijoa and cranberry tincture. This recipe will saturate the body with iodine and other useful minerals. 70 grams of cranberries must be combined with 200 grams of feijoa, ¼ cup of sugar and 100 ml of pure water. Top up with 350 ml of vodka. Before adding vodka, let the water with sugar boil over low heat. Leave the product to infuse in a dark place for twenty days. Strain immediately before use.

To prevent colds and improve immunity you can use a tablespoon of fruit pulp every morning. There is another, older recipe:

Place ripe fruits in jars and pour over honey. Berries should be infused for two weeks. During this time, they will wrinkle and release the juice. After that, the liquid must be drained and the fruits filled with new honey. Repeat the procedure several times until the size of the fruit decreases. Drained honey can be used for drinks, and dried fruits should be consumed several pieces a day to improve immunity.

• For the prevention of heart disease and vessels, you need to take a tablespoon of feijoa juice, dilute it with 50 grams of water and drink it in the morning on an empty stomach. This tool helps hypertensive patients to normalize blood pressure.
• From jade. You need to take an equal amount of dried flowers and leaves of the plant, brew them with a glass of boiling water. Leave for half an hour, then add a spoonful of honey. Drink twice a day for a glass after meals.
• From. It is necessary to prepare jam, which will include a kilogram of sugar, 600 g of feijoa and one orange. Grind the fruits together with the peel using a blender, place on fire, let it boil, then cool. Consume one tablespoon in the morning. It is recommended to store in the refrigerator.

Also on the basis of feijoa are prepared various tinctures. They can be used to boost the immune system. It is enough to consume just one tablespoon a day.

To prepare, you need to wash the ripe fruits, remove the tails and cut them into slices. Place in a glass container and fill with vodka so that it completely covers the contents. Add a small amount of honey, leave to infuse in a dark place for two weeks. Then drain the liquid and bottle.

Berries with the aroma of a sea breeze - so romantic natures call feijoa. The plant is native to South America. It is cultivated today almost everywhere, from Argentina to the southern coast of Crimea. Feijoa fruits ripen in weight from 5 to 120 g, larger ones are valued. In our latitudes, they appear in autumn, green fruits literally “conquer” the markets. For some, the berry resembles strawberries, for others - seaweed. The fruits are used as food along with the peel, and are used for therapeutic diets, healthy eating, and as an ingredient in cosmetics.

Varieties and types of cultivated feijoa

The efforts of breeders are aimed at breeding more winter-hardy varieties.

The following varieties are popular:

And feijoa species differ in the time of fruit ripening, there are varieties of early, middle and late ripeness.

The composition and energy value of feijoa

100 g of fruit contains:

• 49 kcal.
• 10.6 g of carbohydrates.
• 1.9 g of protein.
• 0.8 g of fat.

The figures may vary depending on the variety.

Feijoa vitamins:

• Vitamin B1 (thiamine) 0.008 mg.
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 0.032 mg.
• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) 0.228 mg.
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 0.05 mg.
• Vitamin B9 (folic acid) 38 mcg.
• Vitamin C 20.3 mg.
• Vitamin PP (Niacin equivalent) 0.289 mg.

Microelements and minerals in feijoa:

The benefits and harms of feijoa

Useful properties of feijoa

1. Feijoas are beneficial for the human immune system. They contain iron and vitamin C, this pair is the most promising for supporting the body's resistance to various infections.
2. The high iodine content makes feijoa one of the superfoods. Iodine helps keep the thyroid healthy. But it is extremely small in the usual diet of residents of continental regions. Useful fruits can provide us with iodine, and deliver it in a bioavailable form. The product is useful for patients with hypothyroidism and anyone who does not consume about 4 servings of fish and seafood per week, and does not eat seaweed as a salad vegetable every day.
3. Feijoa peel is rich in tannins and essential oils. It is able to suppress harmful microflora. Feijoa is an astringent fruit and is recommended for food poisoning and diarrhea.
4. Feijoa peel is a source of kahetins, just like green tea. Therefore, it cannot be thrown away. Eat feijoa with the skin on to get the full benefit of the antioxidants. They not only help us stay young longer, but also have a beneficial effect on the health and tone of blood vessels, and are a means of preventing cardiovascular diseases.
5. Feijoa contains fiber, which promotes proper digestion, and a lot of water. Eating the fruit can be a natural alternative to drinking isotonic drinks on a hot day.

Feijoa harm

• Feijoa is not recommended for hyperthyroidism and all diseases where iodine is excluded.
• They can cause an allergic reaction, and are simply not well tolerated by the human digestive tract. It is believed that feijoa is not indicated for exacerbations of gastrointestinal diseases, and should not be consumed with dairy products. The latter, however, has not been proven.

Feijoa in the diet of pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, diabetics: recommendations from nutritionists

Feijoa can be pregnant , except when the expectant mother is allergic. The fruits are rich in folates, and contribute to the proper formation of the circulatory system of the fetus. Additional "infusions" of iodine from plant sources also help maintain the health of the hormonal system. And the two-heme iron in the composition helps protect against iron deficiency anemia that occurs during pregnancy.

The fruit should be used with caution by those who havegestational diabetes . In this case, doctors recommend doing a blood sugar test after eating, and choosing a diet individually.

Issue with breastfeeding mothers not unambiguous. There are recommendations to exclude everything from the diet, except for green apples during breastfeeding. This is a hypoallergenic diet, but it should not be used by everyone. The answer to the question depends on whether the child has an allergy or not.

For The fruit has great benefits. First of all, it promotes recovery after intense exercise, as it has a positive effect on hematopoiesis. This is the quality of all sources of iron. In addition, the fruits are rich in antioxidants, which helps to get rid of inflammation in the joints and tissues due to overload.

What dishes can be prepared from feijoa

Feijoa is cooked from:

• Regular jams.
• Compotes with sugar.
• Pickled in a salt solution almost like olives.

Green oblong berries with an exotic and unusual name "feijoa" have long appeared on the shelves of our stores. However, rarely anyone buys this fruit, not knowing about its healing and gustatory qualities. Doctors recommend that you definitely include the beneficial properties and contraindications of which we will now study in your diet.

Useful composition of feijoa

The healing properties of feijoa are due to its composition, which contains a rich vitamin and mineral complex of components.

Feijoa Composition

The unique property of feijoa is that it is the only plant in existence where the iodine content is higher than in red fish and seafood. This property is used in the treatment of various endocrine diseases and disorders of the thyroid gland.

Feijoa, due to the very high content of essential oils and antioxidants, negatively affects the state of pathogenic microorganisms and has a powerful antibacterial and antifungal effect.

The high concentration of vitamins in feijoa, the benefits and harms of which have long been known to doctors, helps to prevent and prevent the development and exacerbation of many diseases, and in some cases even completely cure the disease:

• Vitamin C - prevents the development of colds.
• Vitamin B2 - helps to balance the level of hormones, promotes tissue renewal.
• Vitamin B1 - affects the regulation of metabolic processes, improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system and stimulates brain activity.
• Vitamin B3 - prevents the development of cancer cells, normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Vitamin B6 - improves muscle function, prevents cramps and numbness of the limbs.
• Vitamin B5 - prevents the development of diseases of the pulmonary and respiratory systems.
• Vitamin PP - contributes to the normalization of the nervous system.

The easily digestible fats and proteins that the fruit contains make it possible to classify it as a dietary product. Only 2-3 fruits can saturate the body, fully providing it not only with all the necessary trace elements and vitamins, but also with enzymes involved in the production of energy for life.

What is useful feijoa

The beneficial properties of feijoa are manifested for the treatment and prevention of a host of diseases, as well as for improving overall well-being and resisting various viruses and infections.

Feijoa is useful:

• With beriberi and depletion of the body, due to immunomodulatory properties. The fruit is very useful to use during periods of exacerbation of seasonal colds, in postoperative periods, as well as after serious illnesses.
• With colds - essential oils and vitamin C help to cope with viruses.
• For problems with the gastrointestinal tract, obesity. Feijoa contains a lot of fiber, which allows you to establish digestive and metabolic processes.
• With endocrine disorders, due to the high content of iodine.
• With atherosclerosis and diseases of the cardiovascular system - the fruit helps to significantly reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood, and also helps to normalize blood pressure in hypertension, improves blood condition, thanks to the antioxidants contained in the fruit.
• In the treatment of pyelonephritis, treatment of gastritis, pancreas, liver - is part of therapeutic diets.

Not only the fruits are endowed with useful properties, but also the bark, leaves and peel of the plant.

Antibacterial properties allow feijoa to act as a powerful antiseptic and disinfectant. Decoctions containing leaves, bark and fruits of the plant are used to treat deep cuts, abrasions, ulcers.. They can rinse your mouth with diseases of the oral cavity, as well as relieve toothache.

For women

Antioxidants contained in feijoa can slow down the aging process and cell destruction. Therefore, a woman who regularly consumes this fruit will look younger and more attractive.

The fruits are used for painful menstruation. the property of the fruit to accelerate metabolic processes contribute to the rapid opening of the cervix.

For men

Feijoa is recommended for men as a prevention of urological diseases. Several fruits consumed per day can prevent and prevent inflammation of the prostate and the resulting impotence.

For kids

The fruit helps with food poisoning and some indigestion, which often occurs in children. Feijoa, of course, will not completely eliminate food poisoning, but it will help soothe the intestinal and stomach mucosa, which will lead to the normalization of the condition as a whole.

For pregnant

A frequent problem of pregnant women are metabolic disorders and constipation. A couple of fruits a day will help to avoid problems with the gastrointestinal tract and restore its work.

In cosmetology

A large number of antioxidants contained in feijoa allow the fruit to be widely used in cosmetology.

Masks made on the basis of the plant have a beneficial effect on the skin - they give elasticity and softness, relieve inflammation, improve the overall appearance, rejuvenate the skin and remove age-related wrinkles.

Fruit-based masks and decoctions from the leaves and peel of the plant are used to treat age spots, acne, and rosacea. The pulp of the fetus is advised to regularly wipe the face of adolescents with problem skin.

For weight loss

Feijoa is a dietary product, so I often advise those who want to lose weight to include it in their diet. The fruits of the berry help to speed up the metabolism, which allows you to get rid of some extra pounds.

Fruits can replace any sweet dessert or include them as an independent meal.

How to use feijoa

Only ripe feijoa fruits have high taste qualities. It is not always possible to find ripened fruits on sale, because. they are harvested unripe and perishable.

Hard feijoa is best left to lie down for several days before ripening - a ripe fruit has a watery pulp and thin skin.

Usually only the pulp is used, cutting off the dense skin. But the peel contains a lot of useful substances, so it is better not to throw it away, but add it to various infusions or teas.

For medicinal purposes

For the prevention and treatment of various diseases, it is enough to eat 1-2 fruits a day.

From the leaves, peel and dried flowers of the plant, infusions and decoctions are prepared, which are drunk during the day instead of tea.

Children can prepare feijoa puree - for this, mix a few fruits with a small amount of sugar and grind in a blender. There is as a preventive measure before each meal, 1 tbsp. spoon. In the same way, you can eat mashed potatoes for weight loss.

In cooking

Feijoa is usually added to salads, appetizers or main courses, various desserts and sweet sauces are made from them.

The fruit harmonizes perfectly with citrus fruits, with fresh and boiled vegetables. From it you can make a healthy and tasty jam, which allows you to save all the healing properties of feijoa:

• To make jam, you need to take 1-2 kg of ripe feijoa fruits.
• Rinse the fruits thoroughly and remove the remnants of the flowers.
• The peel can be peeled (then the jam is softer and more tender), but it is better to leave it - the jam will be more healthy and nutritious.
• Cut the fruits into several pieces and grind them in a blender.
• Add sugar to the resulting mixture at the rate of 1:1. If you add more sugar, the jam will be too sweet.
• Leave the resulting raw jam for a while until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• After the jam should be distributed in sterile jars and put in the refrigerator.
• Cooking feijoa jam is not worth it, so that it does not lose all its beneficial properties.
• Over time, the jam will acquire a jelly-like consistency, and in this form it can already be consumed.

Jam can be drunk with tea, added to pancakes or various desserts.

Feijoa harm

Ripe fruit will not do any harm to the body if it is used correctly and contraindications are avoided:

• You can not eat unripe berries, because. they can cause indigestion.
• You can not eat fruit with diabetes and obesity due to the high content of sugars.
• The fruit is contraindicated in hyperthyroidism due to its high iodine content.
• You can not mix the fetus with dairy products and milk due to the incompatibility of these products.
• Fruit should be eaten with caution if iodine-containing drugs are taken at the same time.

Before eating the fruit for the first time, you should check the body for allergic reactions - you should eat a couple of pieces of the fruit to start.

Fruits eaten in unlimited quantities can cause an overdose - a high content of iodine, vitamins and sugars can adversely affect the body. It is better for a child under one year to completely abandon the use of feijoa, older children are recommended no more than 1 fruit per day.

The daily dose of consumption is calculated taking into account the lack of iodine in the body. If the iodine content is normal, 2-3 fruits per day are enough. More than 4-5 fruits per day can cause hypervitaminosis and intestinal upset.

Feijoa will bring many benefits to the body if regularly included in the diet and consumed in moderation.

Feijoa is an amazing fruit, it grows in countries with a hot climate, and in Russia it is found in the Krasnodar Territory. Its fruits are unusually tasty, somewhat reminiscent of strawberries, kiwi and pineapple combined. The benefits of feijoa for the human body are truly great, “Popularly about Health” will tell you in detail about the beneficial properties of the fruit. We will also discuss the harm of feijoa, and you will also learn how to cook these fruits.

Feijoa Composition

In the pulp of an exotic fruit, many substances valuable for health were found:

1. Pectin.
2. Organic acids.
3. Antioxidants.
4. Flavonoids.
5. Fatty acids.
6. Iodine.
7. Vitamins - C, groups B and PP and others.

Benefit and harm

Feijoa benefits for humans

Feijoa is especially valued for the presence of iodine in it. There is so much of this substance in the fruits that they could well compete with seafood, moreover, iodine is presented here in a form in which it is easily absorbed in the body. If you eat only 3-4 fruits a day, then you will never suffer from iodine deficiency. That is why people who have thyroid problems are advised to eat these fruits every day.

The fruits of an exotic tree have a lot of pectin. It is needed for the formation of beneficial intestinal microflora and its cleansing. Nutritionists recommend eating fruits for chronic constipation. According to the content of vitamin C, this fruit is on the same level as citrus fruits.

The fruit is of interest to men, as it contains substances that improve the state of hormonal levels in the strong half of humanity and protect the prostate from the development of inflammatory processes. Men who regularly eat these fruits note improvements in the genital area. Feijoa improves blood composition and has a beneficial effect on the state of the cardiovascular system. And women appreciated the cosmetic effect after the external use of the fruit in the form of masks and applications. The exotic fruit rejuvenates the skin, making it much fresher, softer and smoother.

Harm from feijoa to the human body

Indeed, the fruit we are discussing is of value to health, but in some cases it can be harmful. Let's look at the contraindications to it:

1. Hyperfunction of the thyroid gland (in general, for any disorders in the endocrine system, it is better to talk with your doctor about whether you can eat feijoa in your case).

2. Ulcer, gastritis (with high acidity).

3. With allergies.

Attention! Feijoa can also cause harm if you eat it in large quantities. Adults are not recommended to eat more than 3 fruits per day in order to avoid the development of allergies or excess iodine in the body. Children can be given no more than one fetus per day.

How is the fruit used in cooking??

Feijoa is most often eaten fresh. Its skin is cut off, and the pulp is eaten with a spoon. Fruits are often ground with sugar to keep them for a long time. Feijoa pulp is used to prepare various desserts - fruit salads, snacks. And they also make creams for the cake from it and add it to the dough, for example, when they cook muffins and pies. Exot pulp is often used to make marinades and sauces. Jams and preserves are made from overseas fruits. However, they are more useful, of course, fresh.
How to cook feijoa?

Fruit cocktail

If you start the day with such a cocktail, then cheerfulness and good mood are guaranteed. Take 3 feijoa fruits, 1 apple, half a banana, 1 kiwi. Peel all fruits from the skin, cut into cubes and beat into a homogeneous mass with a blender. You can bring a fresh touch to the taste of a vitamin drink by putting a mint leaf in it. You can sweeten the drink with honey, although it is already moderately sweet.

Baked fish

It turns out that you can bake fish using overseas fruit. You will need 4 feijoa fruits, 1 orange, 150 g of heavy cream, a spoonful of honey, salt (to your liking). From fish, cod, pollock or hake, flounder (1 kg) are suitable. Cut the fish, cut it into large pieces, salt. Prepare a sauce of honey, cream, orange juice and exotic fruit pulp. Pour this sauce over the fish and let it marinate for 2 hours. Then place the fish in a greased pan and bake for 50 minutes at 190 degrees.

Fruit salad

To prepare a delicious dessert, you will need products: an apple, kiwi, banana, pear, 200 g of creamy yogurt, a spoonful of honey, 2 feijoa fruits, a handful of chopped walnuts. Preparing the dish is easy. We clean all the fruits, cut them into small slices. We extract the pulp from feijoa, mix it with yogurt and honey. Dress the salad with the resulting sauce and sprinkle with nuts. You can also decorate the dish with shavings of coconut and chocolate, it will not only be beautiful, but also very tasty.

Feijoa is an unusual fruit, it is a real storehouse of vitamins, organic and fatty acids, microelements. It is useful for people with low immunity, as well as for those who suffer from a lack of iodine in the body. Men should also include it in their diet in order to have good sexual health. Women can improve skin condition with this fruit. However, use it only if you have no contraindications.

Feijoa - benefits with taste

What kind of fruit is this - feijoa and why is it eaten? Surely it is no coincidence that he is increasingly appearing on store shelves, settling in our gardens and on window sills. What is the use of inconspicuous green berries, how to choose and use them correctly?

In appearance, these strange green fruits look like unripe walnuts - only much larger, they remind everyone of their own taste: strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, and someone smells like a Christmas tree, or chypre ...

Feijoa is an exotic native to Brazil, where there are so many wonderful things in the forests. There, in the subtropical thickets, less than two hundred years ago, scientists discovered an evergreen unknown to science, either a bush or a tree with green fruits-berries. They are also called Indian strawberries - the ancient Incas called the plant "quechua", star berry and endowed with magical properties.

Quechua fruits were given to children so that they would grow tall and strong. Pregnant Indian women in local villages are still afraid to eat more than one berry per day - so as not to give birth to a giant.

Feijoa is a subtropical plant, but settles north and north

The botanical discovery quickly spread throughout the world, gaining popularity precisely because of its berries, which turned out to be not only tasty, but also incredibly healthy. However, not only berries, but also leaves, and stunningly beautiful feijoa flowers are used in folk medicine.

Feijoa flowers are edible and rich in medicinal substances

Useful properties of "Indian strawberries"

The uniqueness and main mystery of feijoa is in the high concentration of water-soluble, easily digestible iodine. So much iodine does not contain any of the land plants on the planet - only seafood. Feijoa fruits contain up to 40 milligrams of iodine per 100 grams of edible mass!

What is the meaning of this for the feijoa itself - scientists do not yet know the answer to such a question. But it has been noticed that the closer the plant settles to the sea or ocean, the higher the concentration of iodine in it turns out to be.

Feijoa on the cut acquires a shade of iodine

But the berries of "Indian strawberries" are rich and useful not in iodine alone. They have a very high content of ascorbic acid and other vitamins. Feijoa are also valued for the fact that they contain a lot of biologically active substances and trace elements that are important for the human body, as well as fiber, pectins, sucrose. Such a rich composition of fruits determines their use in traditional medicine: feijoa have a healing effect in the treatment of thyroid ailments, atherosclerosis, inflammation of the kidneys, colds and the normalization of digestive functions. This is a favorite product of nutritionists and cosmetologists.

Feijoa identification

The feijoa genus is quite small - it includes only six plant species described by botanists:

• Here - this Argentine species has large, pear-shaped fruits, sweet, but not very fragrant;
• Andre - a species native to Brazil, has fruits with a rich taste and aroma, especially rich in iodine;
• Besson - the species is cultivated in Uruguay, it is distinguished by thin-skinned, "ruddy", very tasty berries with a relatively low iodine content;
• Coolidge is a favorite species of California gardeners, hardy and prolific;
• Choiseana - the species has almost round fruits with a delicate taste and smell, more than others is used in folk medicine;
• Superba is a species that is gaining more and more popularity in the world for its palatability and good acclimatization ability.

Feijoa walks the planet - the plant takes root much north of its native subtropics

Green Health Recipes

Only fully ripe berries should be eaten. They are soft, green-brown on the outside and transparent, jelly-like on the inside. Feijoa fruits should be stored in the refrigerator, as overripe berries can quickly deteriorate, ferment from the inside - the flesh acquires a brownish tint and an unpleasant odor. Neither overripe nor green berries should be eaten.

Feijoas are eaten with a spoon, like a soft-boiled egg.

Fresh fruits are the healthiest. They are eaten like kiwi or soft-boiled eggs: they are cut in half and the tasty core is taken out with a spoon. The tart and hard peel should not be thrown away, although it is not as tasty as the fragrant jelly pulp. The rind is cut into small strips and dried to make a healing tea from it.

For the treatment of thyroid problems

Ingredients:

• feijoa, fruits - 1 kilogram;
• sugar - 1 kilogram.

Green jam retains all the power of feijoa

Cooking:

1. Wash and dry the fruits.
2. Grind feijoa in a meat grinder.
3. Mix with sugar and let stand for half an hour until the sugar dissolves.
4. Distribute to banks. Keep refrigerated.

"Live" jam restores the balance of iodine in the body. You need to take a tablespoon of delicious treats three times a day.

With nephritis

Ingredients:

• feijoa leaves, dry or fresh - 1 tablespoon;
• water - 1 glass;
• honey - to taste.

Feijoa leaves are rich in iodine almost as much as the fruit.

Cooking.

1. Chop the leaves.
2. Boil water.
3. Steam feijoa leaves for half an hour.
4. Strain, add honey.

Drink 4-5 glasses of tea daily, preferably before meals

With Parkinson's disease

Drink daily at least a glass of fresh feijoa fruit with peel. Or eat fresh ripe fruits - no more than 400 grams daily.

Feijoa is not peeled for juicing

With atherosclerosis

Ingredients:

• feijoa berries - 600–700 grams;
• large orange - 1 piece;
• sugar - 1 kilogram.

Feijoa jam with orange - tasty and healthy winter preparation

Cooking:

1. Wash the orange and feijoa berries thoroughly and pour over with boiling water.
2. Without removing the peel, pass through a meat grinder.
3. Mix with sugar and put the jam on a small fire.
4. Bring to a boil and cook until the mixture thickens.
5. Stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved.
6. Cool the finished jam and pour into jars.

Take 1-2 tablespoons three times a day with hot tea.

With jaundice

Ingredients:

• dried or fresh feijoa flowers - 1 tablespoon;
• boiling water - 0.5 liters;
• honey - to taste.

Feijoa flowers can be eaten with sugar and made into a tea

Cooking:

1. Cut or grind the flowers.
2. Steam with boiling water, wrap.
3. Tea to insist 10-15 minutes, you can not filter.
4. Sweeten to taste with honey.

Prepared folk remedy to drink during the day in several doses. Use warm.

For weight loss

Low-calorie feijoa berries are included in many diets. To get a good effect in losing weight, replace your regular dinner with a few feijoa fruits. In a week, the scales will show the result that will please you.

Feijoa will give you harmony

Use in cosmetology

During the feijoa fruiting season, from autumn to spring, use the tender pulp of fresh berries for nourishing masks. They will protect the skin of the face and hands from cold and frost, make it fresh, young and radiant.

Feijoa pulp - a unique cosmetic raw material

Anti-aging mask

Ingredients:

• feijoa pulp - 2 tablespoons;
• oat flakes - 1 tablespoon;
• chamomile infusion - 0.5 cups;
• almond (or olive) oil - 1 teaspoon.

Cooking.

1. Prepare chamomile infusion: brew a teaspoon of flowers in 0.5 cups of boiling water, strain after 20 minutes.
2. Heat the infusion and steam oatmeal with it.
3. Cool, drain off excess liquid.
4. Remove the core from the feijoa berry and mash it with a fork.
5. Mix all ingredients and use immediately.

Apply the mask on the face, neck and décolleté. Wash off with warm water after 20 minutes. Repeat the procedure every other day, preferably at bedtime.

Mask for oily skin

Ingredients:

• the pulp of two feijoa berries;
• camphor alcohol - 1 tablespoon;
• lemon juice - 1 tablespoon.

Cooking.

1. Grind the pulp of the berries.
2. Mix all the components of the mask and beat until smooth.
3. Apply to face, avoiding eye contact.

Wash off after a quarter of an hour. Apply the mask once every three days.

Mask for normal and dry skin

Ingredients:

• pulp of one feijoa berry;
• soft whole cottage cheese - 2 tablespoons;
• yolk of one chicken egg;
• olive oil - 1 tablespoon.

Cooking.

1. Mix the ingredients of the mask very carefully so that no grains and lumps remain.
2. Keep on face and neck for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Do the mask three times a week.

Cream-mask for hands

Ingredients:

• feijoa pulp - 1 tablespoon;
• olive oil - 1 tablespoon;
• honey - 1 teaspoon.

Cooking.

1. Mix all components into a homogeneous mass.
2. Apply to hands with massage movements, rinse after 20 minutes.

The procedure can be done daily.

Children and pregnant women

Feijoa berries are undesirable for children under five years of age - they are too heavy for them. Introduce exotic fruits into your child's diet gradually, starting with small portions. But during the period of intrauterine development, this fruit is simply irreplaceable, its effect on the development of the embryo is very beneficial. For a pregnant woman, feijoa is an invaluable source of folic acid and, of course, iodine. Vegetable fibers of fruits help to normalize digestion, which is a fairly common problem during the period of bearing a child. But you should not get carried away, one or two berries a day will be enough.

Video: what kind of fruit is a feijoa?

Contraindications

Feijoa berries are also unique in that they do not cause allergies in moderate doses. But a sense of proportion must be observed: excessive consumption of iodine-rich berries can lead to its overdose. But this already provokes undesirable reactions: itching, rash, digestive and nervous system disorders.

Feijoa should be used with caution by diabetics, because these fruits are high in sucrose. It is important to remember that only ripe berries are suitable for food, green fruits can cause poisoning. In no case do not drink milk with feijoa - these are absolutely incompatible products.

A sense of proportion is the main thing when using feijoa