Content
The beneficial properties and contraindications of feijoa deserve detailed consideration. Exotic fruit is often found on store shelves and is no longer in short supply.
Feijoa value and chemical composition
A small green fruit called feijoa contains many beneficial substances in its pulp. The composition of the fruit contains:
- potassium and iron;
- magnesium and manganese;
- ash and fatty acids;
- calcium, sodium and phosphorus;
- essential amino acids;
- copper and zinc;
- pectins and fructose;
- essential oils;
- silicon and cobalt;
- molybdenum;
- iodine;
- cellulose.
By the content of nutrients in the composition of feijoa, carbohydrates are in the lead - about 12.9 g. Proteins are in second place, there are about 1 g of them in fruits, and fats are in third place - 0.6 g.
What vitamins are in feijoa
Vitamins in the fruits of the plant are widely represented. Among them are:
- vitamin C - 37% of the daily value of ascorbic acid;
- vitamins B5, B6 and B9 - from 3.5 to 5.8%;
- vitamins B1 and B2 - 0.4 and 1%, respectively;
- vitamin K - about 3%;
- vitamin E - 1.1%;
- vitamin H - 0.8%;
- vitamin PP - approximately 1.5%.
Feijoa is most prized for its high content of ascorbic acid. However, a rich set of vitamins of the B subgroup also endows this tropical fruit with very useful properties.
Calorie Feijoa
Feijoa has a low nutritional value - only 61 kcal per 100 g portion. You cannot gain weight when eating fruits, especially when you consider that feijoa is usually eaten in very small quantities.
Why feijoa is useful and how is it eaten
The small green fruit has many health benefits. In the classical way, feijoa is used like this - cut lengthwise into 2 halves, and then remove the pulp from the dense rind with a spoon.
But it is not only the pulp of the fruit that is suitable for culinary and medicinal purposes. Other parts of the fruit also have valuable properties.
What does feijoa taste like
Feijoa pulp has an unusual taste - gourmets claim that the fruit resembles pineapple, kiwi and strawberries at the same time. The flesh of the fruit is very juicy and soft if the fruit is fully ripe.
Why is feijoa berry useful?
The most popular in cooking and home treatment is the fruit pulp. Feijoa contains several dozen useful elements and therefore:
- improves digestion and metabolic processes;
- helps with inflammation in the body and colds;
- has a beneficial effect on the work of the thyroid gland and compensates for the lack of iodine;
- improves the functioning of the nervous system and evens out the emotional background;
- returns energy and vitality;
- increases endurance and general immunity;
- cleanses the body of harmful substances and is actively used in dietetics.
Feijoa properties have a beneficial effect on appearance. The valuable substances in the fruit improve skin condition and help prolong youth.
Why is feijoa peel useful?
The dense skin of an exotic fruit is rarely eaten, but in fact, the skin is edible and very healthy. It contains a high amount of antioxidants, so the special value of the peel is its anti-cancer properties. With regular use, the peel helps prevent the development of cancer, and with existing tumors, it increases the beneficial effect of medications.
Also, medicines based on feijoa peel are used to treat colds. Vitamins and antioxidants in the skin have antiviral and antibacterial effects, therefore they help to quickly cope with ARVI.
Why is feijoa compote useful?
Feijoa fruit is often used to make a delicious compote with numerous valuable properties. First of all, the drink contains a large amount of vitamin A, ascorbic acid and vitamin PP, therefore it helps with flu and colds.
Feijoa compote contains an increased amount of iodine, more than in red fish and seafood. Also, the drink is recommended for use on diets, it helps to remove excess substances from the body and at the same time does not contribute to weight gain.
Useful properties of feijoa leaves
Fresh and dried leaves of the fruit tree are also used in folk medicine. The leaves contain flavonoids, antioxidants, essential oils and organic acids, thanks to which the raw material has strong antiseptic and healing properties.
Infusions and decoctions on the leaves are used for rinsing with bleeding gums and toothache. Also, drugs help with external use, they can treat ulcers and wounds on the skin.
Useful properties of feijoa tea
Aromatic and tasty tea is prepared from dried leaves. Due to its rich composition with a high content of essential oils and antioxidants, tea is of great benefit for kidney diseases, periodontal disease, bacterial and fungal ailments. You can use it with a decrease in immunity, tea will quickly strengthen the body's defenses and prevent colds in the autumn-winter period.
Why is feijoa useful for the body
When consumed regularly in small dosages, the properties of the fruit have very beneficial effects on health. In particular, feijoa:
- replenishes iodine deficiency - only 100 g of the product contains more than 50 daily norms of this substance;
- strengthens endurance and immune resistance of the body;
- eliminates the symptoms of vitamin deficiency;
- has a prophylactic anti-cancer effect;
- improves vascular function and is beneficial for hypertension and atherosclerosis;
- lowers blood cholesterol and increases hemoglobin;
- improves digestive processes and promotes the removal of toxins;
- fights infectious and bacterial processes of any nature;
- has a positive effect on brain activity and on the nervous system.
The glycemic index of the product is low - about 40 units. Therefore, the fruit is recommended for use in diabetes, it does no harm, but strengthens blood vessels, helps to remove toxins from tissues and prevents the development of complications.
Why feijoa is useful for women
The special beneficial properties of the product for women are the beneficial effects on hormones. With the help of feijoa, you can fight infertility - the fruit improves the functioning of the reproductive system and promotes conception. It is also useful to use the product for painful periods, feijoa will not only ease the physical condition, but also help to replenish the blood loss.
Also, the cosmetic properties of the product are highly valued by women. Feijoa is popular in weight loss diets and is becoming a valuable addition to a healthy diet.
Can feijoa during pregnancy and hepatitis B
You can eat the fruit while carrying a child, it contains a lot of folic acid, which is especially useful for a woman and a fetus. However, before introducing the product into the diet, you need to consult a doctor and make sure that there are no individual contraindications.
During lactation, it is recommended to introduce fruit into the menu no earlier than 3 months after childbirth. Feijoa rarely causes allergies in infants, but a negative reaction is possible.
Why is feijoa useful for women after 50
The fruit becomes especially valuable for women during menopause. Upon reaching 50 years in the body, the synthesis of many necessary substances slows down or stops, the hormonal background changes.
Feijoa improves the work of the endocrine system and has a beneficial effect on the emotional background, therefore, facilitates the course of menopause. The antioxidant properties of the product protect the reproductive system of women from oncology; during menopause, the risk of cancer is greatly increased.
Why is feijoa useful for men
Representatives of the stronger sex can also use the tropical fruit with benefit. The product protects men from premature heart attacks and strokes, helps to take care of the health of the liver, heart and blood vessels.
The anti-inflammatory properties of the product help to avoid urogenital inflammation and prostatitis. Feijoa has a beneficial effect on libido and reproductive function.
At what age can children
The properties of a healthy and tasty product can strengthen the child's body. However, feijoa can be offered to a baby only after reaching 1 year of age and in small quantities, no more than 1 small berry per day. If a child is prone to allergies, then it is better to postpone acquaintance with feijoa until 3 years.
The healing properties of feijoa
The tropical fruit helps to strengthen health in a comprehensive manner. However, for some systems of the body, the properties of the fruit are especially useful; feijoa has a real medicinal effect.
For the heart and blood vessels
Regular consumption of exotic fruit serves as an effective prevention of atherosclerosis and heart ailments. Due to the increased content of pectins and amino acids, feijoa makes blood vessels more elastic, evens out blood pressure and prevents the development of heart diseases.
For thyroid
Since feijoa contains a record amount of iodine, the use of this fruit protects the body from hypothyroidism, euthyroidism and goiter, and also prevents gallstone disease, obesity and chronic fatigue.
To normalize blood pressure
The tropical fruit has a beneficial effect on the blood and helps with the tendency to hypertension.Regular use of feijoa protects against pressure surges, helps with migraines and normalizes cerebral circulation.
For joints
Vitamins and mineral salts in the composition of the product are beneficial for arthrosis, rheumatism and osteochondrosis. The benefit of feijoa is that it strengthens bone tissue due to its calcium content, and prevents the development of inflammatory processes. With existing ailments, the fruit stops exacerbations and restores mobility to the joints.
For immunity
The high content of ascorbic acid and other vitamins in feijoa is of great benefit to the immune system. With regular use, the fruit increases resistance to viral and bacterial ailments. Feijoa is especially useful to add to the diet in the autumn and winter, when the body is naturally deficient in vitamins.
Feijoa application
In order for exotic fruits to bring maximum benefit, you should familiarize yourself with the rules for their use. Feijoa can be consumed not only fresh - infusions and decoctions based on fruits have an increased medicinal value. In addition, the fruit can be used for beauty care, it will help to prolong youth and maintain freshness and attractiveness.
In folk medicine
Home remedies recipes suggest using both the fruit and the green parts of the tropical fruit. Several medicinal products are especially popular.
Infusion on feijoa leaves for goiter
When treating endemic goiter, you can use the following useful remedy:
- feijoa leaves are crushed in the amount of 1 large spoon;
- raw materials are poured with 250 ml of hot water;
- cover the container with a lid and wait half an hour;
- filter the finished product.
It is necessary to drink the infusion in the morning and in the evenings on an empty stomach, 1 glass each.
Tea made from leaves and peels for kidney disease
For nephritis, an unusual medicinal tea is used. Prepare it like this:
- dry leaves and dried peel of feijoa are crushed in equal quantities, 1 small spoon;
- raw materials are mixed and poured with a glass of boiling water;
- the container is closed and insisted for 15 minutes;
- add 1 small spoonful of natural honey and stir until dissolved.
They drink tea for a couple of weeks twice a day on a full stomach. After that, the treatment is paused, and then, if necessary, repeat the course.
Infusion of flowers and leaves for hepatitis
Feijoa will be beneficial for hepatitis A and other liver diseases if you prepare a decoction according to the following recipe:
- mix dry flowers and leaves of the plant in equal proportions;
- take 1 large spoonful of the collection and pour a glass of hot water;
- insist closed for half an hour and strain.
They drink the product warm twice a day, the daily portion is divided into 2 doses. If you combine the infusion with medications with the permission of your doctor, the home remedy will have a noticeable positive effect.
Paste for diseases of the thyroid gland
With inflammatory processes of the thyroid gland, or the so-called thyroiditis, you can prepare a vitamin paste. For this you need:
- grind 4 berries of the fruit together with the peel in a blender;
- add 1 large spoonful of honey to the gruel;
- mix the components well.
You need to use the paste three times a day on an empty stomach, 1 large spoon, the whole treatment is continued for a month, alternating a weekly intake of the drug with a week break.
In cosmetology
Feijoa is used not only for treatment, but also for beauty care. Vitamins and acids in this exotic fruit fight skin aging and restore volume and healthy shine to hair.
Hair masks
In case of hair weakening and increased fragility of the ends, you can use the following mask:
- the pulp of 3 tangerines and 2 persimmons are ground into a gruel;
- add a small spoonful of fresh feijoa juice;
- add a small spoonful of turmeric powder;
- Pour boiling water over the mixture and let it brew for 5 minutes.
Then the product is gently distributed through the hair and left for an hour, covered with plastic wrap. With regular use, the mask will noticeably improve blood circulation under the scalp and strengthen the structure of the curls.
Decoctions and infusions on the peel of the fruit are used to rinse the hair. Helpful remedies work well on oily scalp, regulate sebum production and help get rid of dandruff.
Face masks
The vitamins in feijoa visibly rejuvenate the skin with regular use. To moisturize and eliminate the first wrinkles, you can use the following mask:
- 2-3 fruit fruits are crushed into gruel using a blender;
- add in equal proportions pounded sea buckthorn berries and chopped oatmeal;
- distribute the mixture over the skin and leave for 15 minutes.
A mask with a scrubbing effect will have a rejuvenating effect, soften the epidermis and improve the complexion.
Another mask will be helpful for dry skin:
- 1 large spoonful of feijoa pulp is mixed with 1 small spoonful of heavy cream;
- add 1 small spoonful of castor oil;
- apply the product to the skin of the face and neck and leave for 10 minutes.
If applied twice a week, the skin will quickly soften and stop flaking.
In dietetics
Feijoa can often be seen on the diet menu - fruit fruits are low in calories and at the same time speed up metabolism. It is enough to consume only 1 - 3 medium berries per day to increase the effectiveness of the diet and achieve rapid weight loss. Also, when losing weight, the following mixture is often used:
- crushed tropical berries and any nuts in equal parts;
- poured with honey;
- use three times a day for 1 small spoon.
How to use feijoa for health benefits
Feijoa can be taken for medicinal purposes and for the prevention of vitamin deficiency, either in the form of a fruit dessert or in combination with other products. Feijoa improves the taste of fruit and vegetable salads, berries are eaten along with citrus fruits and apples, avocados and nuts, added to pie fillings and decorate meat dishes.
So that a tropical product does not turn into harm, it is enough to consume about 100 g of fruits per day. At the same time, it is recommended to eat feijoa not daily, but from time to time, otherwise hypervitaminosis and an excess of iodine may occur.
Limitations and contraindications
In some conditions, feijoa fruits are strictly prohibited for consumption. Contraindications include:
- hyperfunction of the thyroid gland;
- individual allergy to the product;
- exacerbation of digestive ailments - pancreatitis, gastritis and ulcers.
With care, the fruit should be eaten with sensitive tooth enamel. It is not recommended to exceed the daily dosage of the product, side effects are manifested in the form of tachycardia, hot flashes and increased nervous excitability.
Selection and storage rules
Choosing a feijoa in a store is pretty easy. The best taste and benefits are rich green berries with a whole peel and no dents. The fruit should be slightly soft to the touch, if the fruit is hard, this indicates that it is not ripe. On the cut, the fruit should have a translucent flesh - the white fruits from the inside are not yet ripe, and the brown ones have already begun to deteriorate.
You can store feijoa in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If the product was purchased slightly unripe, then for a couple of days it can be left at room temperature for natural ripening.
Conclusion
The beneficial properties and contraindications of feijoa are closely related to each other, however, the fruit has more valuable qualities.When consumed wisely, the small green fruits can help promote health and vitamin balance in the body.
