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The name of the fruit comes from the surname of a certain scientist Joanie de Silva Feijo, who in former times headed the Museum of Natural Sciences in Brazil. He made a significant contribution to the selection and distribution of many well-known modern world plants. The history of feijoa cultivation goes back a little over a hundred years. In Europe, and more specifically in the Mediterranean, this fruit appeared only at the beginning of the 20th century. Later, feijoa spread across the Caucasus and Central Asia... Initially, feijoa was used exclusively for decorative purposes, because it is very beautiful, especially during the flowering period.
Feijoa. The nutritional value
| In 100 grams | contains: |
|---|---|
| Calories | 55 kcal |
| Squirrels | 1 g |
| Lipids (fats) | 0.6 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.1 g |
| Polyunsaturated fatty acid | 0.2 g |
| Monounsaturated fatty acids | 0.1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 13 g |
| Alimentary fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 3 mg |
| Potassium | 172 mg |
| Calcium | 17 mg |
| Iron | 0.1 mg |
| Magnesium | 9 mg |
| Vitamin A (Retinol) | 0.883 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.1 mg |
| Vitamin C | 9 mg |
Feijoa is evergreen tree from the Akka clan. Such a tree does not exceed 4 meters in height. Feijoa fruits are oval and green in color. They weigh 25-50 grams, and outwardly resemble small zucchini. Ripe fruits should be soft to the touch. Historical homeland this plant is Brazil. But feijoa is also grown in the countries of Central Asia. And in our country - on the territory of the Krasnodar Territory.
Only over time did people appreciate the amazing taste of feijoa fruits. They are usually eaten raw. But quite often a variety of drinks and jams are prepared from feijoa. Many people like to add feijoa to all kinds of fruit and vegetable salads, this gives the dishes a unique taste and exquisite aroma. Feijoa sauce is good, especially when combined with meat dishes. Ripe berries are tasty on their own, at the same time, they contain an essential oil (consisting of 93 specific substances), the taste of which also resembles strawberries and pineapple together. Ice creams (in the chamber) are stored for up to six months, retaining their beneficial properties, dried feijoa are also very tasty and aromatic, and jam or jam from these berries is generally a gourmet's dream that raises immunity. Feijoa is also used as a flavoring additive in vodka made in New Zealand.
Why is such a product useful?
Energy value 100 gr. Feijoa product (Latin Acca sellowiana):
Feijoa fruit pulp contains sucrose. The acidity of the fruit is quite high. They contain quite a lot of pectin and fiber. Few protein substances. The amino acid composition of the fruit is not rich, it is represented mainly by 5 amino acids (asparagine, arginine, glutamine, alanine, tyrosine).
The fruits also contain catechins and leukoanthocyanins, soluble tannin, which are found mainly in the skin and give the fruit an astringent taste, which affects the "gastronomic performance" of the product. You can do it simply: remove the peel, dry it and brew it with tea. In addition, feijoa leaves can also be used in the kitchen, containing essential oils in their numerous glands and exuding the aroma of myrtle when brewed.
Feijoa is also an essential component of the disrupted diet. gastrointestinal tract and its inflammatory processes. An interesting fact is the fact that the beneficial properties of feijoa are contained not only in the pulp, but also in the skin of the berry - this is where it is concentrated a large number of pectins, the content of which the product surpasses most fruits, and various beneficial antioxidant substances that prevent the development of atherosclerosis. The easiest way to prepare berries for the winter is to pass the pulp through a meat grinder and combine with sugar in a 1: 1 ratio. This tasty delicacy perfectly raises the immune system and stops bacterial attacks in the initial stage. For lovers of sweets, this is just a find - a combination of tasty and healthy is not so common.
For medicinal purposes, feijoa is used not only for diseases thyroid gland, but also with hypoacid gastritis, pyelonephritis. Still, this is not a medicine, but a useful supplement to the diet.
In addition, feijoa contains unique substances that contribute to the prevention and treatment of cancer. Feijoa peel is especially useful in this regard, but its only drawback is its tart and slightly astringent taste, so many people prefer to use peeled feijoa.
Anti-inflammatory properties of feijoa have long been known in cosmetology.
Among other things, feijoa is a wonderful prophylactic agent against viral and colds. Feijoa helps to strengthen the body's immune system. A very valuable property of feijoa is that its fruits do not cause allergic reactions.
Feijoa harm
It is worth remembering that the harm of feijoa can manifest itself with an individual intolerance to the product. In addition, due to the presence of easily digestible sugars in feijoa, this fruit may be contraindicated in people suffering from obesity and diabetes. In any case, you should consult a specialist before consuming this exotic fruit.
It is necessary to remember when choosing and buying berries - they can be hard, not quite ripe (after all, an imported fruit), but the most important thing is that the integrity of the fruit and the peel should not be violated. After standing for a while, the fruits will ripen by themselves, even if artificially, but their beneficial properties will not suffer.
How to eat feijoa correctly?
Unfortunately, not all people know how to eat feijoa correctly, and even with recipes for dishes from these delicious and useful fruits not everyone is familiar. First, you need to choose the right fruits when buying - ripe feijoa fruits are soft to the touch, differ in transparent and juicy pulp. If the pulp is brown - you are dealing with spoiled fruit, and if white - with unripe. Feijoa pulp is characterized by a strong aroma and pleasant, sweet, delicate taste, reminiscent of the taste of strawberries or pineapple. The skin of the fruit is firm and tart, but also edible. Some people use feijoa whole, cutting off the tails, an equally common method is to scoop out the pulp with a spoon.
When berries similar to gooseberries appeared on store shelves a few years ago, people hesitated to buy them for a long time. But, having figured it out and having tried it once, they began to consider them an ordinary fruit, the name of which is feijoa. Over time, it became known what is useful for feijoa. From this article you can learn everything that is why it is worth getting to know this beautiful and necessary miracle of nature better.
Feijoa: photo, description
Feijoa is a shrub with evergreen foliage that ranges from two to four meters in height. The branches are gray-yellow in color; beautiful large flowers are visible on them during flowering. Blooms from June to July. The flowers are pretty, bloom for a long time.
The fruit is greenish in color, the berries reach a size of about 5 cm in length and 20 to 120 g in weight. Full ripening occurs in late autumn, in late October - early November, depending on the variety. The bush is harvested abundantly. Even indoor plant can give about three kilograms of fruit, and on the plantation 30 kg or more are removed from the tree.
It is possible to enjoy real gustatory qualities only when there is ripe feijoa. But it is not often possible to buy the fruit when it is fully ripe, because it is harvested not fully ripe. This becomes the cause of rapid spoilage. You can't eat spoiled fruit.
Some people unknowingly eat feijoa like kiwi, cutting off the top skin and cutting the flesh into slices. In fact, they need to be eaten along with the peel, which contains all the nutrients.
How is feijoa useful? The presence of vitamins and healing properties, which are lost if stored improperly. But its shelf life when ripe is very short. Even in the refrigerator, it can be stored in a suitable form for no more than a week. If you wish, always have tasty fresh fruits, but you need to buy up to two kilograms at a time.
If the fruit is still immature, its shelf life is longer. If it is collected in the last autumn days, then, subject to the storage rules, it will be able to lie until spring. The temperature should be 0 degrees. But if you need to make the unripe fruits ripen at home, they should lie in a well-ventilated room at a temperature of about 24 degrees. In about two weeks, ripening will come.
The best way to store feijoa is in a special section of the refrigerator, where the required temperature is maintained.
Today, many of us have access to exotic berries and fruits that come from different corners the world.
Juicy and fleshy berries with sepals of dark green color, taste and aroma reminiscent of a combination of kiwi, strawberry, strawberry and pineapple, pleases us with a fruit crop common in regions with a subtropical climate, under the extravagant name of feijoa. We will consider the beneficial properties and contraindications of fruits today.
The benefits of feijoa for the body lie in the biochemical composition of juicy green fruits. The tender green pulp contains natural sugars, organic acids, dietary fiber, phytosterols, antioxidants, pectins, bioflavonoids, unsaturated (oleic, linoleic, linolenic) and saturated (palmitic, stearic) fatty acids, a whole complex of vitamins, macro- and microelements.
Berries are the leader among plant foods in terms of iodine content (0.2–0.39 mg per 100 g). Even seafood can compete with them. Only 3-4 ripe fruits satisfy the daily requirement of an adult healthy person in a given chemical element.
Feijoa is also prized for its high content ascorbic acid... The amount of vitamin C is about the same as in citrus fruits. The berries also contain other vitamins that are no less important for the body - groups B and PP (in small doses), as well as rare elements - silicon, potassium, molybdenum, chromium, cobalt, boron, rubidium.
Due to the iodine present in the fruits, which is in a bioavailable form for the body and is completely absorbed in the intestines, feijoa must be included in the diet of people with thyroid problems, for example, with Graves' disease.
According to experienced nutritionists, feijoa is recommended for inclusion in a therapeutic and prophylactic diet, it is useful for the prevention and treatment of kidney and gastrointestinal diseases. Gastroenterologists advise everyone who suffers from chronic constipation to regularly feast on feijoa.
- The product has a beneficial effect on the immune system and protects us from viruses and bacteria, stress and depression, vitamin deficiency and mineral imbalances.
Regular inclusion of aromatic berries in the menu is beneficial for the nervous system, as well as for everyone experiencing mental and emotional overload, for example, students during a session, decision-makers, businessmen or people engaged in intellectual work.
In some countries, the beneficial properties of feijoa for men are very much appreciated - the daily inclusion of feijoa in the diet helps to prevent inflammation in the prostate. Also, the product normalizes hormones and enhances the sexual activity of men.
The benefits of exotics for women are invaluable. Replacing traditional desserts with delicious sweet and sour berries, you not only minimize the use of sugar, which negatively affects your body condition, but also activate your metabolism.
Feijoa has been used for centuries in home cosmetology to improve the condition of the facial skin. Systematic procedures (masks with fruit pulp) are a proven method of slowing down the aging process and reducing the depth of age wrinkles.
The use of feijoa in cooking
The product is low in calories (50 kcal / 100 g) and can be used in various diets. Since the berry itself has an exceptional taste, it is replaced by traditional dishes with sugar. Most often, feijoa is added to desserts: fruit salads with whipped cream and ice cream, preserves, jams, confitures, compotes, lemonades are prepared from the product.
- Very often, confectioners use green pulp for fillings of cakes, pastries, sweets.
In dietary nutrition, the beneficial properties of feijoa are actively used. How to cook and properly consume delicious fruits? Cut the ripe fruit in half and select the pulp with a teaspoon, leaving the skin intact.
The high concentration of organic acids allows you to harvest the product without further preservation, for example, simply rubbing the berries with sugar or honey. Such a delicacy will help eliminate iodine deficiency in the body.
Traditional medicine recipes with feijoa
The pulp, grated with sugar, is an excellent remedy for reducing blood pressure, cleaning blood vessels, improving blood composition. Pass the peeled berries along with granulated sugar (2: 1) through a meat grinder or puree in a blender, transfer the tasty mixture to a clean glass jar and take a tablespoon three times a day as a healthy dessert. Store the medicine in the refrigerator.
Fresh fruit juice diluted with water (15 ml per glass of drinking water) helps to improve the condition of the myocardium and blood vessels, eliminate iodine deficiency, and say goodbye to constipation. Take one glass of the healing drink per day. To enhance the effect, natural honey (a teaspoon) can be added to the elixir.
Fresh feijoa fruits are an ideal remedy for gout, constipation, colds, diseases of the bronchopulmonary system and hypovitaminosis. The maximum benefit from exotic can be obtained by consuming 3-5 medium-sized fruits per day (the weight of berries varies from 30 to 120 grams).
Healing jam will help in the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis. Also, the composition is recommended in the winter-autumn period to enhance immunity and prevent spring beriberi. 1/2 kg of unpeeled fruits are blanched, crushed and covered with 1 kg of sugar.
After the juice is released, the mass is boiled over low heat for 10 minutes, freshly squeezed juice of 1 large orange is added to it and simmer on the stove until tender (about 5-7 minutes). The jam is rolled up in sterile jars or stored under a plastic lid in the refrigerator.
Can feijoa harm your health? Like any fruit, this exotic has a number of limitations.
Firstly, the product is contraindicated for everyone with individual intolerance, which is often observed in people with overseas fruits.
Be wary of adding berries to your menu if you've never tasted them before. Do not feed small children with fruit.
Secondly, do not exceed the dosage recommended by nutritionists (5 pcs per day for an adult or about 0.3 kg), as you can get an allergic reaction to the product and an overdose of iodine, which is expressed in increased nervous excitability, anxiety, causeless irritability, arrhythmias, surges in body temperature.
Absolutely forbidden the use of fruits for people suffering from hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism), due to the high concentration of easily digestible forms of iodine. If you have endocrine diseases, then you should definitely consult with a supervising specialist.
- Treat feijoa with caution if you have diabetes mellitus, obesity, pancreatitis, gastritis with high acidity.
Avoid the combination of feijoa and whole milk as it can lead to an upset stomach. The exotic is best combined with fermented milk drinks and products - natural yogurt, kefir, sour cream, cottage cheese.
Do not eat berries with signs of rotting. Purchased fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for no longer than 1 week. Failure to follow this advice can lead to food poisoning by the waste products of pathogens.
Having carefully studied the composition of feijoa, its benefits and harms to health, you can consciously improve the condition of the body by including this product in your daily menu. The therapeutic effect of an exotic berry can be appreciated at its true worth only if its use is systematic. A single dose will not bring the desired result.
Be healthy!
There are fruits that have a pronounced seasonal demand. These include the fruits of feijoa, about the benefits and dangers of which today's story. They begin to appear on store shelves from the beginning of autumn. Although they say that nature does not have bad weather, the autumn slush and winter frosts make one think about getting as many nutrients as possible into the body. And everyone who is on guard of their health revises the menu, trying to include more vitamins in it.
According to one of the legends, people received a wonderful fruit as a gift from the gods for their obedience. But the history of the conquest of Europe in the fruit began quite late, in comparison with other exotic fruits, in the 19th century. It was then that the Brazilian naturalist João da Silva Feijo discovered it to the inhabitants of the Old World. We owe it to him for the inconveniently pronounced name of the fruit.
At home, in South America The feijoa fruit is better known as akka. It grows on a tree of the myrtle family, sometimes reaching 4 meters in height. In our country, fruits ripen in the South of Russia, the Caucasus, in the Crimea.
Feijoa - benefit and harm
Some people seriously consider feijoa a hybrid of strawberries, pineapple and kiwi (I wrote about it recently, you can follow the link and read). Ripe feijoa tastes like them. The impression can be spoiled by the dense peel of the fruit, but I will tell you about the correct eating of the fruit below.
Although ... feijoa peel itself is also beneficial, it contains health-promoting substances. Therefore, it is unwise to throw it away, it is better to dry it and then add it while brewing tea.
If we talk about the benefits and harms of feijoa to our body, then, first of all, it is worth starting with the natural substances that make up its composition.
- First, feijoa is among the fruits that are deservedly considered champions in iodine content. The compounds of the most important element are easily absorbed, since they are rapidly dissolving, which is especially important for those living in areas that are unfavorable in terms of iodine content.
- The list of substances can be supplemented with potassium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, iron, phosphorus, sodium, copper and calcium.
- The vitamin range is also very impressive: these are vitamins C, PP, group B - 9, 6, 5, 2, 1. The fruit contains fats, proteins, carbohydrates, unsaturated fats, unsaturated acids, dietary fiber, and sugars. Add amino acids, there are only 5 of them, and among them alanine, asparagine, tyrosine, arginine, glutamine, the proportion of which increases as the fetus ripens.
It's important to know - most of phenolic compounds are found in the skin of the fruit, thanks to which the fruit has an astringent taste.
Why feijoa is useful
Let's answer the question why you should eat feijoa and how is it useful?
- For the treatment and prevention of almost all endocrine diseases, except for hypothyroidism (more details in contraindications to the use of the fruit).
- Useful for vitamin deficiency.
- Strengthens the immune system, helps to treat colds and viral diseases. Helps to quickly recover from surgery and serious illness.
- They are extremely beneficial to the intestines, due to the presence of a large amount of fiber. Recommended for patients with gastritis, diseases of the pancreas, liver.
- Hypertension, diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
- Berries are an excellent source of iron; it is recommended to take them with a low hemoglobin.
- Possesses antifungal and antibacterial action, negatively affects pathogenic organisms.
- There is an opinion: the plant has an anti-cancer effect. Whether this is so is unknown, but for prevention and with this disease, it is useful to take berries as a tasty medicine.
- Wound, ulcers, abrasions. Prepare a decoction from the bark, leaves and apply lotions to the sore spot.
- Inflammation of the gums, toothache - a decoction from the leaves and bark of the tree will help.
Feijoa for diabetes
There is no categorical prohibition on the use of feijoa for patients with diabetes. Worth noting: Some diets targeted at people with high blood sugar levels healthy fruit is present.
But doctors strictly warn: you should not change your sense of proportion. Overeating of the fruit is strictly prohibited, since the composition of the fruit contains a lot of different sugars, in varying degrees influencing the level of indicators.
- The fruit is useful for patients, in addition to diabetes, suffering from depression, vitamin deficiency, an inflammatory process in the digestive tract, and arterial disease.
- With obesity and hyperthyroidism (the thyroid gland produces too many hormones), feijoa fruits are harmful.
The benefits and harms of feijoa for pregnant women
Women are very responsible for nutrition during pregnancy. The main condition is balance, diversity and its benefits, since now there is an active growth, development of the baby, the laying of all organs.
But ... unfortunately, it is at this time that it is unimaginably drawn to various harmfulness. Usually, doctors recommend eating more fruits and vegetables to support the body, and preferably those grown in the climatic zone where you live. In winter, you must admit, this is unlikely to be done.
Feijoa is great for pregnant women, despite the exoticism. Why is feijoa useful during pregnancy?
- Vitamins. Most important women are PP, in the company with which vitamin C is absorbed much better.
- Iron and iodine will become invaluable natural substances during this period. The latter is easily absorbed and quickly goes to the fetus. Pay attention to the feijoa at the 12th week of pregnancy - the thyroid gland begins to form in the child.
Feijoa benefits for women
We women are most interested in whether feijoa can be adapted for personal care. The benefits of natural cosmetics are undeniable, and fruits meet all the requirements. Fruit masks perfectly rejuvenate the skin, give elasticity, and improve the complexion.
Beneficial for inflamed, acne-covered skin. It will help with, reducing the appearance of spider veins, relieve pigmentation.
Preparation of a rejuvenating mask:
- Mix the curd, olive oil, yolk and chopped feijoa berries. Apply for 20 minutes and be beautiful!
The use of feijoa in the treatment of diseases - recipes
In the treatment of various ailments, feijoa berries are used, and if you live in the place where a tree grows, then leaves, flowers and bark.
- Jaundice. Brew tea from the leaves of the plant by adding dried flowers.
- For the prevention and treatment of thyroid disease. Use tree leaves. Medicinal tea is prepared from them: a tablespoon is brewed with a glass of boiling water and infused for half an hour.
- Nephritis. Tea with the addition of a spoonful of honey will help.
- Atherosclerosis. Make raw fruit preserves and spoon them for healing, prevention, and pleasure.
- Thyroid. Do not miss the feijoa season, friends, and you will forget about thyroid problems. Raw berry jam will help, in which, to enhance the effect, add honey instead of sugar.
Feijoa jam:
Everyone will love raw fruit jam: chop the feijoa in a meat grinder and add sugar. Take the same amount of berries and sweetness.
Feijoa - photo
Feijoa calories
In dietary nutrition, the feijoa fruit is respected for its low nutritional value- it is not high. If you are concerned about being overweight and striving to lose weight, feel free to include healthy fruit in the menu.
Calorie content of feijoa per 100 gr. - 52 - kcal.
How to choose and eat feijoa correctly
For timely delivery to the buyer, fruit picking begins in advance, not yet ripe enough. The fruits do not lose their benefits during long-term transportation. But if you have chosen an already ripe specimen, then eat it right away, it spoils quite quickly.
The ripe fruit has a thin skin of a dark green color, the pulp is jelly-like, light pink with a slight yellowish tinge. The unripe fruit should lie down a little so that it ripens faster, put a ripe banana next to it.
How to eat fruit? Cut into small pieces and eat without the peel by cutting it off with a knife. As soon as it contains the lion's share of useful properties, it would be more expedient to eat the fruit completely. Most people cut the akk in half and then spoon out the pulp with a spoon.
Add fruits to salad, use in the preparation of snacks, sauce, sandwiches, desserts, smoothies. Read the recipe for making feijoa jam just above.
Harm and contraindications to use
If you want to get the maximum benefit and minimum harm from the fruit, read carefully about the contraindications to the use of feijoa.
Ripe fruit rarely causes an allergic reaction, but when trying for the first time, try a small piece first and follow the reaction of the body. This must be done without fail, especially for those who know about allergies firsthand.
- Among the recommendations, there is one caveat: do not mix feijoa with milk and products from it - intestinal upset is guaranteed.
- Do not offer fruits to children under one year old, as their body lacks enzymes that absorb the fruits.
- The fruit contains almost a record amount of iodine. Refuse to use it in case of hyperthyroidism, it will have a detrimental effect on the body.
- With diabetes, you should not completely abandon feijoa, but since it has a high sugar content, do not get carried away, and use the fruit only with the permission of your doctor.
Impressive, isn't it? In addition to the information, I have compiled a video about the benefits and dangers of feijoa to the health of the body. Be healthy! With love ... Galina Nekrasova.
Feijoa (also called Akka Sellova) is an evergreen subtropical tree with edible sweet fruits.
Homeland - Brazil. The plant got its name in honor of the famous Brazilian breeder of the director of the Museum of Natural History - Joanie de Silva Feijo.
The modern habitat of cultivated Feijoa species:
- Azerbaijan, Sicily, New Zealand, Abkhazia.
On Russian territory fruit tree grown in Dagestan and some regions of the Krasnodar Territory.
Unfortunately, the feijoa is not a frequent guest at our table. And in vain, because a seemingly nondescript green fruit with a fragrant smell of strawberries, kiwi and pineapple has not only excellent taste, but also a lot of medicinal properties.
The benefits and harms of feijoa are due to its chemical composition.
100 g of ripe fruits contain:
- 0.6 fat
- 1 g protein
- 13 g carbohydrates
- 0.1 g unsaturated fat
- 0.3 g unsaturated fatty acids,
- 8 g sugars
- 6 g of dietary fiber.
Everything else falls on minerals and vitamins:
- potassium 172 mg, iron 0.1 mg, phosphorus 20 mg,
- zinc 0.04 mg, sodium 30 mg, copper 55 μg,
- magnesium 9 mg, manganese 0.085 mg, calcium 17 mg,
- (B1, B2, B5, B6, B9) 0.4 mg,
- vitamin C 32.9 mg, vitamin PP 0.289 mg.
Feijoa is unique in that it contains rapidly dissolving iodine compounds, the proportion of which in 100 g of the product reaches 0.5 mg.
The proportion of acids in feijoa is 1.8-2.8% of the total weight of the fruit. Moreover, as the fruit ripens, the amount of acids only increases.
Feijoa contains 5 essential amino acids:
- tyrosine, asparagine, alanine, arginine, glutamine.
Pectins account for 2.5-3%, and phenolic compounds (tannin, catechins, leukoanthocyanins) account for 0.4-0.8% of the total weight of the fruit.
Most of the phenolic compounds are found in the skin of the fruit. It is these substances that give feijoa an astringent taste.
The nutritional value of feijoa per 100 g of product is 55 kcal.
Benefit for health
Due to the large amount of vitamins, macro- and microelements, feijoa is recommended to be consumed during the period of vitamin deficiency.
Surprisingly, the ripening period of the fruits falls at the end of autumn - the beginning of winter. It was at this time that our body, after the summer abundance of fruits and vegetables, for the first time feels a lack of vitamins and minerals. So the feijoa will come in handy.
The main benefit of feijoa is that its pulp contains easily digestible iodine, the proportion of which is so high that the fleshy berry is not inferior in value to seafood.
This means that the green fruits of Akka Sellova can be used to treat all kinds of endocrine diseases.
However, not all types of feijoa contain the right amount of iodine. For example, feijoa from Batumi contains only traces of iodine. It is pointless to use such fruits for the treatment of the thyroid gland.
Thanks to vitamin C, which is an excellent antioxidant, feijoa is used in the fight against diseases of the cardiovascular system, atherosclerosis, hypertension, ARVI, influenza, sore throat.
It has been scientifically proven that feijoa has immunomodulatory properties, so it is useful to eat it during exacerbations of seasonal colds, after serious illnesses and in the postoperative period.
In the areas where Akka Sellova grows, not only fruits are used for medicinal purposes, but also the beneficial properties of feijoa leaves, which contain a large amount of essential oils, are used. It is the volatile esters that give the leaves the scent of myrtle. Feijoa leaves are dried and made into delicious teas in winter.
Nutritionists recommend using feijoa during a therapeutic diet for disruptions in work digestive system, as well as diseases of the stomach (for example, with hypoacid gastritis), intestines, liver, pancreas, etc.
Feijoa decoctions and infusions are often used to treat pyelonephritis of various etiologies.
Interestingly, the peel of feijoa contains more nutrients than the pulp. Of course, the astringent rind greatly diminishes the palatability of feijoa when eaten whole. But such a berry will be more useful. Although you can do otherwise. It is enough to cut off the peel and dry it, and then add it to the tea.
Another remarkable beneficial property of the feijoa fruit is its anti-cancer effect. Regular use of feijoa significantly reduces the risk of developing cancer. And with existing cancer, it allows you to achieve a stable remission. Of course, one cannot be fanatical about this fruit, because feijoa is only an addition to the main treatment.
Thanks to essential oils, antioxidants and other substances, feijoa negatively affects pathogenic microorganisms and has a powerful antifungal and antibacterial effect.
So, decoctions from bark, leaves and fruits can be used as an antiseptic disinfectant. They can treat deep wounds, ulcers, abrasions, cuts, rinse the mouth with bleeding gums, relieve toothache.
Feijoa does not cause allergic reactions.
The benefits of feijoa in cosmetology
Due to the antioxidants that are rich in the fruits of Akka Sellova, feijoa is often used for cosmetic purposes.
Feijoa masks have a beneficial effect on the skin - relieve inflammation, make it softer, give elasticity and generally improve blood circulation and appearance faces. Feijoa decoctions, as well as fruit masks, can be used to treat rosacea, acne, age spots.
To achieve rejuvenation and freshness of the skin, you can prepare a healing mask from feijoa.
Required components:
- 1 tbsp. a spoonful of olive oil,
- half a ripe feijoa fruit,
- 2 tbsp. tablespoons of low-fat cottage cheese,
- 1 yolk.
Grate feijoa or puree in a blender. Mix with the rest of the ingredients. Apply the mask to the face and neck. After 20 minutes, wash off with warm water.
How to eat feijoa correctly
Only ripe feijoa has excellent taste. However, it is not always possible to acquire ripe fruits. The fact is that feijoa is harvested unripe due to the fact that the fruits are perishable.
If the feijoa is hard and not very pleasant to the taste, then the berry is simply not ripe. In this case, the fruits need to lie down for several days. Ripe feijoa has a watery, jelly-like flesh and a thin skin.
Many people prefer to eat feijoa like kiwi, that is, cut off the dense skin and cut the flesh into pieces.
However, ripe fruits can be eaten with a peel, especially since the bulk of the beneficial substances of feijoa is concentrated in it.
In cooking, feijoa is added to salads, main courses, snacks, and is used to make sauces.
How to store
Unlike apples, pears, plums, and other berries and fruits, feijoa has a rather short shelf life. Ripe fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 7 days. The surest way to always enjoy delicious fruits is to buy 1-2 kg of feijoa.
Feijoa fruit can be used to make a wonderful dessert that can be kept all winter long. He prepares very quickly:
Pass the feijoa through a meat grinder and combine with the same amount of sugar. Store dessert in the refrigerator. Thus, you will not only be able to extend the shelf life of the feijoa, but also preserve all the beneficial substances of the exotic berry.
Medicinal use
To combat goiter, take a medicated feijoa tea twice a day. Pour a tablespoon of feijoa leaves with a glass of boiling water and leave for 30 minutes. If you add a spoonful of honey to such a drink, then tea can also be used to treat nephritis.
As a preventive measure against hypothyroidism, regularly consume feijoa puree:
- Grind several fruits in a blender and mix with sugar.
- Store the finished product in the refrigerator.
- Eat according to Art. spoon before each meal.
For jaundice, it is good to drink freshly brewed tea made from feijoa flowers and leaves.
Sweet tooths should love the feijoa medicinal jam:
- Take 0.5 kg of feijoa fruits, 1 orange, 1 kg of sugar.
- Boil the berries for 10 minutes in a little water, then discard and cover with sugar. Squeeze the juice out of the orange.
- Next, transfer the feijoa to a saucepan, add the juice and boil until a thick consistency.
The benefit of feijoa jam is that this dessert not only retains many useful substances, but also is a medicine for atherosclerosis.
Harm and possible contraindications
Ripe feijoa does not affect human body no harm. However, unripe berries can often be bought.
Do not rush to eat the exotic fruit, but let it sit for several days at room temperature.
Unripe feijoa can negatively affect the functioning of the digestive system and even cause poisoning. To speed up the ripening of berries, keep them next to bananas for several days.
Due to the high iodine content, feijoa is contraindicated to use in hyperthyroidism, because an excess amount of iodine is also destructive to the body, as its deficiency.
Feijoa should be used with caution in diabetes mellitus, since the exotic berry contains a large amount of sugars. In this regard, it is better to consult with your doctor.
It is not recommended to mix feijoa with milk or drink it with dairy products. The fact is that pectins, which are rich in feijoa, do not go well with milk. Feijoa with milk can negatively affect the digestive system.
Despite the fact that feijoa rarely causes allergic reactions, it is not recommended to give it to children under one year old, since babies still do not have enough enzymes in their bodies to assimilate exotic fruits well.
Pregnant and lactating women are advised to consume only minimal amounts of feijoa. It's all about iodine. It's no secret that all pregnant women and lactating mothers are prescribed drugs with a high iodine content. Eaten feijoa can cause an overdose of iodine, which can negatively affect the health of the mother and child.
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