Medicinal properties and contraindications of feijoa

My dear readers, today our topic will be a little exotic. First, I just want to ask you: Have you heard of feijoa? Have you tried it? If not, then I strongly advise you to pay attention to it. I just want to humor you a little: if anyone still doesn’t know feijoa, life has passed or is passing by. Today I invite you to a conversation about this berry, we will talk about the beneficial and medicinal properties of feijoa and its contraindications. I first heard about feijoa when my daughter and I were treated in onco-hematology. The diagnosis was very serious. And so often I remember the head nurse. She advised us to be sure to buy them during the berry selling season and give them to our children. They inhibit the growth of cancer cells and are good for the blood, strengthening the body. Since then, I always began to buy feijoa during the season. You can buy feijoas in a large supermarket, but I prefer to buy them at the market, where you can find fresher berries, and there is always more choice.

The smell and taste of feijoa

To me, this berry tastes like a mixture of kiwi, strawberry and pineapple aromas. Believe me, it is a very tasty berry, although it may not seem very attractive at first glance. The pulp is very juicy. Feel free to ask the seller to cut the fruit and show the pulp. There are so many subtleties here. If you see white flesh, the fruit is unripe. There is nothing good about him. If the flesh is brown, this means that the fruit is no longer suitable for eating. The most mature feijoa fruit has absolutely transparent flesh.

It is best eaten by scraping out the pulp with a spoon. I personally don't like skin. This is not for everyone. You can buy slightly unripe fruits and let them sit at home for just a couple of days.

How to choose feijoa when buying

When choosing fruits at the market or in a store, you should pay attention to the appearance of the berries (the peel should have a dark green color, have no visible damage and be shiny), density (ripe berries have a soft consistency) and aroma (a characteristic mixture of kiwi and strawberry aromas ). Transparent pulp on a cut berry indicates the required ripeness of the product and its excellent quality. Fruits with brown flesh are considered overripe, while fruits with white flesh have not reached the desired condition (for final ripening they must be kept in a warm place with good ventilation for several days).

Large berries (diameter 5 cm, length 10 cm) are considered more useful and contain the maximum amount of vitamins, sugar and microelements - they should be chosen from the total mass.

Feijoa. Compound. Calorie content

The unusual appearance of tropical fruits hides an aromatic, delicate taste and many useful substances. Tropical Pods include:

• micro and macroelements: iodine, iron, manganese, zinc, silicon, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and calcium and others;
• vitamins – B3, B5, C, A, B1, B6, PP;
• acids – folic and malic;
• amino acids - arginine, asparagine, glutamine, tyrosine, alanine;
• pectin;
• tannins;
• essential oils;
• biologically active substances – tannin, leukoanthocin and kakhetin;
• enzymes;

The nutritional value of 100 g of feijoa fruit is 1.24 g of protein, 0.78 g of fat, 10.63 g of carbohydrates.

What is feijoa, where and how does it grow?

Feijoas are evergreen moisture-loving trees or spreading shrubs of the Akka genus of the Myrtaceae family. They were discovered in the mountainous subtropics of Brazil. Named after their discoverer, Portuguese naturalist Joao Da Silva Feijó. The “newcomer” from South America has taken root in Europe, Georgia, Armenia, Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Krasnodar Territory and Crimea. Since then, the population of these regions has not known problems with the thyroid gland.

Plants can withstand frosts of –10 °C. In hot climates, yields are reduced. They have a shallow root system. Flowers of white and pink petals are surrounded by red stamens, collected in bunches of 50-80 pieces. Lush flowering bright bushes provide joy for a month and are used in landscape design and as indoor plants.

The fruits are inconspicuous, up to 5 cm long, fleshy and juicy. They look like green plums, but with remnants of sepals at the top and many seeds, so they are classified as berries. The bright green, lumpy peel has a slight waxy coating. The weight of a ripe fruit reaches 60 g, some specimens up to 120 grams. For all its homeliness, feijoa has a special taste. The ripe pulp is transparent, light cream in color, and has a jelly-like consistency.

Trees with a rounded crown, hard glossy leaves and complex flowers will also decorate the window of the house. They reproduce by seeds. Shoots appear in 2-4 weeks. In summer, a tub with a seedling can be kept on the balcony. If you want to get fruits, it is recommended to grow self-pollinating varieties or transfer pollen from one bush to another using a soft brush. In wild conditions, fruiting begins at 6-7 years of plant life.

Feijoa. Useful and medicinal properties. Benefits and harms

The fruits have gained great popularity due to the content of highly concentrated organic compound iodine. Therefore, feijoa is considered an ideal remedy for the prevention of iodine deficiency. Doctors recommend tropical fruits to patients with thyroid diseases and mental workers. Together with the vitamin complex, iodine improves the functioning of the endocrine system and normalizes metabolism.

The significant content of pectins makes it possible to use feijoa fruits for making marmalade and jelly. Pectin is a soluble fiber that helps reduce appetite and improve digestive processes.

Reduces cholesterol levels.

This berry is very good for the heart.

Natural medicine for all hypertensive patients.

Cleanses the blood, very useful for anemia.

The peel of exotic fruits contains tannins, which impart a tart taste, and the biologically active substances leukoanthocin and kakhetin are considered powerful antioxidants. The peel is almost never used for food; it can easily be separated from the pulp, then dried and added to tea.

Due to its vitamin composition, the fruit has an immunomodulatory effect, so it is recommended to eat feijoa during exacerbation of colds, during the postoperative period and after serious illnesses.

Many nutritionists advise including feijoa in your diet if the gastrointestinal tract is unstable, constipation, and various diseases of the intestines, pancreas, liver, and stomach.

If you have the opportunity to get feijoa leaves, I advise you to dry them and prepare delicious tea in winter. The leaves contain a lot of essential oils with the aroma of myrtle.

The prepared infusion and decoction of feijoa fruits, bark and leaves has an antiseptic and disinfectant effect. It can be used in the treatment of kidney inflammation, treat wounds, abrasions, cuts, rinse the mouth for periodontal disease,

Thanks to antioxidants, essential oils and other beneficial substances, feijoa actively affects pathogenic microorganisms and has a strong antibacterial and antifungal effect.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the iodine content in fruits depends on the area where feijoa grows. In areas where the soil contains little iodine or under indoor conditions, the fruits are ineffective in preventing iodine deficiency.

Recipes for feijoa dishes, jam for the winter

Feijoa jam recipe without cooking

feijoa jam without cooking is quite well known , because it greatly simplifies the task for young housewives. Here you will need:

• kilogram of berries;
• 700 grams of sugar.

The berries should not be peeled, because most of the beneficial microelements are contained in the outer shell. Well-washed fruits are grated or used in a blender for chopping. Pour the finished mixture with sugar and mix everything thoroughly.

After 1 hour, the composition is transferred to jars, which can be pre-sterilized, and rolled up with tin lids. The cooled filled jars are put in the refrigerator for a day. After time, the jam will turn into a jelly-like consistency. This indicates that the preparation for the winter is ready. Feijoa jam is stored in a cool place for the winter.

The benefits and harms of sprouted wheat. Dish recipes. - there is more useful information here.

Feijoa jam without cooking, video:

There are several more recipes where feijoa is the main component:

• Feijoa and honey. From the described fruit you can make an excellent dessert, where the component product will be natural honey and several additions to taste. How to cook feijoa with honey? The dessert recipe is very simple. Grind 700 grams of fruits in a blender and add 450 grams of honey. Mix everything thoroughly and consume slightly chilled. You can add a compound product, for example, chopped walnuts or dried apricots. Garnish the finished dish with lime wedges.

• Feijoa and sugar. It would seem that there are no difficulties in preparing a dish from feijoa and sugar, however, here you can show your imagination. How to cook feijoa with sugar? For example, mix the following ingredients: 600 grams of ripe fruits, grated on a fine grater; 1 large lemon, sliced ​​or crushed; 0.5 kg sugar; 2-3 tablespoons grated fresh ginger. All ingredients are thoroughly mixed and left for half an hour to obtain a soft consistency. Consume as needed to treat colds or prevent them in winter.
• Feijoa sauce. Prepare a sauce for dressing dishes using feijoa, garlic and red pepper. All ingredients are crushed, mixed and placed on low heat in a boiling pan. Boil for at least half an hour. Check readiness by tasting the sauce. You can also add salt, sugar, pepper and other herbs and spices for taste.

Any meat dish can be decorated with a pleasant aroma and tasty “zest” if you add feijoa juice or pulp to the marinade.

You will be interested in this article - Pumpkin seeds: benefits and harm for men and women.

These fruits are not compatible with milk and other dairy products with a liquid consistency. Such consumption may lead to irritation of the intestinal mucosa.

But if you mix the pulp of the fruit with cottage cheese or even grated cheese, you get a very amazing taste.

Feijoa. Harm. Contraindications

We have learned the beneficial properties of feijoa, but I would like to warn you that you should be careful about your health and take into account all contraindications before eating feijoa.

If you come across unripe feijoas at the market, it is better to let them sit next to bananas at room temperature for several days. This will speed up the ripening of the fruit and relieve you of digestive system disorders, because unripe tropical fruit can cause poisoning.

Feijoa should not be mixed with dairy products or washed down with milk to avoid disruption of the gastrointestinal tract. The reason is that the pectins contained in the fruits are not compatible with milk.

If you have diabetes, you should consult your doctor in advance. Large amounts of sugars can cause significant harm.

It is not recommended to give fruit pulp to children under one year of age, since they do not have the digestive enzymes necessary to digest feijoa.

High iodine content will have harmful effects in hyperthyroidism. After all, both excess and deficiency of iodine have a detrimental effect on human health.

Nursing and pregnant women can consume feijoa berries in small quantities. Take into account whether doctors have previously prescribed iodine preparations to exclude an overdose of iodine and poor health.

To prevent all consequences, we can once again tell everyone one wise thing: never “lean on” any products. And if you're trying something for the first time, always try a little bit at a time. We are all different. And your reaction to even the simplest, most common and useful for many products can be individual.

Possible contraindications and harm

Feijoa berries have both beneficial properties and contraindications that must be taken into account when consuming them:

1. In order for feijoa to bring benefits and not harm to children, when taking the berries for the first time, you need to make sure that they do not cause an allergic reaction.
2. People suffering from hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and obesity should avoid ripe fruits due to their high sugar content. They need to give preference to not quite ripe berries in order to receive benefit from feijoa rather than harm.
3. People who have a non-allergic hypersensitivity to feijoa berries should avoid them, because... consumption may cause gastrointestinal disorders of varying severity.
4. Excessive eating of berries can negatively affect the nervous system. Some experience rapid heartbeat, unstable body temperature, anxiety and nervous breakdowns. Others experience depressed mood, lethargy, decreased performance, and depression.

5. The combination of cow's milk and feijoa berries can cause diarrhea or digestive system upset.

The benefits and harms of feijoa are of great importance in human nutrition, so everyone must make a choice for themselves whether they need to consume this valuable plant or not.

The use of feijoa for medicinal purposes

The most useful recipe, in my opinion, is the one I prepare myself and I highly recommend you use. This recipe, in my opinion, is universal, suitable for both adults and children. I gave it to my daughter, and I always used it myself.

A universal recipe for using feijoa with health benefits

It's very easy to prepare. Wash the fruits and dry them. Cut off the stems of the berries. I never remove the peel. And then use either a meat grinder or a blender. The result is a mass of pleasant emerald color. Add granulated sugar to it. The nurse advised us to keep the proportions 1:1. But I often add less granulated sugar. For 1 kg of berries, 600 grams of granulated sugar. You can add orange and nuts here (walnuts are especially good). Mix everything thoroughly. Place in a glass jar. Place in the refrigerator. Take a teaspoon 3 times a day.

If you prepare this recipe with an orange, you must peel it and also grind it either in a meat grinder or in a blender.

I will talk in more detail about recipes with feijoa in a separate article. Here I will give only basic and brief recipes on how to use feijoa for health.

For stress and depression, eat 5-6 fruits a day. Uplifting, tasty and healthy.

To prevent diseases of the cardiovascular system, squeeze 1 tablespoon of juice and mix with ¼ glass of water. Drink once a day, at any time.

To treat and prevent atherosclerosis, prepare jam from feijoa and oranges.

It is very good to use my universal recipe for problems with blood vessels. And here's another recipe. Blanch 0.5 kg. feijoa. Do not peel the fruits, then grind them in a blender and add 1 kg. sugar until juice appears. Boil for 5-10 minutes, add juice from one orange and cook until tender. But when cooking jam, many beneficial substances are still destroyed. But it turns out very tasty.

To prevent and treat thyroid diseases with iodine deficiency, take 1 tablespoon of feijoa puree half an hour before meals.

For hypertension, grind feijoa fruits in a blender, mix with sugar in a 1:1 ratio and take one tablespoon twice a day.

For hepatitis A (jaundice), drink tea from a mixture of feijoa flowers and leaves (in equal parts). Pour one tablespoon of the mixture into a glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Drink twice a day. Tea made from the leaves also helps with goiter.

A few fruits in your diet will help you in the following cases:

• rheumatic pains;
• anemia;
• malaria and scurvy;
• painful menstruation;
• bronchitis;
• high cholesterol;
• gout;
• Graves' disease;
• acne;
• atonic constipation;
• reduced immunity.

I suggest you watch an interesting video about the beneficial properties of feijoa. I highly recommend watching the video. The market where these berries are sold is shown, and advice is given on how to choose feijoa and why it is useful.

And if you do buy feijoa at the market, I highly advise you to treat yourself too. Let's prepare something delicious and don't forget about the face and décolleté area.

Beneficial properties of feijoa

Everything in this plant is healing: berries, leaves, flowers and tree bark. The beneficial properties of feijoa for the human body are great. The more ripe the fruit, the more benefits it will bring. Feijoa berries are a natural source of iodine, which is easily absorbed by the human body. The fruits are useful for consuming thyroid dysfunction and goiter, in order to bring the initial deviations of hormones back to normal.

The benefits of feijoa for the body are due to the fact that it contains:

• minerals: iodine, potassium, sodium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, copper, manganese;
• malic and folic acids;
• essential oils;
• easily digestible proteins and fats.

The vitamins present in feijoa berries are beneficial for the human body during an epidemic of influenza and colds. They strengthen the immune system, help cope with vitamin deficiency and fatigue.

1. Berry puree will help strengthen the thyroid gland. To prepare it, you need to take 300 g of washed and dried berries with skins, grind them using a blender, add a little honey and mix everything thoroughly. You should take 1 tbsp of puree daily. on an empty stomach.
2. To boost immunity and strengthen the body, you can prepare such a remedy. Wash 1 kg of berries, dry them, grind them using a blender or meat grinder, add 800 g of May honey. Mix the ingredients thoroughly, place in clean jars and seal with lids. Store in the refrigerator or in a cool place. Take 1 tsp. during meals, preferably with hot green tea.

Thanks to vitamin C, feijoa is useful for people who have decided to quit smoking.

Feijoa is also useful for the digestive system. The pulp of the fruit contains a lot of pectin and fiber, which are a natural sorbent. They remove waste, poisons and toxins from the body and regulate blood cholesterol levels. The consumption of berries is recommended by specialists for kidney and liver diseases.

B vitamins provide:

1. B1 is the engine of life, it stimulates energy production in cells, normalizes the functioning of the heart muscle and brain, and is useful for atherosclerosis.
2. B2 - participates in hematopoiesis, improves its composition and blood circulation. Maintains normal hormone levels and regulates mental state. Balances carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism.
3. B3 - regulates the functioning of the digestive system, suppresses the growth of cancer cells and reduces blood pressure.
4. B5 (pantothenic acid) - normalizes metabolism. This is the prevention of all inflammatory processes. It is effective for bronchopulmonary diseases and allergies. Protects against stress, increases concentration.
5. B6 (pyridoxine) - eliminates disorders in the nervous system, relieves muscle spasms, cramps and numbness of the arms or legs. Plays an important role in the construction of dietary fiber.
6. PP - helps cope with depression, lethargy, restore vitality, participates in protein metabolism, improves well-being in diseases of the cardiovascular system.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with Autumn feeding of blackberries.
Why feijoa is useful for the human body:

1. For inflammatory processes in the joints, it is recommended to use feijoa jam with orange. To do this, 500 g of washed and dried berries with skins must be crushed using a blender or meat grinder. Place the chopped berries in a saucepan, add 1 kg of sugar and mix thoroughly. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add freshly squeezed juice of 1 orange and bring to a boil again. Hot jam should be rolled into sterile jars; Can be stored at room temperature. It is useful for atherosclerosis, vitamin deficiency and weakened immunity.

2. In case of Botkin's disease, for prevention when in contact with a patient, you need to eat feijoa berries and drink tea with its flowers.
3. To prevent and treat scurvy, you also need to eat berries.

Feijoa fruits are not only useful for their berries; their peel also has medicinal properties. It contains many antioxidants, catechin and leukoanthocin, which have antitumor activity and protect against radiation. The tannin contained in the peel is characterized by tanning properties, so it is used as a hemostatic agent for dysentery, diarrhea and internal bleeding.

The astringent taste of the peel indicates the presence of a large amount of bioflavonoids (phenolic compounds) in it.

In combination with ascorbic acid, they eliminate capillary fragility and permeability and increase the elasticity of blood vessels. Eating berries with the peel is useful for retinal hemorrhage, arterial hypertension, hemorrhagic diathesis, glomerulonephritis, and rheumatism. They help with infectious diseases, Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli.

The properties of feijoa are useful for the prevention of heart and vascular diseases:

1. 1 tbsp. Feijoa juice should be diluted with 50 ml of water and drunk once a day.
2. When treating hypertension, prepare a mixture of crushed feijoa fruits and sugar. The mixture is consumed 2 times a day, 1 tablespoon; The product is stored in the refrigerator.

3. To strengthen the heart muscle and improve cardiovascular activity, you can take fresh juice from the fruits of this plant. To do this, add 1 tbsp to 1/4 cup of water. berry juice; reception - 1 time per day.

The fruit of the tree is a source of energy that nourishes and supports the human body. By consuming 2-3 fruits daily, you can improve intellectual abilities, memory, attention, get rid of stress and depression caused by them; berries reduce fatigue, activate, give vigor and impetus to action.

The essential oils contained in the peel of the berries make it possible to use it for inhalation. To do this, you need to pour boiling water over the peel, add a little soda and breathe over the solution for a few minutes, covered with a towel. This will help prevent colds and runny nose.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with Gooseberry Wine

The use of feijoa in cosmetology

Due to its medicinal composition, feijoa fruit pulp is used for cosmetic purposes. She provides:

• anti-inflammatory;
• rejuvenating;
• nutritious;
• improving blood circulation
• emollient
• refreshing effect.

Masks based on tropical fruits will help get rid of rosacea, acne, age spots on the face, give elasticity to the skin and improve the appearance of the face. For the same purposes, you can use a decoction of feijoa leaves.

Feijoa cosmetic mask recipe:

• yolk from one egg;
• a tablespoon of olive oil;
• 2 tbsp. spoons of cottage cheese;
• pulp from half a feijoa fruit.

Grind the feijoa in a blender and mix with other ingredients. Apply the prepared mixture to the skin of the face and neck. Wash with warm water after 20 minutes. Lubricate your face with moisturizer.

You can also simply use the pulp of the berry for a mask. Also a very good effect. I like it the most. Especially when there is no time to mix something there, there is simply no time, but you want mood and freshness of the face. Just remember to test on your wrist to see if this mask is right for you.

Use in folk medicine

The valuable qualities of the tropical fruit are irreplaceable for women, and the beneficial properties of feijoa are used not only for internal consumption, but also for external consumption - for cosmetic purposes. It has long been known that regular consumption of berries slows down the aging process, improves the condition of the skin, hair and nails, and relieves acne and postpartum pigmentation. These qualities have been used by cosmetologists to develop various masks for the face and body:

• Universal . Maintains overall skin tone. Grind feijoa into puree, take 2 tbsp. l., mix with two egg whites and 2 tsp. bee honey. Mix thoroughly until smooth, and apply to cleansed skin for no more than a quarter of an hour, then rinse with lukewarm water.

• Rejuvenating. Prepare puree from berries. Mix 2 tbsp. l. puree with 1 tsp. honey and 1 tsp. vegetable oil. Rub thoroughly and apply to clean facial skin for a quarter of an hour.
• For oily skin . Grind the ripe berries into a pulp, mix with ½ tsp. starch and 2-3 drops of lemon juice. Apply the mask for 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

• For dry skin . Take 2 tbsp. l. gruel from feijoa and fatty cottage cheese, mix thoroughly with 1 tbsp. l. 20% cream and beat into cream. Apply to cleansed facial skin. Keep for 15 minutes, rinse with warm and then cold running water.

The use of feijoa in cooking

Tropical fruits go well with a variety of foods. You can add oily and citrus fruits, fresh or boiled beets, carrots, and apples to salads. It is better to season with yogurt or low-fat sour cream.

Feijoa with beets. Salad

Boil 400 gr. beets, grate. Wash and cut 200 gr. Feijoa hearths, mix with beets and add crushed walnut kernels. For this amount of food, take about 5-7 walnuts. Add salt to taste and season with vegetable oil. You can add feta cheese and sesame seeds.

Salsa with feijoa

Served as a sauce for fish and meat dishes. Mix 3 feijoa fruits, an onion and 1 tablespoon of cane sugar in a blender. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Feijoa jelly (marmalade)

To prepare jelly you need:

• Grind 1.5 kg in a blender. feijoa;
• mix with 1 glass of natural apple cider vinegar and 50 gr. pectin for fruits;
• Boil in a water bath for 5-6 minutes, avoiding boiling;
• remove from heat and, stirring quickly, add 5 cups of sugar;
• put it in a water bath again and, stirring constantly, cook until the sugar is completely dissolved;
• remove the foam with a slotted spoon;
• pour the prepared hot jelly into small glass jars and close with a lid;
• cool overnight at room temperature.

Keep refrigerated.

Glaze for feijoa meat or fish

To prepare the glaze you will need:

• 1 cup feijoa jelly;
• a quarter glass of cane sugar;
• 2 tsp chopped garlic;
• 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon;
• 2 tsp ground ginger;
• chili powder (optional)

Mix all ingredients, generously grease the surface of the fish or meat, and place in the oven.

And for the soul, today we will listen to GIOVANNI MARRADI – Romantico How beautiful everything is, how romantic. Wonderful music.

This is the information about the beneficial and medicinal properties of feijoa today. I hope you found it useful and interesting. Feijoa. Useful and medicinal properties. Contraindications.

Healer's Recipes

• For thyroid dysfunction . Grind two small fruits with a blender or pass them through a meat grinder. Add an equal amount of granulated sugar. Take 1 tbsp of raw jam in the morning on an empty stomach. l., and refrain from any food or drink for half an hour. The healing course lasts 10 days, followed by a week-long break and repetition of the course of treatment.
• To support immunity and prevent goiter. Place ripe berries in a glass jar and fill with bee honey to the top. Leave in a dark place for two weeks and drain the resulting juice. Pour the remaining fruits in the jar with honey again. The operation is carried out 3-4 times until the feijoas become completely dry and wrinkled. The drained liquid is used to prepare drinks, and the dried fruits are taken 1 pc. three times a day.

• For cardiovascular diseases . Squeeze the juice from the berries using any available method, dilute with cold boiled water in equal proportions, and drink 50 ml of the product in the morning on an empty stomach. Perfectly normalizes blood pressure.
• For the prevention of atherosclerosis. Grind 650 g of feijoa and a large orange in a blender without removing the zest. Pour 1 kg of granulated sugar into the resulting slurry and place on high heat. After boiling, remove the jam, cool and store in the refrigerator. Take 1 tbsp in the morning on an empty stomach. l., until the product runs out.

• Tincture against viruses and bacteria. Wash 0.5 kg of ripe fruits, remove the stalks, cut into medium-thick slices, and place (without pressing or loosely) in a glass jar with a lid. Pour the contents of the jar with 500-600 ml of vodka so that the alcohol covers the pieces. Leave in a dark place for 14 days, strain, pour into dark glass bottles, and take as a regular medicinal tincture during an exacerbation of the infectious background.