Initially, feijoa was used in landscape design, park areas were decorated with evergreen flowering shrubs. Today it exotic plant with amazing-tasting fruits.
Feijoa is gaining popularity not so much because of its taste, but because of its benefits. A selection of surprising facts will allow you to take a fresh look at this tropical fruit.
What is feijoa, where it grows in Russia
According to the classification, they belong to the family of myrtle plants. The height of the bushes reaches 3 meters. It looks especially beautiful during the flowering period. Feijoa blooms with bright crimson inflorescences with white-pink blotches.
Leaves are dense, dark green. The fruits outwardly resemble unripe walnuts. The inside of the berries is juicy pulp. It tastes like strawberry sweetness and kiwi astringency.
The amazing properties of the shrub make it evergreen. The plant tolerates frosts down to -14 ° С. The crop has the ability not to spoil for a long time. Well transported.
Due to insufficient information, the overseas fruit was not widely used in our country. Those familiar with feijoa eat fruits raw, make jams and preserves... Feijoa can be bought in markets and in large supermarkets.
Thanks to the works of breeders, the tropical plant has become widespread in Russia - in the Crimea, Krasnodar, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine.
Depending on the growing conditions, there are small, medium, large fruits... Eat whole fruits or scrape the pulp with a spoon.
Because of its composition, the tropical crop is used to treat a variety of diseases. The medicinal properties of fruits are especially appreciated during the period of vitamin deficiency for a weakened organism.
How to choose a feijoa:
The benefits of the fruit, useful and medicinal properties of fruits and leaves
Feijoa's chemical composition points to its benefits. This fruit can rightfully be called not only the "miracle of the tropics", but also a panacea for many problems.
Berries gained popularity among Europeans at a time when they found a high concentration of iodine.
Potted cultivation of feijoa does not guarantee a rich iodine content, there is a lot of it only in fruits growing on the coast. Benefit:
- feijoa has a high content of nutrients, vitamins C, P and B;
- essential oils are present in fruits with anti-inflammatory effect;
- Feijoa extracts and oils are widely used in dermatology, as well as cosmetology;
- contain iron, zinc, manganese, copper, organic iodine compounds;
- in terms of value, the fruits are equal to iodine-containing seafood;
- essential oils promote rejuvenation;
- juice and pulp help fight couperosis, after using the masks, capillary nets on the face disappear;
- for depressive disorders, fruit seeds are used;
- tea useful for the body is prepared from the leaves.
Leading nutritionists recommend adding fruits to the diet of people who have problems with obesity. They justify their decision by low calorie content, valuable composition, lack of fat.
Caloric content is only 49-50 kcal per 100 grams of product.
The tart taste of feijoa is not present by chance, it is associated with the content of antioxidants. They are considered a valuable product for the prevention of cancer.
Endocrinologists agreed that tropical berries are needed for the thyroid gland.
With regular use, due to lowering cholesterol levels, an improvement in blood composition is observed. Due to the content of phenolic compounds in the skin, they are taken to stimulate metabolic processes in the digestive organs.
The benefits of feijoa for men are priceless. Urologists recommend using for problems with the prostate.
Thanks to the exotic fruit, women will be able to preserve their figure and youth. By replacing feijoa confectionery, you can lose extra pounds.
Important: 100 grams of feijoa accounts for 0.5 mg of iodine compounds that are rapidly dissolving for the body.
Why feijoa berry is useful:
Harm and contraindications for use
Ripe feijoa have a positive effect on the body, but unripe fruits negatively affect the digestive system... They can even cause poisoning.
If unripe fruits are purchased, it is better to put them to ripen at room temperature.
A tropical plant is contraindicated:
- direct contraindication - with an excess of iodine in the body;
- use with caution in diabetes mellitus;
- it is not recommended to mix with milk (may cause stomach upset);
- due to poor digestibility, you should not give feijoa to children under one year of age;
- for pregnant and lactating mothers to consume the minimum amount.
A large number of eaten fruits can be harmful - cause nervous irritability, anxiety.
Do not forget that overseas fruits can contribute to the occurrence of allergic reactions. Start exploring fruits in small portions.
Important information: to avoid the consequences, be careful when treating feijoa to children.
Application during pregnancy and lactation
The richest natural source of nutrients for pregnant and lactating women is recommended with caution. In order not to cause side effects due to excess iodine, you should not overdo it with their use.
Experts were divided on the exotic fruit. some recommend them during pregnancy, others associate them with risks... In everything you need to know when to stop.
Feijoa is especially useful in the 12th week of pregnancy, during this period the child's thyroid gland develops.
It is difficult to predict how a pregnant body will behave if you try the berry for the first time. The same can be said for breastfeeding. If in doubt, it is better consult a doctor and monitor the body's response.
Culinary and cosmetic recipes
The topic below the presented material is devoted to recipes from an exotic fruit. Jams, mousses, jellies are made from them. The popularity of these recipes is due to their rich pectin content.
For treatment, prepare useful decoctions, grind with honey, nuts... It is added as a flavoring agent to salads. Make face masks.
Sugar-grated fruits
Proportions: for 1 kg of feijoa, take 1 kg of sugar. Take ripe fruits. Wash them well, dry them on a towel.
Finely chop with a knife, add sugar. Rub with a wooden spatula. Keep refrigerated. Apply as needed. Candied fruits are great for protecting the immune system.
Feijoa jam without cooking for the winter:
Diet salad
Proportions: for 5 fruits, take a handful of walnuts and 1 boiled beets. Cut the feijoa and the beets into strips. Lightly dry the nuts in the oven and crush. Season the salad with olive oil.
Add spices, herbs or garlic to enhance the taste. An easy salad to make can help you lose weight.
Fortified cocktail
Proportions: 4 feijoa, kiwi, apple, cinnamon, 150 ml fat-free kefir or yogurt. Place exotic fruits, kiwi, apple in the blender bowl. All pre-wash, peel, cut.
Pour in fermented milk product, add a pinch of cinnamon. Grind with a blender until smooth. A fortified cocktail is the perfect start to the day instead of breakfast.
Feijoa with honey
Proportions: honey with feijoa in a 1: 1 ratio. Grind the pulp of ripe fruits with honey, arrange in sterilized jars. Cover with lids or paper. Keep cold.
Consume 1 tbsp in the morning on an empty stomach. spoon. The composition allows you to quickly recover from illnesses. The rest of the outside can be frozen or dried.
Melissa compote
Proportions: for 1 glass of sugar 180 gr. feijoa, lemon balm twigs. Wash the fruits, prick them with a toothpick. Cover with water, add sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat in oven. Boil for 3-5 minutes.
Remove from heat, strain, add lemon balm. Pour into glass jars. Store inside the refrigerator. Chilled drink - tones, calms the nervous system.
Leaf tea
Proportions: 1 tsp. dry leaves for 250-300 ml of boiling water. Leaves wilted in partial shade. Ferment in the fresh air or in a dry, ventilated place to a tea leaf condition.
Brew like regular tea, you can add sugar or honey. The tea tastes very unusual, with a slightly tart aftertaste.
Pulp jam with lemon
Proportions: for 1 kg of ripe fruits, you need 1 kg of sugar and half a lemon. Wash feijoa, prick with a toothpick. Boil syrup from sugar and 200 ml of water. Pour the fruit over them.
Cook in 3 stages with the jam completely cooling for 5 minutes after boiling. At the final stage, add lemon wedges.
Pack in clean, dry jars. Cork and cold. Jam will help out for raising immunity during the period of respiratory diseases.
Mask for the face
Proportions: 2 pcs. feijoa, the yolk of one egg, 5 gr. honey and 5 ml. olive oil. Beat the ingredients, lightly heat in a water bath. The temperature of the mask should be 36-37 degrees.
Apply to cleansed face. Withstand half an hour. Wash off. The vitamin composition moisturizes, softens and tightens the skin. Can be used for rosacea.
Especially important is the use of a natural source of iodine in large and polluted cities.
Material dedicated to the benefits of feijoa will be of interest to both men and women. Using recommendations for the prevention and treatment of diseases, you can preserve your health for a long time!