Feijoa: benefits and harms to the body

Contents

The history of the appearance of feijoa in nutrition
The composition and calorie content of feijoa
The benefits of feijoa
Feijoa harm
The use of feijoa in medicine
The use of feijoa in cooking
- Feijoa Sauce
- Feijoa salad with beets
How to choose and store feijoa
Popular questions and answers

These exotic berries rarely decorate our table, and in vain. Let’s see why they are so good, and what are the benefits and harms of feijoa for the human body.

Feijoa is an evergreen shrub with fruits that have a unique taste, reminiscent of both strawberries and pineapples. In the diet of s, it is not so common, although it is quite possible to buy both the berries themselves and jams based on them in the store. To many, this fruit seems exotic. But maybe you should add it to your daily diet? Together with a gastroenterologist, we talk about the benefits and harms of feijoa for human health.

The history of the appearance of feijoa in nutrition

Feijoa is native to South America. At the end of the 1890th century, the Portuguese naturalist Joan da Silva Feijo discovered it in Brazil. In XNUMX, a shrub named after its discoverer appeared in France. And from there, at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, cuttings were brought to the Crimea and the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, to California and Italy. Since that time, feijoa fruits have been widely eaten. Breeders have bred several varieties of the plant, making the fruits softer and larger.

The composition and calorie content of feijoa

Feijoa berries are eaten. It is a valuable source of antioxidants, vitamins, microelements, fiber, natural sugars, organic acids and pectins. Most of all, its composition contains pectin, iodine and iron, vitamins C, B, P and E, notes Olga Arisheva, PhD, gastroenterologist-hepatologist. The fruits contain vitamin C (40 mg/100 g) and water-soluble iodine (10-40 mcg/100 g) and replenish 18,7% of the daily requirement of iodine, 56,7% silicon, 47% boron, 14% cobalt, 14% chromium , 10% rubidium, 8,6% molybdenum and 6,9% potassium. (one)

Caloric content for 100 grams	55 kcal
Proteins	1 g
Fats	0,6 g
Carbohydrates	13 g

The benefits of feijoa

Feijoa has excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, which makes it an indispensable assistant in boosting immunity. In terms of iodine content, feijoa is compared with seafood. Eating it in food will make up for the lack of this important element for the functioning of the thyroid gland in the body. Folic acid contained in fruits helps prevent anemia and has a positive effect on the nervous system. Dietary fiber of berries has a beneficial effect on bowel function.

Feijoa benefits for women

A significant content of zinc in fruits has a positive effect on the female reproductive system. The folic acid they contain is essential for pregnant women. But before eating berries during this period, it is better to consult a doctor. Gastroenterologist Olga Arisheva warns that pregnant women in the first and second trimesters should use the product very carefully, as there is a high probability of an allergic reaction.

Feijoa benefits for men

Feijoa berries are extremely useful for men – they can be used as a prevention and treatment of prostatitis.

Feijoa Benefits for Children

Feijoa – the fruit is quite sour, and the child is unlikely to like it. In addition, it contains coarse fiber (in the peel), and is contraindicated in children under one year old. But for older children, it will help strengthen the immune system.

Feijoa harm

The fruits contain a large amount of sugar, so people with diabetes should consume it in small quantities. A contraindication is also thyroid disease. And, like any other berry, feijoa should be excluded from the diet if an individual intolerance or allergy occurs. It is worth noting that feijoa cannot be combined with milk – this will lead to indigestion.

Gastroenterologist Olga Arisheva notes that feijoa is an exotic product that should be introduced into the diet gradually. Possible allergic reaction or diarrhea when overeating. If you decide to try this product for the first time, then you should limit yourself to 1-2 fruits. On average, the recommended rate is 3-4 berries per day for a person without contraindications.

The doctor also recommends that people who suffer from gastrointestinal diseases, especially during an exacerbation, stop using the product.

The use of feijoa in medicine

In folk medicine, feijoa berries are used for thyroid diseases, gastritis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis, and atherosclerosis.

Foreign studies show that the fruits and especially the peel do have antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal properties. The authors of one study (2) note that feijoa peel acetone extract has a strong antibacterial effect against some gram-positive and gram-negative strains of bacteria, and it has potential therapeutic value. Another study (3) states that the fruit’s active compound (flavon) shows high antibacterial activity against nine standard bacterial strains tested.

The use of feijoa in cooking

Feijoa is eaten raw, added to salads, cottage cheese, yogurt, cereals, shortbread fillings, and meat dishes for spiciness. From it cook jam, compotes.

Feijoa Sauce

Spicy sauce diversifies your table. It is perfect with meat and poultry and will appeal to lovers of hot sauces.

Fejxoa	300 g (6 pcs.)
Garlic	1 head (about 30g)
Cilantro	to taste (about 15 g)
Parsley	to taste (about 15 g)
Dried marjoram	to taste (about 15 g)
Ground paprika	to taste (about 15 g)
ground chili pepper	to taste (about 5 g)
Salt	to taste (about 5 g)
Sugar	to taste (about 25 g)

Remove skin from feijoa and cut into small pieces. Stew them in a small amount of water until the berries are soft. Do not forget to stir and remove the foam. Puree the berries in a blender. Finely chop the garlic and add to the feijoa. Add sugar, salt, pepper, chili, marjoram, paprika. Finely chop the parsley and cilantro and add to the sauce. Mix and let stand.

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Feijoa salad with beets

This unusual salad is prepared simply and fits perfectly into the diet menu.

Cooked beets	450 g
Fejxoa	200 g
Walnuts	10 piece.
Vegetable oil	2 Art. spoons
Salt (to taste)	3 g

Boil the beets, peel and cut. Peel and cut feijoa berries. Chop the nut kernels. Mix everything, salt and season with vegetable oil.

How to choose and store feijoa

When choosing a feijoa, pay attention to its integrity and the absence of dark spots that indicate a low-quality product. Too soft fruits – overripe, and hard, on the contrary, unripe. However, they may well ripen at home at room temperature. Ripe berries are elastic, and their skin should be without damage.

Store berries in the refrigerator, in the compartment for vegetables and fruits, no more than a week. In order to keep feijoa for a longer period (up to three months), you can grind it with sugar. First you need to peel the fruit. By the way, dried peel can be added to tea.