Feijoa is an evergreen plant, native to the tropical countries of South America, also growing in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, the Caucasus, and the Crimea. This plant has not been considered for a long time as a fruit. They were decorated with gardens and parks, for example, in Japan, grown in winter gardens or on windowsills, enjoying the long and colorful flowering of the bush.
In our markets, feijoa can be seen starting in November. As a rule, these are immature fruits. Ripe fruit is difficult to transport, as they quickly deteriorate, lose marketability. Therefore, harvest is collected, not expecting full maturation. The ripe fruit has a jelly-like core and a dark green peel. The taste is simply delicious! In feijoa, you can taste the strawberries, pineapple and kiwi.
Composition of fruit feijoa
Let's look at the benefits of fruit feijoa.
The composition of this wonderful fruit includes half of Mendeleyev's table: potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and other metals. In total there are about 100 names of useful substances. However, the most important part of feijoa is iodine. The pulp of this valuable element contains almost as much as in seafood (which is why it is acceptable in cooking to combine feijoa with, say, cod or shrimp). This makes the fruit irreplaceable for the prevention of thyroid diseases.
Fiber and pectin contained in fruits contribute to the normalization of the work of the stomach and intestines. Due to the high content of vitamin C , feijoa can become a reliable shield in the period of seasonal acute respiratory infections and epidemics of influenza.
In feijoa, the fruit peel is also very useful. Though it tastes not pleasant (tart, bitter), the content of biologically active substances and phenolic compounds makes it possible to use it as a powerful antioxidant that promotes the rejuvenation of the human body and is opposed to the threat of cancer. As a rule, the peel is dried and added to tea.
Having understood, in what the fruit of feijoa is useful, it is necessary to be defined, as it to accept.
"Live" jam for the prevention of hypothyroidism
Ingredients:
- fruits of feijoa - 1 kg;
- sugar - 1 kg.
Preparation
Before preparing "live" jam from feijoa, the fruits should be thoroughly washed under running water. Peel can be removed, then the jam will be more homogeneous and tender, and you can leave. In the second case, we get a product more useful (about the contents of the crusts mentioned above) and with a slightly piquant taste. Fruits must be cut into several parts, crushed with a blender and mixed thoroughly with sugar. Ready mixture put into sterile jars and put in the refrigerator. Take 1 tablespoon two to three times a day.
Feijoa in Cosmetology
Cosmetologists also looked at the amazing fruit. It is used if necessary to stop the inflammatory processes on the skin, with couperose, pigmentation, acne.
Lifting mask from feijoa
Ingredients:
- feijoa - 1 piece;
- olive oil - 1 tablespoon;
- low-fat cottage cheese - 1 tablespoon.
Preparation
Feijoa is peeled, crushed with a blender and mixed thoroughly with the rest of the ingredients. It is applied to cleansed, and even better, scraped skin of the face, neck and décolleté. The exposure time is 15-20 minutes. It is washed off with clean warm water.
Contraindications to the use of feijoa
Like any other fruit, feijoa has both beneficial properties and harm. This fruit is better not to use people with hyperthyroidism, as well as suffering from excess weight and diabetes.