Feijoa Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits

The feijoa, also called pineapple guava or guavasteen, it is a subtropical fruit that grows up to about 3 inches in length. Feijoa has a fairly complex flavor that is often compared to that of pineapple but also contains hints of strawberry, guava, quince, and mint.

Feijoa sellowiana is a species of flowering plant in the Myrtaceae family. The Pineapple guava is native to South America, specifically extreme southernmost Brazil, Argentina, and the mountainous regions of Uruguay. It is now cultivated in South America, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa, and the United States. It has been nicknamed pineapple guava, Brazilian guava, and fig guava. It‘s called guavasteen in Hawaii.

Nutritional Value of Feijoa

The fruit of the feijoa tree is high in vitamin C, fiber, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sugar, and calcium. It also contains high amounts of bioflavonoids and polyphenols such as catechin, leucoanthocyanins, flavonols, proanthocyanidins, and naphthoquinones.

Feijoa fruit contains 83% water, 15% carbohydrates, and is negligible in protein and fat. 100 grams of raw feijoa provides 61 calories, 15.2 g carbohydrates, 8.2 g sugars, 0.71 g protein, 0.42 g fat, 32.9 mg vitamin C, 23 mcg folate, 3.5 mcg vitamin K, 0.16 mg vitamin E, 17 mg calcium, 0.14 mg iron, 9 mg magnesium, 172 mg potassium, and 0.06 mg zinc.

Raw Feijoa Nutrition Facts Label

Health Benefits of Feijoa

Antibacterial Activity

Study showed that feijoa has potent antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi. It has also been shown to have antibacterial properties in vitro. Antibacterial properties help to prevent bacteria formation in our mouths, and antiseptic properties help in healing ulcers and cuts in the mouth.

Anticancer Activity

Feijoa has anti-cancer properties and influences cytokine secretion in the intestine. The extract of feijoa exhibited anticancer activities on haematological and solid cancer cells,and the extract did not have toxic effects on normal myeloid progenitors, which suggested that the extract of feijoa possessed tumor-selective activities.

Cardiovascular Health

Feijoa is rich in dietary fiber, which is very good for our hearts. A high-fiber diet can help reduce blood cholesterol levels such as LDL cholesterol, which may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack and heart stroke.

Anti-inflammation Effect

The juice extracted from feijoa has anti-inflammatory properties. It contains compounds such as quercetin, eriocitrin, syringic acid, ellagic acid, pyrocatechol, gallic acid, catechin, rutin, and eriodictyol. The research shows that there is meaningful anti-inflammatory activity in fruit juice that helps to inhibit neutrophil basal activity.

Boosts Immune System

Feijoa fruit is high in vitamin C and provides about 32.9 mg per 100 g fruit. Vitamin C is important for the proper functioning of the immune system. As an antioxidant, it reacts with compounds like histamines and peroxides to reduce inflammatory symptoms. Vitamin C functions as a cofactor in many enzymatic reactions in the body that mediate a variety of essential biological functions, including wound healing and collagen synthesis.

Gut Health

Fiber-rich foods can help reduce constipation by adding bulk to the stool. Insoluble fibers help to increase bulk and soften the stool so it passes quickly through the large intestine. This feature makes it potentially beneficial in the prevention of digestive diseases, including colon cancer, diverticulosis, and hemorrhoids. Insoluble fibers may also assist in weight management in that they speed the transit time of food in the intestines. For this reason, they may also be protective against gastrointestinal diseases.

Prevent Diabetes

Feijoa is highly rich in dietary fiber, which is very beneficial to preventing diabetes. Fiber promotes the production of insulin in our bodies, which slows sugar absorption in the bloodstream, allowing sugar levels to be controlled and the risk of diabetes to be reduced. Feijoa has a very low glycemic index, which means that it will not raise our blood sugar levels, so those with diabetes can consume it without worry.