Feijoa, also known as pineapple guava, is a tropical fruit that is widely grown in South America and New Zealand. It has a sweet and tangy flavor, and is often consumed as a snack or used as an ingredient in desserts. Apart from its delicious taste, feijoa is loaded with nutrients and compounds that have numerous health benefits. In this article, we will discuss the anti-inflammatory benefits of feijoa, as well as its bone health effects and nutritional values.

 

Feijoa Nutritional Values

Before we delve deeper into the health benefits of feijoa, let’s take a look at its nutritional values. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, one cup (243g) of feijoa contains the following:

 

• Calories: 76
• Carbohydrates: 16g
• Fiber: 6g
• Fat: 1g
• Protein: 1g
• Vitamin C: 55% of the daily value
• Vitamin B6: 5% of the daily value
• Potassium: 7% of the daily value
• Calcium: 2% of the daily value
• Iron: 1% of the daily value

As you can see, feijoa is low in fat and high in fiber, making it a great choice for those who want to maintain a healthy weight. Additionally, it is an excellent source of vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect your body against oxidative stress and inflammation.

 

Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of Feijoa

Inflammation is your body’s natural response to injury or infection. However, chronic inflammation can lead to a host of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. That’s where feijoa comes in. Feijoa contains compounds called flavonoids, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. One study found that the flavonoids in feijoa can reduce inflammation in the lungs of mice with asthma.

 

Another study found that feijoa extract can reduce inflammation in the colon of rats with colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease. The researchers concluded that feijoa extract has potent anti-inflammatory properties and could be a promising treatment for inflammatory bowel disease in humans.

 

Bone Health Effects of Feijoa

Maintaining healthy bones is important, especially as you age. Fortunately, feijoa can help. Feijoa is a good source of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, three minerals that are crucial for bone health. Calcium is essential for building and maintaining strong bones, while magnesium and potassium are involved in the regulation of bone metabolism.

 

One cup of feijoa contains about 2% of the daily value of calcium, 6% of the daily value of magnesium, and 7% of the daily value of potassium. While these amounts may seem small, every little bit counts when it comes to bone health. By adding feijoa to your diet, you can help to support your bones and prevent osteoporosis, a condition that causes your bones to become weak and brittle.

 

Food Combining Information and Dietary Advice

Adding feijoa to your diet is easy. You can eat it fresh or use it to make desserts and smoothies. If you want to maximize the health benefits of feijoa, it is important to combine it with other anti-inflammatory foods. Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, walnuts, and flaxseed, can help to reduce inflammation in your body. Additionally, foods that are high in antioxidants, such as blueberries, kale, and spinach, can help to protect your body against oxidative stress and inflammation.

 

One tasty way to combine feijoa with other anti-inflammatory foods is by making an anti-inflammatory smoothie. Here’s a recipe:

 

Feijoa Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie

• 1 cup of fresh feijoa
• 1 cup of frozen blueberries
• 1 cup of kale
• 1 tablespoon of chia seeds
• 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk

Blend all the ingredients together in a blender until smooth, and enjoy!

 

Wrapping Up

Feijoa is a delicious and nutritious tropical fruit that has numerous health benefits. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and compounds that can help to reduce inflammation, support bone health, and protect your body against oxidative stress. By adding feijoa to your diet, you can give your body a powerful boost of nutrients that will help you to look and feel your best.

If you love anti-inflammatory fruits, check out the rest of our fruits section here, or pop over to our anti-inflammatory herbs section where you can find powerful goodness to add to any autoimmune smoothie.

Thank you for reading this article on feijoa and its anti-inflammatory benefits. We hope you found it informative and helpful in making healthier dietary choices. Remember to always combine feijoa with other anti-inflammatory foods and to seek the advice of a healthcare professional before making any significant dietary changes.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this article and if you have any other fruit recommendations that you would like us to cover. Please feel free to leave a comment below or send us an email!

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